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Introduction
As you look forward to implementation of ECE components within the Education Sector Plan (ESP), you’ll want to check that those components are clearly reflected in the operational plan/action plan (also referred to as an implementation plan). This tool provides recommendations that will help ensure strong ECE components in the operational plan.
Objective
Using this tool will enable ECE Technical Working Group (TWG) stakeholders to:
Ensure that the ECE components are well-reflected and integrated in the operational plan (multi-year or annual action plan, as relevant per context).
When to Use this Tool
This tool may be used after the ECE strategies and activities are identified. The tool should be used in conjunction with the guidance in MOOC Module 5.
This tool may also be used beyond the ESP development process. It can be relevant to support the development of ECE plans in general – for example, in the context of a funding/grant opportunity, or a sector reform initiative.
Key Information
The operational plan puts into practice (operationalizes) the ESP and translates the policy goals and strategies into a set of concrete activities over the medium term (generally two or three years). It specifies implementation arrangements (i.e., which entity is responsible for each activity), as well as each activity’s timing, cost and sources of financing and related outputs.
A robust operational plan increases the probability of successful implementation. The operational plan could be a separate document from the more strategic ESP document or could be part of it.
ECE components (strategies, activities, costs, timelines, etc.) are either:
There is not prescribed format for the operational plan, but it typically captures the following elements (for more information on these elements, please see Annex 1 of MOOC Module 5):
A clear statement of the activity.
Quantity of inputs;
Overall cost of the activity;
Entity responsible for implementation; and
Time period (i.e., the timing of the activity);
Quantity of outputs and unit costs;
Sources of funding;
Output indicators.
As noted in MOOC Module 5, multi-year action plans may be supplemented by annual operational plans that support implementation during each year of the ESP. Annex 2 of MOOC Module 5 provides an example of a template for an annual action plan with a budget matrix. Note that the joint sector review (JSR) will be a critical moment for monitoring the implementation of the operational plan (generally on an annual basis).
This tool builds on the guidance provided in the Guidelines for Education Sector Plan Preparation (p. 23-27) and MOOC Module 5 by offering recommendations and illustrative examples for developing an operational plan with strong ECE components (or an ECE subsector action plan).