Annex 3 - Ethics and Safeguarding for Access and Learning Study

The GEC Independent Evaluation Ethical Research and Safeguarding Framework (see Annex 2) forms the ethical framework that guides all research and data collection protocols for the IE. These ethical research and safeguarding guidelines apply to the design, implementation and reporting of all research and evaluation activities conducted as part of the IE of Phase II of the GEC, including the Access and Learning study.

Overview of Ethical Research Protocols

For the purpose of this Evaluation Study, the Ethical Research and Safeguarding Framework was operationalised in the study research through three key processes:

(1) Development of ethics forms and protocols with our local data collection partners and in consultation with IPs participating in the research;

(2) Training field staff in the use of these forms and protocols and piloting them at the same time as piloting the research instruments; and

(3) Ensuring that all research, analysis and reporting strictly applies and adheres to the IE team’s guidance and protocols.

In addition, ethical clearanc e and research permissions were sought prior to all data collection activities being conducted.

Ethics forms and consent/ assent processes

For the purpose of this study, as we interviewed girls under the age of 18 years old targeted by GEC projects, plain language statements (PLS) and consent forms and assent forms were developed to ensure meaningful consent (and assent) was acquired from children and their parents, caregivers or guardians prior to participation in the study.

These forms provide detailed information about the research, including information about the content and purpose of the interview, possible benefits and risks of participation, the anticipated uses of the data, how data will be stored and kept secure, and details of how participants can remove their data at a later stage. Consent forms were also adapted for participants aged 18 years and above, including teachers, caregivers and other stakeholders who we spoke to during the research.

Forms were translated into local languages and distributed to children and their caregivers through schools in advance of the research taking place by our local data collection partners in collaboration with the sampled projects.

A copy of the consent and assent forms that were used during fieldwork is available in Annex 1 ‘Research Instruments and Consent Forms’.

Training in ethical research and safeguarding

Research staff, including staff from our local data collection partners Research Plus Africa and Rooster Logic, received full training by our study team in ethical research protocols and safeguarding procedures. This included training in sensitive interviewing methods, how to speak to participants in ways that Do No Harm, use of consent and assent forms, and how to interview children and vulnerable adults. Trainings also covered interviewing remotely and detailed information about how to respond to safeguarding concerns or reports made during primary data collection, and who to report incidents to.

Ethical Board Approvals

In each country, local partners obtained research permissions using standard protocols in both Kenya and Nepal. In all countries, final permission was obtained from respondents themselves through informed consent. With support of the GEC implementing partners – EDT in Kenya and Mercy Corps in Nepal – our teams contacted girls and their parents or caregivers and distributed consent forms via their schools prior to the research team’s arrival in the area. For cases in which the respondent was 18 or older, no parental consent was required; teams obtained consent from the girl only. For girls who were under the age of 19 and married, the team gained consent from the girl and an adult over 18 in the household, often an in-law.