The Avaliação Longitudinal da Desistência Escola (ALDE, Longitudinal Assessment of School Dropout) is the first nationally representative mixed-method longitudinal survey in Mozambique. Around 5,400 primary school children (aged 5–22) are followed over the years to investigate and explain the patterns and drivers of boys’ and girls’ educational outcomes (staying in or dropping out of school, grade progression, etc.) through the child’s perspective and changes in his/her school experience over time. Designed to inform the policy process, ALDE contributes to strengthening policy response by providing evidence on a child’s trajectory through primary school and identifying critical time points for interventions, especially for girls.