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Improving Education in Africa
Improving Education in Africa
Improving Education in Africa synthesizes research across 33 countries in Africa to identify promising pathways for enhancing learning outcomes while strengthening equity and resilience in African education systems.Drawing from data covering over 167,000 schools, and insights from thousands of students, teachers, parents, and education officials, this research highlights three key actions to improve education on the continent:Utilizing local education data to make informed decisions that address country-specific challenges, focusing on solutions that prioritize equity and improve pedagogical quality. Directing investments toward high-impact areas, including early learning, supporting vulnerable students through proven practices like tailored instruction, and utilizing technologies to improve teachers' day-to-day work. Designing implementation plans that respond to local contexts and embedding implementation research for continuous learning.Suggested citations: UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight, Improving Education in Africa: Insights from research across 33 countries, UNICEF Innocenti, Florence, November, 2024
Coordinating Efforts to Address Violence Against Children and Violence Against Women
Coordinating Efforts to Address Violence Against Children and Violence Against Women
Violence against women and violence against children are serious human rights violations and public health concerns that impact families globally. There is an increasing awareness of the intersections that exist between these two forms of violence, with a growing emphasis on the need for greater collaboration across both fields to ensure the best outcomes for women and children.UNICEF’s Child Protection Strategy 2021-2030 recognizes that gender equality and women’s empowerment have a major influence on children’s protection and calls for a fundamental shift to the organization’s work to prevent violence against children, including by improving coordination with efforts focused on violence against women. However, while the evidence is growing, few studies exist on how best to coordinate approaches in the UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Region. The present research seeks to address this knowledge gap by identifying opportunities to increase collaboration of policies, services, and systems on violence against children and violence against women. The situation analysis included a desk-based document review of plans, guidance and policy documents related to VAW and VAC, and key informant interviews with stakeholders working on VAW and/or VAC in Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon. Study findings are provided in each country report.
GRASSP: Burkina Faso
GRASSP: Burkina Faso
The Burkina Faso Child-Sensitive Social Protection Programme (CSSPP) was a pilot initiative implemented from June 2020 and April 2023 in the regions of Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-North, East, and North. The CSSPP provided an unconditional cash transfer of FCFA 16,000 (approximately USD 30) per month to eligible households complemented with Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) as well as nutrition services. The midline study aimed to assess the short-term impacts of the programme on household poverty, food security, and economic activities. As part of the research agenda on Gender-Responsive and Age-Sensitive Social Protection (GRASSP), the midline study specifically examined gender dynamics within the households and communities, analysing the programme’s gendered impacts on time use, schooling, and women’s participation in decision-making. Additionally, the report compared impacts across the different treatment arms of the programmes and considered the moderating role of contextual factors such as gender norms and the structure of households (monogamous versus polygamous). The findings highlight unexpected gendered labour allocation dynamics within the households, positive schooling outcomes for girls, women’s agency and participation in decision-making. These findings offer valuable insights into the CSSPP’s effectiveness and its role in promoting gender-responsive and age-sensitive social protection in Burkina Faso.
Reporting and Responding to Sensitive Disclosures in School-Based Research
Reporting and Responding to Sensitive Disclosures in School-Based Research
When conducting evidence activities with children, it is essential to have a robust, localized and resourced safeguarding response plan in place, even where the research is not specifically intended to address sensitive topics such as violence or abuse. During the Data Must Speak (DMS) positive deviance research, cases of suspected or reported child protection issues were identified during school-based data collection activities.In this case study, the DMS research team explains how they implemented reporting and response protocols, enhanced monitoring and documentation, and ensured follow-up on support for the children involved.Citation: UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight, Reporting and Responding to Sensitive Disclosures in School-Based Research, UNICEF Innocenti, Florence, November 2024.
