The Role and Contribution of Digital Monitoring Tools for Data-Driven ECDE Programming in the Context of Protracted Drought and Conflict-Affected Areas

• In Event: Building Resilience and Fostering Hope: Early Childhood Education in Ethiopia's Polycrisis

Proposal

Background
Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) is crucial for children's cognitive, social, and emotional development, especially in vulnerable regions impacted by crises. Ethiopia, facing prolonged drought and conflict, has seen its education system severely disrupted, making it difficult to provide equitable and quality education to young children. The Activity addresses this gap by employing innovative digital monitoring tools to collect, analyze, and use data to improve ECDE programming. This study examines how digital platforms, such as KOBO toolbox and the Activity MEAL system, have enhanced data-driven decision-making and strengthened ECDE interventions in Ethiopia's crisis-affected regions.
The project is using mobile-based data collection through the KOBO and SC MEAL systems, enabling real-time tracking of key indicators like child enrollment, attendance, learning outcomes, and the quality of learning environments. These tools are overcoming access challenges caused by environmental and security issues, facilitating timely and evidence-based responses to educational needs. This study will investigate how these tools are contributing to improved data-driven programming in Activity sites across drought- and conflict-affected areas.
Methodology
A mixed-methods approach will be used, integrating both qualitative and quantitative data from the Activity sites. Data is being collected through mobile platforms like KOBO toolbox, allowing ECDE program managers to monitor progress in real-time. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and real-time monitoring dashboards are also being used to track data remotely. Additionally, qualitative insights will be gathered through interviews with ECDE coordinators, teachers, and district education officers. Data on Activity reach, progress, fidelity to the intended intervention, and overall quality for key indicators were collected from May to July 2024. This data will be analyzed and compared with new data collected in May 2025. Framed by the Activity’s Theory of Change, this presentation will showcase the progress achieved for key indicators, and discuss the challenges encountered during the implementation of digital tools, including connectivity issues and the capacity of ECDE and MEAL staff in emergency settings to effectively use these technologies.
Results
Preliminary results have demonstrated that the integration of digital platforms in the Activity is significantly improving data collection and real-time monitoring. The study will explore how these tools will enable the rapid identification of gaps, allowing timely adjustments to programming to better meet children's learning needs. Furthermore, the use of real-time dashboards is facilitating collaboration among district education officers, implementing partners, and local communities, ensuring a coordinated response to educational challenges.
The findings will highlight barriers to the widespread adoption of digital tools, including limited internet connectivity and mobile network coverage in some regions. In addition, the study will show that the adoption of these platforms contributes to a more effective and sustainable ECDE programming approach.
Conclusion
By leveraging mobile data collection and real-time monitoring, the Activity will improve evidence based and data-driven implementation to comply and effectively respond to the educational needs of children in drought- and conflict-affected regions of Ethiopia. The evidence-based approach demonstrates potential opportunities to advocate for scaling the approach in remaining areas of the country.

Authors

• Filipa de Castro, Save the Children

• Jemal Abdulkadir KELILO, Save the children