Project profile — 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.

Results achieved as of the end of the project (December 2022) include: (1) delivered refresher training to key project stakeholders between April 2021 and March 2022; (2) trained 128 key ministry staff on Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) model implementation (including 52 women); (3) trained 80 Education Assistants (EAs) on the IRI model and on how to provide support to crisis-affected learning remotely (including 34 women) and 52 master trainers trained on IRI model and on how to provide support to crisis-affected learning remotely (including 15 women); (4) provided 2,426 out-of-school children with IRI classes in the 2021-2022 school year (including 972 girls); (5) rehabilitated 10 learning centres in the first year of the project; (6) provided 70 education facilities with water, sanitation and hygiene equipment; (7) provided 462 out-of-school children with school supplies in the project’s first year In the second year, the distribution of school supplies targeted IRI centers to ensure sustainability; (8) engaged 7,000 community members through community sensitization sessions coordinated by local Civil Society Organizations; and (9) provided six radio stations with broadcast radio lessons, messaging on COVID-19 information, the importance of education for all children and the importance of women’s inclusion in decision-making.