Learning at Home: Village-Based Support for Children (LH-VSC)

Conflict in Amhara region of Ethiopia resulted in a significant school disruption. For instance; in 2025/2026 academic year, about 60% of school-age children were out of school,which is substantially larger than the global average (16%) and the sub-Saharan African average(30%). These disruptions have caused substantial learning losses, due to prolonged closure of formal schools or families are reluctant to send their children to school as most areas become unsafe for long travel.To bridge this, the project proposes anear- peer learning intervention, that is delivered through village-level centers located close to children’s homes.The intervention targets children in Grades 1 to 4 (first cycle primary education) and pairs them with community tutors—students who have completed at least upper primary school (Grades 7–8).The central research question is: Does a near- peer learning intervention in conflict-affected areas improve foundational skills? Before the implementation of the intervention, we propose to undertake an exploratory study to inform the design of a future randomized controlled trial (RCT).The exploratory study focuses on assessing the feasibility of the intervention and identifying partners supporting program delivery. Data will be collected through key informant interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) with students, families, tutors, and community leaders. The study generates context-specific evidence to guide scalable education interventions in conflict-affected areas.