Assignment Reports
This report focuses on the specific challenges and opportunities of states that are making two challenging concurrent transitions, away from both extreme poverty and from conflict. First, they are ‘countries where the longer term prospects of the poor to escape poverty are overall good, but not necessarily secure or sustainable, and at risk of development… Read more
This Second-Stage Report follows an initial scoping study (the ‘Inception Report’) and is intended to provide the Department for International Development (DFID) with support for the 2018 launch of its Education Technology Hub for Research and Innovation. This report seeks to provide actionable understanding of the EdTech ‘landscape’ in seven focal countries: Bangladesh, India, Jordan,… Read more
The last decade has witnessed renewed interest in the social benefits of higher education, with recent research suggesting that universities have a role in nurturing developmental leaders who enable positive change and better governance in low-income and conflict-affected countries (Brannelly et al, 2011b). This review summarises available evidence on the relationship between higher education, developmental… Read more
This rapid review is based on 5 days of desk-based research. It is designed to provide a brief overview of the key issues, and a summary of pertinent evidence found within the time permitted. The literature was identified using two methods. Firstly, a number of experts were identified and contacted. They were asked to provide… Read more
This report describes the impacts of the winter cash transfer programme run by UNHCR and partners from November 2013 to April 2014. The programme gave $575 USD via ATM cards to 87,700 registered Syrian refugees in Lebanon with the objective of keeping people warm and dry during cold winter months. This research measured the impacts… Read more
This report examines the influences on educational programming in conflict-induced emergencies. It questions whether standardised interventions are appropriate and effective educational responses, and focuses on child-friendly spaces, school-feeding programmes, and pre-packaged education kits. It draws on a review of literature, and the country studies of Sudan, Lebanon, Uganda, and Timor-Leste.
In Syria, the crisis has pushed the capacity of basic social services to the breaking point, with a devastating impact on 4.5 million children. A total of 2 million children are out of school and one in five schools has been destroyed, damaged, or used for other purposes, including occupation by armed groups. The economic… Read more
The rationale for this study derives from the challenging political and humanitarian crisis that has built up over the past four years in Syria and has resulted in the displacement of 7.6 million Syrians inside their country and the movement of millions more into neighbouring countries, mainly Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. There are four… Read more
Over 1.1 million Syrian children have registered as refugees with UNHCR worldwide. Of this number, some 75 per cent are under the age of 12. Children represent 52 per cent of the total Syrian refugee population, which now exceeds 2.2 million. This report highlights the painful challenges these refugee children face every day. Research conducted over four… Read more
Child friendly spaces (CFS) have become a widely used approach to protect and provide psychosocial support to children in emergencies. However, little evidence documents their outcomes and impacts. There is widespread commitment among humanitarian agencies to strengthen the evidence base of programming. This report summarises studies on CFS in various crises: Buramino refugee camp, Ethiopia; Rwamwanja… Read more
The Syrian civil war has displaced half of Syria’s population, with civilians fleeing internally or to other countries. Neighboring countries—particularly Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt— have opened borders to the refugees in response to such great humanitarian need, and the international aid community has responded with assistance. A particular area of concern is education… Read more