Impacts of the Child-Sensitive Social Protection Programme in Burkina Faso
Impacts of the Child-Sensitive Social Protection Programme in Burkina Faso
The Burkina Faso Child-Sensitive Social Protection Programme (CSSPP) was a pilot initiative implemented from June 2020 and April 2023 in the regions of Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-North, East, and North. The CSSPP provided an unconditional cash transfer of FCFA 16,000 (approximately USD 30) per month to eligible households complemented with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) as well as nutrition services.A series of mixed-methods studies were carried out to evaluate the programme’s impact on children, adolescents, women, and households. Through process evaluation component, these studies provided insights into the fidelity of the programme’s implementation and identified lessons learned to enhance the programme’s overall effectiveness and efficiency. The midline study was part of the GRASSP research agenda.The endline study aimed to understand the overall programme impacts as outlined in the programme’s conceptual framework. It compared impact at each wave to highlight short-term impacts that were sustained and any changes in impacts across the two waves. Additionally, the endline study analysed the moderating role of community-level characteristics and dynamics.Given the unstable security context of the implementation areas, the endline findings provide insights into the effectiveness and constraints of implementing a social protection programme in shock-exposed contexts.Suggested citation (report): Damoah, Kaku A, et al., Impacts of the Child-Sensitive Social Protection Programme in Burkina Faso: Endline Research Report, UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight, Florence, November 2024.
The Universal Child Benefit Pilot in Kenya
The Universal Child Benefit Pilot in Kenya
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of the Republic of Kenya piloted a Universal Child Benefit (UCB) Programme with support from UNICEF from December 2021 to December 2022, targeting children aged 0–36 months in Kajiado, Embu and Kisumu Counties. The UCB pilot provided KES 800 per month per child, distributed bi-monthly via M-Pesa to female caregivers, and included complementary services to address malnutrition, negative parenting practices and disability exclusion. A qualitative study assessed the pilot’s implementation, accessibility, impact and sustainability, using interviews and focus groups to inform future policy development and scale-up opportunities. This brief presents a summary of this study.Suggested citationUytterhaegen, Thibault, et al., The Universal Child Benefit Pilot in Kenya: A qualitative study, Research brief, UNICEF Innocenti, Florence, October 2024.
Time Spent on Unpaid Domestic and Caregiving Services by Children in India
Time Spent on Unpaid Domestic and Caregiving Services by Children in India
Various forms of child labour persist in many regions of the world, with negative consequences for children’s schooling and overall development. For example, unpaid caregiving and domestic services within the family, when carried out for many hours, can disrupt children’s learning, rest, or play. Girls are more likely to be affected, as they are more intensively engaged in such services than boys.In the context of India, girls’ engagement in long hours of unpaid caregiving and domestic services was found to be closely associated to the gender gap in education later in life. Such work is often related to poverty, absence of crèche facilities, as well as social norms placing higher care responsibility on girls.Drawing on India’s Time Use Survey 2019, this paper further explores the engagement in unpaid domestic and caregiving services among children aged 6–17 years in India, and its association with learning activities. It examines how these outcomes vary by gender, age and location (rural or urban). The paper concludes with reflections on policy actions that can support a change in social norms and an expansion in social services to ensure India’s children, especially girls, are supported in their schooling and overall development.
Working at the Intersections of Violence Against Children and Violence Against Women
Working at the Intersections of Violence Against Children and Violence Against Women
There is a growing and well-established evidence base illustrating the various ways violence against children and violence against women intersect. These areas of overlap include shared and compounding consequences for children’s and women’s well-being and health. As we strive for every child to grow up free from violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and harmful practices, this body of evidence makes it clear that these intersections must be considered. To this end, UNICEF’s current Child Protection Strategy underscores the need for an increase in coordinated approaches to prevent and respond to violence against children and violence against women. This series of evidence to action briefs seek to support UNICEF country offices and other organizations that care for children to integrate work on these intersections. The briefs complement UNICEF’s global and regional efforts with other United Nations agencies to advance coordinated or shared programming on violence against children and violence against women.We encourage you to explore all four briefs:Brief 1: Why it matters for children’s protection and well-beingBrief 2: Parent and caregiver support programmesBrief 3: Working at the intersections of violence against children and violence against women Adolescent programming to prevent violence (forthcoming)Brief 4: Improving coordination of response and support services for victim-survivors of violence (forthcoming)
GRASSP: Measuring equality
GRASSP: Measuring equality
Social protection programmes can profoundly improve people’s lives, including by advancing gender equality. As part of a multi-year research project, funded by the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, UNICEF Innocenti conducted studies in nine countries – Angola, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Mexico, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Viet Nam. The project, Gender-Responsive and Age-Sensitive Social Protection (GRASSP), highlighted the ways social protection programmes can eradicate harmful gender norms.In addition to the country-based research, the project delved into questions of methodology, programme design, policy integration and cost-effectiveness analysis. The results are presented in these four working papers:Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Gender-responsive Social Protection: Current Evidence and Future Recommendations, presents cost-effectiveness review of social assistance interventions linked to health, education, and women’s employment outcomes.Measuring Gender Equality: Review of Existing Measures and Reflections for Future Research presents insight into how concepts of equality can be quantitatively measured for research and evaluation.Applying the Gender Integration Continuum to Social Protection: A Guidance Note for Assessing the Level of Gender Integration in Social Protection Policies and Programmes presents a tool to assess gender and inequality needs so they can be embedded in social protection policies and programmes.Institutionalizing Gender in Social Protection Policy presents findings from five political economy analyses from the GRASSP project.
