Children face particular challenges in emergencies like epidemics, climate change and other disasters, as well as in contexts of fragility, conflict and violence. Sudden and sometimes protracted challenges can layer on top of existing inequalities. This adds up to a growing problem – the number of children who are not in school. UNESCO (2024) estimates that there are 251 million children and youth out-of-school, and many are at a heightened risk of dropping out.
There is a growing body of research around the unique experiences of out-of-school and at-risk children in fragility, conflict and violence contexts but a scoping study and consultations with partner countries identified that additional research is needed on two core themes:
GPE KIX-supported Hub work and applied research have strengthened national capacities to reach out-of-school children and provide education in emergency and crisis-affected contexts by informing innovative policy approaches, scaling evidence-driven education models, and supporting learning continuity. The Africa 19 Hub hosted a webinar on improving education opportunities for vulnerable groups, focusing on innovations in education for refugees and internally displaced persons. Evidence from comparative research on accelerated education programs directly shaped Sierra Leone’s National Guidelines for Accelerated Education and supported ongoing reviews of out-of-school interventions. Through GPE KIX applied research and the KIX Africa 19 Hub, collaborative policy leadership is driving transformative education reforms in Ghana to ensure no child is excluded. Additionally, GPE KIX is supporting digital education transformation in Tajikistan to expand connectivity to rural and underserved areas by informing the development of targeted interventions to bridge digital divides. Together, these efforts have expanded flexible, data-driven, and context-appropriate pathways for marginalized, displaced, and out-of-school learners to re-enter and thrive in education systems.
