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More Than Money: The Critical Role of Management in Educational Aid Effectiveness in Africa

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  • Abigail Opokua Asare

    (University of Oldenburg, Department of Economics)

Abstract

The effectiveness of educational aid in Africa is a pressing issue, with little consensus on whether the management quality of aid has significant contribution toward achieving inclusive, equitable, and quality education on the continent by 2030. Despite substantial inflows of educational aid from both bilateral and multilateral sources, Africa continues to report the world’s highest illiteracy rates, indicating potential inefficiencies in educational aid management. This paper investigates whether the impact of World Bank–funded educational projects across Africa on literacy rates depends on the quality of project management. The findings reveal that educational projects managed in a highly satisfactory manner significantly reduce illiteracy, regardless of the quantity of aid or volume of aid disbursement. Meanwhile, projects managed in a sub-satisfactory manner show no progress at all. These findings highlight that effective management is far more critical to success than the amount of aid provided and suggest that reforming management practices could drastically enhance the impact of educational aid. By prioritizing high-quality management practices, policymakers and international organizations could improve the effects of educational aid, offering a targeted strategy to drive Africa’s educational progress.

Suggested Citation

  • Abigail Opokua Asare, 2025. "More Than Money: The Critical Role of Management in Educational Aid Effectiveness in Africa," Working Papers V-449-25, University of Oldenburg, Department of Economics, revised Mar 2025.
    • Handle: RePEc:old:dpaper:449
    as

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    File URL: http://www.uni-oldenburg.de/fileadmin/user_upload/wire/fachgebiete/vwl/V-449-25.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michaelowa, Katharina, 2004. "Aid Effectiveness Reconsidered - Panel Data Evidence for the Education Sector -," Discussion Paper Series 26374, Hamburg Institute of International Economics.
    2. Thierry Urbain Yogo, 2017. "Assessing the Effectiveness of Foreign Aid in the Education Sector in Africa: The Case of Primary Education," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 29(3), pages 389-402, September.
    3. Heyneman, Stephen P. & Lee, Bommi, 2016. "International organizations and the future of education assistance," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 9-22.
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    Keywords

    aid effectiveness; management quality; illiteracy; DHS; World Bank; Africa;
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