Knowledge Hub

Supporting Syrian families displaced by armed conflict: A pilot randomized controlled trial of the Caregiver Support Intervention

BeThere Aug. 1, 2020

War Child Holland’s Caregiver Support Intervention (CSI) aims to strengthen parenting by lowering stress and improving psychosocial wellbeing among refugee parents, while also increasing knowledge and skill related to positive parenting. The CSI is a nine-session group intervention delivered by non-specialist providers. This paper describes the findings of a two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the CSI with Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The primary aim was to test the feasibility of our study methodology prior to conducting a definitive RCT.

Scaling Education Technology Innovations: A Policy Network Case Study in Uganda

Can't Wait to Learn June 1, 2023

This report presents the results of an Education Technology (EdTech) Policy Network Analysis conducted in Uganda as part of War Child’s research agenda on how to scale up EdTech in countries affected by conflict, and is funded by the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX); a joint endeavor of the International Development Research Centre and the Global Partnership for Education. It aims to identify key actors and relationships in the EdTech sector in Uganda to understand how EdTech can be better utilised to accelerate progress towards SDG4, with a particular focus on how EdTech programmes, such as War Child’s Can’t Wait to Learn, can be effectively scaled up. The study consists of three methods: semi-structured interviews with six key informants in the EdTech sector, an analysis of relevant policy documents, and a social network analysis of relationships between EdTech actors.

Can't Wait to Learn Qualitative Evaluation in Uganda

Can't Wait to Learn Jan. 2, 2024

In the current climate of protracted crises and forced displacement, there is a growing demand for evidence-based and scalable education programmes. In 2020, War Child Alliance (WCA) was awarded a Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (GPE KIX) global grant to generate knowledge and evidence on how education technology (EdTech) innovations can be adapted and scaled to improve education access and quality for refugee and displaced children in conflict-affected countries. KIX is a joint initiative by the GPE and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) which aims to connect expertise, innovation, and knowledge to strengthen education systems and accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4 in GPE partner countries. Our research (2020-2024) has taken place in Chad, Sudan and Uganda, centered on War Child’s flagship education programme, Can’t Wait to Learn.

Assessment of service provider competency for child and adolescent psychological treatments and psychosocial services in global mental health: evaluation of feasibility and reliability of the WeACT tool in Gaza, Palestine

Quality of Care Feb. 22, 2021

This study identifies a scarcity of evaluated tools to assess whether non-specialist providers achieve minimum levels of competency to effectively and safely deliver psychological interventions in low- and middle-income countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and utility of the newly developed Working with children – Assessment of Competencies Tool (WeACT) to assess service providers’ competencies in Gaza, Palestine. It evaluated; (1) psychometric properties of the WeACT based on observed role-plays by trainers/supervisors; (2) sensitivity to change among service provider competencies using pre-and-post training WeACT scores on standardized role-plays; (3) in-service competencies among experienced service providers using standardized role-plays.

Psychological and Social Suffering of Another Generation of Palestinian Children Living Under Occupation: An Urgent Call to Advocate

MHPSS May 1, 2024

Scaling Education Innovations: Findings from Multi-Country Research on the Adaptation and Scale-Up of Can't Wait to Learn in Low-Resource and Fragile Settings

Can't Wait to Learn Jan. 1, 2024

WCA’s multi-year global research programme, “Bridges to impact through innovative educational technology: Forging links between policy, research, and practice”, supported by the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (GPE KIX), is designed to address the evidence gap on how to effectively adapt and scale up EdTech solutions in conflict-affected and low-resource settings. Implemented in Uganda, Chad, and Sudan between 2020 and 2024, with a focus on Can’t Wait to Learn, the research investigated the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and conditions required for successful adoption and scaling of EdTech solutions in low-resource and fragile contexts. Also, through the project, a complementary programme – SchoolLinks – was developed. SchoolLinks aims to increase children’s access, attendance, and retention in school by strengthening caregivers’ engagement in children’s education and the home-school relationship. It is designed to increase the cost-efficiency of Can’t Wait to Learn and other education initiatives, thus supporting their scalability. Through this research, WCA also generated valuable knowledge on government adoption of EdTech solutions, providing insights into the processes and conditions that facilitate successful integration of programmes like Can’t Wait to Learn into national education systems.

Can't Wait to Learn's Research and Scaling Journey: From Development to Scale-up

Can't Wait to Learn Jan. 2, 2023

Can't Wait to Learn is a digital game based learning platform for education in emergencies. Since 2012 War Child has conducted research on Can’t Wait to Learn, not only to access its impact on children’s learning and psychosocial well-being, but also to develop and refine the programme and continually monitor and update the game to deliver the best learning outcomes for children. This evidence gives confidence to programme funders and implementers to continue working with Can’t Wait to Learn.