Making Waves: Gender-Inclusive Radio-Based Education in the Democratic Republic of Congo

This project aims to improve learning outcomes for out-of-school children particularly girls and children with disabilities in conflict-affected and marginalized communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The project builds on a four-year pilot project that uses interactive radio instruction (IRI) to reach learners that are unable to participate in the formal school system. In conflict-affected areas schools are often damaged or used as militia bases and fear of abduction by armed groups as well as extensive population displacement has led many children to miss out on education or experience disruption in their studies. It is estimated that 7.3 million school-aged children between the ages of 5 and 17 including 3.9 million girls are out of school. Project activities include: (1) expanding the curriculum for IRI to include the full cycle of primary school grades; (2) building the capacity of officials from the ministries of Education and Social Affairs as well as teachers and education assistants to provide alternative learning services to out-of-school children that are gender-responsive inclusive and adapted to crisis and conflict-affected contexts; (3) establishing 10 IRI learning centres in three provinces (South Kivu Kinshasa and a third province to be determined); (4) studying IRI as a means of delivering gender-responsive alternative education to out-of-school children and children with disabilities including girls; and (5) conducting mobilization activities led by community members and targeting mothers fathers youth and key community actors to promote behavioural change and redefine social norms related to gender the status of girls and the importance of their education.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improving the delivery of innovative and gender-sensitive education services in marginalized and conflict-affected communities; and (2) reduced barriers to education and learning (both formal and non-formal) for children and children with disabilities including girls in conflict-affected and marginalized communities.