Scaling up of CSE can be done in two ways:
- horizontally, to address more topic areas, to be taught in more grade levels, to be offered in all instead of in select schools, and so on;
- vertically, building capacity beyond the school system into other systems, structures, policies, and laws.
A scale-up plan should include, at a minimum:
- methodology, including M&E plans;
- phased roll-out plan;
- identification of all stakeholders and possible implementation partners and their roles and responsibilities;
- coordination mechanisms;
- clear targets;
- actions required at national, provincial, and local levels;
- estimated costs, what funding is currently available and its source, as well as the funding gap and possible resource mobilization strategies.
[Source: UNESCO. 2017. CSE scale-up in practice: Case studies from Eastern and Southern Africa.]
10 principles of successful scaling up of CSE
- Choose an intervention/approach that can be scaled up within existing systems.
- Clarify the aims of scaling up and the roles of different players, and ensure local/national ownership/lead role.
- Understand perceived need and fit within existing governmental systems and policies.
- Obtain and disseminate data on the effectiveness of pilot programmes before scaling up.
- Document and evaluate the impact of changes made to interventions on programme effectiveness.
- Recognize the role of leadership.
- Plan for sustainability and ensure the availability of resources for scaling up or plan for fundraising.
- Plan for the long term (not donor funding cycles) and anticipate changes and setbacks.
- Anticipate the need for changes in the resource team leading the scaling-up process over time.
- Adapt the scaling-up strategy with changes in the political environment; take advantage of ‘policy windows’ when they occur.