This report evaluates the “Opportunities for Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education” (OPEQ) program aimed at enhancing learning opportunities, academic attainment and social-emotional wellbeing for more than 480,000 girls and boys in three eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In 2016 we joined other donors and humanitarian actors to commit to increase the use of humanitarian cash as part of the Grand Bargain, an agreement negotiated between donors and aid organisations. Since then, we have implemented a set of organisational reforms to achieve such a scale up which are of relevance to the wider humanitarian community.

Women are more likely to live in poorer households globally than men. Countries where this is evident are predominantly fragile or conflict-affected. In order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and ensure no one is left behind, women’s economic empowerment must be prioritized and resourced in crisis contexts.