Research for scaling education innovations in emergencies and fragile, conflict- and violence-affected areas of Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria

 

Education is vital for individual and social growth. However, conflict and violence have caused disruptions to education in West Africa, leading to increasing numbers of out-of-school children and youth. In northern Ghana, eastern and western areas of Burkina Faso and in northern Nigeria, the education pathways for young women and girls have been particularly disrupted, resulting in unequal opportunities in education, health, work and societal participation.

This project's goal is to improve educational access for out-of-school children and those at risk of dropping out in West Africa's fragile, conflict- and violence-affected (FCV) communities. The primary goals are to generate evidence that will guide policy and practice, focusing on gender equality, equity and social inclusion. It will investigate educational innovations in FCV and emergency areas that improve retention and reduce dropout rates while supporting the social-emotional development of teachers and learners. It will also strengthen the capacities of key stakeholders, including governments and civil society organizations, to effectively utilize evidence from tested educational innovations. The study will take a rigorous mixed-method approach, comparing innovations in low- and high-risk FCV domains.

This project is funded through the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Knowledge and Innovation Exchange, a joint endeavour with IDRC, to improve children’s access to and retention in education in emergencies and FCV contexts in GPE partner countries.