The present synthesis is based on current literature review on education reconstruction dynamics, particularly with regard to the impact education can have on mitigating or worsening country fragility. It also rests on four national studies, undertaking by the ADEA Working Group on Education Management Policy Support team, in Kenya, Liberia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zimbabwe. The studies examine the capacity of role players and systems in a country to be responsive to diverse education needs in managing education recovery in conflict-affected or fragile situations. The focus of these studies, and that of this synthesis, is to highlight the role education management plays in reconstructing a country emerging out of emergency and fragility, and in particular to argue for the primary necessity of investing resources and energy into the education planning, management and finance capabilities of a government.