Endline Evaluation of Hilton Foundation’s ECD and Livelihoods Project in Refugee Camps and Host Communities of Gambella Region, Ethiopia (2026)

From 2023 to 2025, Save the Children and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation implemented an integrated Early Childhood Development (ECD), health, nutrition, and livelihoods project across refugee camps and host communities in the Gambella Region of Ethiopia to support young children aged 0–6 and their caregivers. An end-line evaluation utilizing a mixed-methods approach (including 626 caregiver surveys, 24 focus group discussions, and 18 key informant interviews) revealed that the project was highly effective, driving significant gains such as an increase in average IDELA school-readiness scores from 48.7% to 71.9%, high adoption of positive parenting practices (90.1%), improved health and nutrition access (90.4%), and stronger household economic resilience. While the integrated delivery model successfully generated mutually reinforcing benefits—such as enhanced caregiver confidence and greater financial inclusion—challenges like the persistence of physical punishment, limited disability inclusion, and sustainability risks remain, highlighting the need for continued investment, institutional integration, and government ownership.