Achieving inclusive and equitable quality education in fragile states remains a critical challenge for the global education and development community. This study contributes to ongoing debates on education policy, digital innovation, youth empowerment, and the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by examining how collaborative governance frameworks are used to improve child welfare outcomes in resource-limited and politically fragile environments. Focusing on a multi-agency collaboration in a small, under-resourced country in West Africa, the research assesses the impact of three UN Joint Programmes aimed at enhancing youth participation, gender equality, digital engagement, and pandemic resilience in education and social service delivery.

Drawing on the Collaborative Governance Regime (CGR) framework (Emerson & Nabatchi, 2015), the study evaluates programme performance across three dimensions: efficacy of actions, external legitimacy of outcomes, and viability of adaptation. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, document analysis, and field observations. Key findings show that cross-sector collaboration contributed to the creation of youth participation platforms, integration of child health and education services, and deployment of digital tools such as SMS-based feedback systems and mobile communication platforms to expand outreach in remote areas. However, limitations in telecom infrastructure and coordination challenges hindered the full potential of these innovations.

This research directly supports the EDULEARN25 conference themes, particularly those related to education in fragile contexts, digital transformation, collaborative projects and policy development, and youth civic engagement. It provides a unique case study that bridges development theory and educational practice, offering practical insights for educators, policymakers, and international organizations on designing resilient, inclusive, and digitally-enabled education programmes. As global discourse moves toward a post-2030 agenda, the study underscores the need for adaptive, child-centered, and tech-inclusive governance models that empower young people as co-creators of educational systems in fragile settings.

Keywords: Collaborative governance, education in fragile states, UN Joint Programme, digital tools, youth participation, SDGs, policy development, inter-agency collaboration.