Summary

IMPACTS ON GIRLS’ LEARNING

• During school closures, opportunities for learning were significantly limited, with many children unable to access remote learning or receive learning support.

• Projects found that girls faced increased pressure to do housework and participate in incomegenerating activities, which negatively impacted their ability to learn.

• Solutions: Project interventions ranged from distributing radios to supporting Ministry of Education (MoE) distance learning initiatives to using small community-based learning groups.

IMPACTS ON GIRLS’ SAFETY AND WELLBEING

• GEC projects documented the negative impact of COVID-19 on the safety and wellbeing of women and girls across all three countries. The reports included an increase in incidences of violence against girls and increased rates of pregnancy and early marriage.

• This correlates with the broader external evidence in the region. For example, gender-based violence (GBV) cases in West Africa increased by over 100%, from 308 in January 2020 to over 3,000 reported cases by May 31, 2020 .

• Across the region, GEC projects reported the negative impact of COVID-19 on girls’ mental health.

• Solutions: Interventions included providing psychological first aid (PFA) training for project staff, volunteers and teachers, and creating safe spaces during group community-based learning sessions.

IMPACTS ON GIRLS’ RETURN TO SCHOOL

• Across the three GEC countries, COVID-19 has negatively impacted school enrolment rates for girls.

• Whilst reasons for non-return across GEC projects in the region vary, they include migration, early marriage, teenage pregnancy and an increased focus on income-generation.

• Although the reasons for dropout are similar to those seen post-Ebola, it is worth noting that in March 2020, the Sierra Leonean government overturned their decision to prevent pregnant girls from attending school and sitting exams, a significant step towards keeping girls in education.

• Solutions: GEC project interventions focused on keeping in close contact with girls, providing COVID-19 messaging to assuage fears of transmission at school, and the provision of cash transfers to young mothers, girls with disabilities and girls in older grades to encourage their return to school.