Research

Dubai Cares curated the “Escuela Nueva (VNEN) Impact Assessment – Vietnam” as part of its Evidence Dossier, contributing high-quality, policy-relevant research to our Quality Basic Education portfolio. Conducted by the World Bank Group between 2013 and 2017, the study followed a student cohort from Grade 3 to Grade 5 to rigorously assess the impact of Vietnam Escuela Nueva (VNEN)—a child-centred, collaborative learning model adapted from the original Escuela Nueva approach.   The evaluation found positive effects on both cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes, along with a favourable benefit–cost ratio, reinforcing the economic case for scaling VNEN-style pedagogy within public education systems.  

This programme supported the development, translation, and global dissemination of a special issue of Forced Migration Review focused on education in displacement. The initiative aimed to elevate evidence and perspectives from the field, highlighting the challenges, innovations, and policy responses shaping education for displaced populations. By contributing to this issue, Dubai Cares helped ensure that research and practitioner insights reached key stakeholders, informing global dialogue and action on education in crisis contexts.

In 2018, Dubai Cares funded an impact evaluation to support the scale-up of Learning and Educational Achievement in Pakistan Schools, a youth-led early childhood education programme in rural Pakistan. Learning and Educational Achievement in Pakistan Schools empowers young female Community Youth Leaders to deliver high-quality preschool education, advancing both early childhood development and youth empowerment. This gender-sensitive model addresses gaps in access and quality by equipping young women to lead ECE classrooms in underserved areas.   The evaluation, which showed significant gains in children’s school readiness and improvements in the executive functioning and professional development of youth leaders, is helping scale Learning and Educational Achievement in Pakistan and informing its replication in Colombia. Through this investment, Dubai Cares is driving evidence-based, scalable solutions for early learning and youth development.  

As part of its commitment to Generation Unlimited, Dubai Cares supported research to build the business case for and inform the design of the Learning Passport—a global digital platform that enables children and youth affected by education disruptions to continue learning. This support helped shape the platform’s strategic direction by identifying key needs, use cases, and implementation pathways, ensuring it could effectively serve learners in crisis-affected and underserved contexts. Today, the Learning Passport is being deployed across multiple countries, offering flexible, locally adapted content to bridge gaps in access and continuity of education.

Dubai Cares supported the scale-up of Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL), an approach pioneered by Pratham in India that groups children by learning level rather than age or grade. Backed by Dubai Cares through the Read India III Campaign, TaRL has shown strong results in improving literacy and numeracy among nearly 500,000 children between 2013 and 2016.   To expand its impact, Pratham partnered with J-PAL to launch a five-year programme in Africa, delivering TaRL directly in three countries and through partners in at least five more. A key component is the creation of a learning and innovation hub, supported by Dubai Cares over two years, to document lessons, test new approaches—especially around technology—and refine tools for scale. This hub will help develop adaptable TaRL models across diverse African contexts, ultimately reaching 3 million children with quality education.  

Schools2030 is a bold, decade-long action research initiative spanning 10 countries, designed to transform education by generating evidence that is locally grounded and globally relevant. Centered around human-centered design, the program empowers frontline educators—teachers, school leaders, and administrators—to become co-creators of knowledge and innovation in their classrooms. As one of the founding donors, Dubai Cares supports this pioneering model that delivers practical insights into how school-based, teacher-led solutions can enhance lifelong learning. By tracking the learning journeys of children and youth, Schools2030 is building a powerful evidence base to inform policy, improve practice, and reimagine education systems from the ground up.