Key actors
A community-based approach draws a wide number of
stakeholders together, who all bring important perspectives
and skills to safer school construction.
SECTION II: OVERVIEW
• School community. The school staff, parents, students,
school boards and neighbourhood receiving a safer
school are at the centre of a community-based approach
and have an intimate knowledge of the local context.
They may also be directly involved in construction, project
management, elements of hazard assessment or funding.
After completion, the school community often manage
and maintain the building.
• Development organisations and actors. Development
and humanitarian organisations, United Nations agencies
and local NGOs may provide funds and assistance
for school construction. They may also be important
advocates for safer, sustainable and appropriate
buildings.
• Program manager. When development organisations or
government agencies initiate community-based school
construction programs, they appoint an individual to
ensure projects meet program objectives – quantity and
quality – within cost and time constraints.
Photo: Danielle Wade/Save the Children.
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• Local government. District offices of education, public
works and other government agencies often prescribe
technical parameters for design and con struction
and supply land for new school construction. They
may allocate local funds for school construction and
monitoring, and report back to the central government.
• Central government. Ministries of education, public
works and finance often manage education sector
resources and develop guidelines for school construction.
They oversee public sector school construction programs
and may also monitor those in the private sector.
• Technical professionals. Engineers, architects,
construction specialists and scientists may provide
consulting services to specific projects. Through local and
international professional societies, they shape codes,
guidelines and good practice.
• Policy and decision makers. Elected officials and
decision makers formulate the education sector programs
and policies that shape school construction.
Each stakeholder has incentives and disincentives for
supporting safer schools.