Educazione per lo Sviluppo: Effetti, Sforzi Globali, e Analisi di Caso Progettuale

Education is a foundational and transformative element for both individuals and societies. It holds the potential to generate economic and social value and can promote improved living conditions and well-being, having the highest returns especially to those who are least educated. This thesis aims at providing an understanding of education by analyzing the links between education and development, the role of the main international organizations working in the sector, and the predominant global perspectives that surround the discourse on education, with a specific focus on the protection of the right to education and on the frameworks for action contained in the main initiatives and agendas that seek to promote education worldwide. Additionally, the thesis provides insights into the main issues concerning education in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), with a specific focus on the formal educational systems of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which, despite recent significant progresses and variabilities between countries, still face several challenges as concerns the provision of equally accessible and quality education. The primary objective of this thesis is to broaden the understanding of education beyond traditional models and highlight how less traditional forms of education, more specifically non-formal education, can be of aid for these specific contexts and contribute to fulfill the right to education for all. NGOs play a vital role in this process, acting as advocates and watchdogs, and significantly contributing to the advancement of education worldwide through the implementation of educational projects. Despite significant advancements in the recognition and promotion of education, there remain considerable gaps and challenges. This thesis serves as a global call to action to promote and innovate within education, especially by acknowledging the value of non-formal education as a complement to formal education with the overarching goal of achieving inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development for all.