Sierra Leone Education Initiative: Girls In School

The Girls In School (GIS) Cash+ pilot targets 1,000 girls identified as having dropped out of school or being at risk of dropping out in 28 schools across four districts (Kambia, Port Loko, Western Area Rural and Western Area Urban) and two Community Learning Centres (CLCs) in Kambia. 

Each girl receives monthly cash payments for the 2024/25 school year, conditional on their school attendance. The cash, transferred via mobile money, will enable the girls and their families to cover basic needs that might otherwise prevent them from attending school.  

Under the programme, CGA Technologies identifies, targets and monitors girls using existing, systematically collected data from Wi De Ya, the education and attendance monitoring system CGA built for the Teaching Services Commission (TSC) and Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE).  

Girls are assessed for their eligibility on the programme by analysing verified Wi De Ya data against programme eligibility criteria relating to vulnerabilities, including who they live with, whether they are overage for their year group, their maternal status, if they have a disability or if they attend, or have attended, a CLC*.  

Once girls are registered onto the programme, CGA Field Officers continue to use Wi De Ya data to monitor their attendance and follow-up with those who are persistently absent.  

As part of the pilot, CGA Technologies will also map support services in Kambia district enabling Field Officers to connect vulnerable girls to existing services, such as sexual and reproductive health and social welfare programmes.  

* Government-led Community Learning Centres (CLCs) provide informal basic education for girls who have either dropped out of school or have never been, operating as a stepping stone to re/enter formal education. 

Outputs

By integrating cash voucher assistance (CVA) with Wi De Ya, GIS enhances the impact of financial assistance on girls’ education enabling: 

1. Real-Time Monitoring:  Wi De Ya allows for real-time attendance tracking, ensuring that the financial support provided is effectively contributing to keeping girls in school. 
2. Data-Driven Decision Making and learning: The integration provides valuable data on the impact of CVA on educational outcomes, particularly linked to access. This data is used to make informed decisions, adapt and improve the programme and contribute more widely to evidence on ‘what works’.  
3. Holistic Support: By combining financial assistance with robust monitoring systems, the initiative provides holistic support to girls, addressing both the economic and educational barriers they face.  

Expected Outcomes

Using this innovative data-driven approach to CVA in education, CGA expects to:  

1. Increase Attendance and Retention: Addressing the financial barriers to education is expected to significantly increase school attendance and retention rates among targeted girls. 
2. Improve Academic Performance: With the financial burden alleviated, girls will be able to focus more on their studies, leading to improved academic performance.  
3. Enhance Safety and Well-being: The financial support will reduce the risk of girls engaging in child labour or early marriage, providing a safer and more supportive environment for their education.  
4. Strengthen Household Economic Stability: By indirectly supporting households, the initiative will contribute to the overall economic stability of families, allowing them to invest in other essential needs such as healthcare and nutrition.  
5. Enable Access to Comprehensive Support Services: The program will map available support services in Kambia to ensure that girls can access a range of wrap-around services, including Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services and social welfare programs, to enhance their overall wellbeing.