Making Digital Learning Work
Making Digital Learning Work
Making Digital Learning Work, compiles six years of research, experiences and insights from the UNICEF–Akelius Digital Learning Initiative. The digital learning initiative focuses on improving learning for marginalized children including refugees who are acquiring a second or foreign language. Since 2018, the initiative has operated in 12 countries, supporting language acquisition in 11 languages across both non-formal and formal education settings. The recommendations, based on the experience of educators, administrators, officials and programme managers, aim to identify tangible programmatic decisions that make EdTech work – or not. Five core messages emerge from the breadth and depth of lessons learned in this report:Digital tools must be relevant and easy to use.Schools need support with managing technology.Teachers require skills for pedagogical integration and training for blended teaching pedagogy.Evidence and learning are essential to improve implementation.Building partnerships is key for sustainability. This report serves as a guide for those seeking to adopt effective digital learning practices that support teachers and enhance children’s time spent learning.Citation: UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight, Making Digital Learning Work: Lessons from the UNICEF–Akelius Digital Learning Initiative in 12 countries, UNICEF Innocenti, Florence, October 2024.
Evidence on Policymaking, Programme Implementation and Impacts for Women and Girls
Evidence on Policymaking, Programme Implementation and Impacts for Women and Girls
How can social protection programmes and policies achieve gender equality?Systematic evidence on this inquiry is limited, including on the role of design, implementation and contextual factors, and the integration of gender in social protection systems. To address this evidence gap, UNICEF Innocenti undertook a multi-year Gender-Responsive Age-Sensitive Social Protection (GRASSP) research programme from 2018–2024.This synthesis report showcases evidence from 11 case studies across 9 countries: Angola, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Mexico, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Viet Nam. The report presents evidence on the effects of cash-based programmes on various gender equality outcome domains including economic security and empowerment, health, education, psychosocial well-being, protection, voice and agency. It includes an assessment of the degree of gender integration in the cash-based programmes as demonstrated by intent and actual design features. The role of design and implementation processes and contextual factors in influencing impact is also discussed. The report also presents findings from five political economy analyses that examined how gender was considered within social protection reforms and explored the obstacles and levers for enhancing gender integration within social protection policy reforms and systems. This project was funded by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Suggested citation: Kuss, Maria Klara, et al., Towards Gender-Responsive Social Protection: Evidence on policymaking, programme implementation and impacts for women and girls, UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight, Florence, October 2024.Webinar: Report launch and panel discussion
Children’s Involvement in Organized Violence
Children’s Involvement in Organized Violence
The use of children in organized violence is not a new phenomenon, yet in today's increasingly fragmented global landscape, this exploitation has taken on more complex and dangerous forms. The COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing and intensifying armed conflicts, and the accelerating effects of climate change have deepened the vulnerabilities of children worldwide. A diversified group of armed actions, including non-state armed groups, organized criminal groups and violent networks, are adapting their tactics, often recruiting, coercing or inciting children to engage in violent acts.These developments suggest that child involvement could intensify in the context of broader global crises and technological innovations.Efforts to counter the use of children in organized violence remain fragmented, with responses often pursued in isolation from one another. This working paper addresses the gaps in our understanding by exploring how children are drawn into violence through a socioecological lens, examining the pathways that lead them to participate across various types of armed groups.Addressing this complex challenge requires multidisciplinary approach—rooted in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and tailored to the unique needs of diverse contexts. The urgency of the issue demands a cohesive, global response that prioritizes the protection of the next generation.
