Endline Evaluation Brief: Education and Child Protection Integrated Program in Sidama, Central and South Ethiopia Regional States (Ethiopia, 2026)

Implemented by Save the Children from March 2023 to July 2026 across Sidama, South Ethiopia, and Central Ethiopia, the integrated Education and Child Protection Program successfully improved foundational learning, school readiness, and child safety in vulnerable communities. Evaluated across 14 woredas using mixed-methods assessments (including IDELA, EGRA, and EGMA), the program delivered substantial gains: IDELA scores rose from 54% to 72%, primary enrolment surged from 49% to 97.6%, enrolment of children with disabilities more than doubled, and reading comprehension improved by nearly 30 percentage points. Concurrently, child protection systems were strengthened, raising the resolution of reported child protection cases from 2.2% to 45% and public denunciation of harmful practices (such as Mingi) from 12.5% to 31.5%. Overall, the program proved highly effective in delivering mutually reinforcing benefits for learning and child wellbeing, though long-term sustainability will require ongoing investment to address regional disparities, persistent traditional practices, and referral system gaps.