Innovative Finance
August 1, 2024
Context
Over a decade of conflict has devastated Syria’s education system, displacing over half the population and pushing 90% of households below the poverty line (as of 2022). 2.4 million children were out of school, and an additional 1.6 million were at risk of dropping out, with these numbers rising further following the 2023 earthquakes. One in three schools was non-functional, and overcrowding, displacement, and trauma continue to impede educational access. Vulnerabilities are especially pronounced for children with disabilities and those in Northwest Syria, where security, displacement, and infrastructure damage are acute. In response to these compounded crises, targeted educational interventions are critical to protect learning continuity and build resilience in children.
Solution
Launched in 2021, the $18.7 million GPE-funded ESPIG program is implemented by UNICEF and focuses on expanding access to non-formal education (NFE) for vulnerable children aged 3–17 across 14 Syrian governorates. It targets two main groups: out-of-school children (OOSC) and those at risk of dropping out. The program includes three tailored NFE interventions for OOSC: the Supportive Learning Program (SLP), community-based early childhood education for children aged 3-5, and inclusive education for children with disabilities. These interventions enable marginalized learners to re-enter formal education or continue along non-formal pathways suited to their needs and circumstances. The remedial education component targets children aged 6-17 at risk of dropping out due to low performance, absenteeism, displacement, or learning barriers. Delivered by NGOs in flexible schedules outside school hours, it uses adapted SLP materials, includes life skills and recreational activities, and supports academic catch-up.
Delivered year-round in flexible settings, the interventions include providing safe and inclusive learning infrastructure, trained non-formal teachers, distribution of learning and teaching material, back-to-learning campaigns, parental engagement, and recreational activities. Entry into the program is flexible and prioritizes children based on socioeconomic status and vulnerability indicators, such as displacement, disability, or previous dropout. Delivery is carried out by UNICEF in partnership with local NGOs and community-based education centers. Community engagement efforts and back-to-learning campaigns play a central role in identifying eligible children and supporting their enrollment.
The program is monitored via Cluster Monitoring, Child-Level Monitoring Tracking System (CMS), learning assessment tools, and teacher evaluations. Following the 2023 earthquakes, the program was expanded to include school rehabilitation and additional psychosocial services in affected areas.
Impact
The program enabled 52,357 children to access NFE, including 21,082 out-of-school children, 26,699 at risk of dropping out, and 4,576 young children enrolled in community-based ECE. 2,592 NFE teachers received training on improving knowledge of subject content, pedagogical skills, basic life skills education in NFE, psychosocial support (PSS), prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and child-centered methodologies.
Approximately 80% of learners completed their NFE cycle, and 12% transitioned to formal schooling, while 50% advanced within the SLP by May 2024. In earthquake-affected areas, funds were rapidly redirected to support learning continuity and school rehabilitation. Despite data collection limitations, the intervention has expanded educational access and inclusion during compounding crises. Further outcome-level evaluations are needed to assess long-term transitions and learning gains of this program.