Early Childhood Education and Development in Emergencies (ECEDiE) Evidence Hub

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The Evidence Hub is a curated collection of models, tools, and strategies to help practitioners implement dual-generational approaches that strengthen education and wellbeing outcomes for both young children and their caregivers living in protracted emergencies.

Strategic Priority

Knowledge Accelerator

Partnership Builder

About the Evidence Hub

Millions of children today are facing overlapping crises worldwide. In these settings, the well-being of caregivers and children becomes deeply interconnected. The ECEDiE Evidence Hub identifies and documents promising locally-led solutions that improve outcomes for both children and caregivers in protracted emergencies. We translate these into practitioner-focused tools that bridge research and practice. We also support practitioners with adoption and contextualisation, ensuring that solutions are responsive to local realities. Image credits: Children in Crossfire, Street Child and aeioTU.

Generation and codification of evidence

GSF runs Communities of Practice (CoP) to generate insights from CBOs and RLOs and codifies them into user-friendly and practice-oriented toolkits, databases, and resources. It also creates a space for peer learning, support, and cross-context networking among practitioners.

Iterative testing and piloting of tools

GSF facilitates iterative testing and piloting of tools by partnering with refugee-led and community-based organisations to generate culturally relevant and practical resources while strengthening their capacity to deliver ECED in protracted emergency contexts.

Dissemination of evidence

GSF disseminates learnings and amplifies best practices to key stakeholders by facilitating and participating in global and local events.

Technical assistance and adoption support

GSF provides guidance to practitioners with adoption and contextualisation of innovative models and tools to own programming in the form of one-to-one technical advisory, group workshops, access to peer learning networks etc.

Supporting practitioners to deliver ECED in crisis contexts through a Practitioner Helpdesk

The Practitioner Helpdesk supports practitioners to apply our ECEDiE toolkits in their own contexts. Our aim is to strengthen programme models, improve day-to-day practice, and enhance the delivery of ECED in crisis settings by providing practical guidance tailored to practitioner needs.

The Helpdesk offers three levels of support

Quick support

Rapid guidance to direct you to the most relevant tools or templates within the toolkits and answer quick questions via email or short calls related to their use.

Submit query here

Practitioner clinics

This is a cohort-based programme which combines guided sessions by experts, peer exchange, and advisory drop-ins to help you apply and adapt toolkit components in your programme.

Express interest in future cohorts

1:1 technical assistance

Deeper support on specific aspects of your programme informed by a brief scoping call, and delivered through tailored guidance—such as focused technical working sessions, workshops, and structured reviews on various programme components.

Toolkits

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MEL Toolkit: Dual-Generational Programmes in Emergencies

Toolkit

January 2025

3 MB

GSF, in partnership with Children in Crossfire and Busara Center, piloted a user-friendly Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) toolkit in Waliso, Ethiopia. The toolkit addresses a critical gap in measurement and guidance—providing frontline practitioners with practical tools to assess impact, strengthen delivery, and adapt programs to complex crisis contexts.

ECD in Emergencies

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MEL Toolkit Condensed Results Framework: Dual-Generational Programmes in Emergencies

Table

January 2025

313 KB

A condensed results framework provides a quick reference to core outcomes and indicators, helping practitioners align their dual-generational programme goals for crisis contexts.

ECD in Emergencies

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MEL Toolkit Tools & Templates: Dual-Generational Programmes in Emergencies

Toolkit

January 2025

1 MB

A complete set of templates and tools to support practitioners with dual-generational programming—designed to make MEL practical and accessible.

ECD in Emergencies

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Handouts and case studies

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Childcare Programmes in Refugee Contexts

Handbook

December 2024

1 MB

This handout synthesises desk research on the importance of childcare in crisis settings, highlights promising programming elements, presents a typology of childcare models for refugee contexts, and maps existing childcare providers serving refugee populations.

ECD in Emergencies

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Programming Innovations for Enhancing Psycho-Social Support to Caregivers in Humanitarian Contexts

Handbook

May 2024

2 MB

This handout synthesises desk research on the critical importance of providing psychosocial support to caregivers in refugee settings. It highlights key features of effective programmes, identifies existing gaps, and shares programming examples to illustrate approaches in practice.

ECD in Emergencies

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Learnings on Dual-Generational Programming

Handbook

March 2025

416 KB

Learnings on dual generational programming in early years in emergencies: Insights from literature review and an online community of practice

ECD in Emergencies

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88%

Of participants state that they will implement learnings from the learning sessions in their own programming.

70%

Communities of Practice have a Net Promoter Score of ~70%, reflecting high satisfaction and perceived value.

