Approaching education from good governance perspective: USAID resource guide for joint democracy and governance/education programs

This resource guide is a joint effort of USAID's Office of Democracy and Governance (DG) and Office of Education, responding to the need to promote greater policy and program linkages between the Agency's democracy and governance and education sector. The guide begins with a thematic diagram that describes the relationship between democracy and good governance, showing how policies and practices of good governance and democracy, together with basic education help achieve four USAID themes on characteristics of democratic societies: equality of opportunity, public sector accountability, pluralism and representation in political process, and democratic citizenship. Section 2 highlights what current research tells us about how an investment in basic education also helps promote democracy and good governance. Section 3 provides examples of how DG functions have been applied in different countries to strengthen basic education. Section 4 provides frameworks for analyzing how good governance and democracy, and basic education support one another. Section 5 describes best practice examples from around the world, illustrating how education and DG sectors can work together to achieve common objectives. A list of useful references for those interested in learning more about the theory and practices of education and democracy is also provided.