The research responds to emerging global norms intended to reconcile natural resource management with poverty alleviation with potential to transform development practice, if they effectively support rights to natural resources and sustainable livelihoods.

In this research we aim to fill a gap that exists between idealistic policies that define equality as a main objective of education, and assessment of progress that remains focussed on isolated indicators of equity in access to structures.

South Sudan and Afghanistan are case studies for this work that examines the implications in fragile states for comprehensive programming of risk management among UN agencies and international NGOs.