Community of Practice

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Dual-Generational Approaches in ECEDiE: Community of Practice Resources

Session

Presentation

July 2025

185 KB

This six-part series explored innovative models that linked caregiver well-being, livelihoods, and early childhood development—strengthening outcomes for both generations. It also surfaced lessons on the systems and structures needed to scale, including financing, coordination, and data.

ECD in Emergencies

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Psycho-Social Support for Caregivers in Crisis Settings: Community of Practice Resources

Session

Presentation

July 2025

98 KB

Caregivers in crisis settings face immense stress that can compromise their ability to support young children. Through a four-part series, we explored strategies to strengthen caregiver mental health and resilience.

ECD in Emergencies

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Webinars

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International Day of Play Webinar

Video

June 2024

Global Schools Forum hosted a webinar with UNICEF, BRAC, Learn to Play, and The Brookings Institution to celebrate the inaugural International Day of Play. The session explored children's right to play, highlighted promising models in low-resource settings, and discussed strategies to strengthen policies, financing, and support for scaling learning through play in humanitarian contexts

ECD in Emergencies

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MEL Toolkit Webinar: Dual-Generational Programmes in Emergencies

Video

January 2025

Global Schools Forum launched a monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) toolkit for dual-generational programmes, sharing insights from the pilot in Waliso (Ethiopia) and discussing how practitioners can apply it in their own contexts.

ECD in Emergencies

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It is rare to find an organisation that seamlessly blends global education vision with focused ground-hugging projects. Collaborating with the GSF ECEDiE Evidence Hub has been an extraordinary experience for me this year. We built a landmark sector resource together, which gave me deep insight into GSF’s learning ethos and partnership values. I love their ever-present urgency to move the needle on behalf of the most disadvantaged children.

KanuPriya Jhunjhunwala

Head of Education & MEL, Children in Crossfire

Blogs

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East Africa Regional Early Childhood Conference 2024: Key Takeaways

Case Study

March 2024

Read insights from our learning session on dual generation approaches for ECED in refugee contexts co-hosted with Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) and speakers from UNICEF Uganda, BRAC, Children in Crossfire, Children on the Edge, Kulea Watoto and Learn to Play.

ECD in Emergencies

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GSF UKFIET ECEDiE Panel: Key Takeaways

Case Study

September 2023

Read highlights from our panel session with speakers from INEE, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Government of Moldova, Street Child, and the UBS Optimus Foundation.  

ECD in Emergencies

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MEL Toolkit for Dual-Generational Programmes in Emergencies

Case Study

April 2025

This blog, co-written by GSF, Children in Crossfire, and Busara, summarises three key learnings from the development of the dual-generational MEL toolkit. The insights draw from desk research, an in-depth literature review, a workshop with local partners, and a field test conducted in the Woliso Woreda of Ethiopia’s Oromia region.

ECD in Emergencies

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Monitoring Dual-Generational Programmes in Fragile Settings: Insights from Ethiopia

Case Study

November 2024

An interview conducted by GSF with Children in Crossfire and Busara, exploring why dual-generational programming is essential in protracted emergency settings. Children in Crossfire reflect on their journey with dual-generational programming and share insights from implementing programmes in fragile contexts, while Busara highlights early lessons from the development of the dual-generational MEL toolkit.

ECD in Emergencies

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Databases

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Supporting Play in Low-Resource and Humanitarian Contexts: Curated Resources

Table

January 2024

A curated a database of resources shared by practitioners to support play-based learning in low-resource and humanitarian settings. This collection offers practical guidance and tools to help foster meaningful play experiences for children in challenging contexts.

ECD in Emergencies

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MEL Toolkit Tools: Measuring Outcomes on Dual-Generational Indicators

Table

January 2025

A curated set of tools designed to help practitioners measure outcomes for dual-generational programmes across key domains, including early learning opportunities, responsive caregiving, livelihood support, health and nutrition, social networks, and safety and security.

ECD in Emergencies

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Knowledge Accelerator

Partnership Builder

Government and Non-State Partnerships Evidence Hub

The Evidence Hub is a consolidated repository of tools and resources focused on innovative partnerships between non-state actors and governments.

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Knowledge Accelerator

Funding Catalyst

Partnership Builder

Learning Differences Evidence Hub

The Learning Differences Evidence Hub comprises promising approaches, practitioner challenges, and practical strategies to help strengthen inclusive practices and support every learner. An estimated 1 in 10 children globally have a disability, yet many education systems—particularly in low- and middle-income countries fail to meet their needs.

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