Final report: Secondary analysis and application of the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS) for the education sector

The study was conducted by AidData at William & Mary, with funding from USAID's Bureau for Africa, from August 2018 to September 2021. The analysis focused on three countries: Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, and Zambia. In Côte d'Ivoire, the study found correlations between violence and gender-related attitudes, including recognition of women's rights as a major national problem and support for female political leaders. The analysis also revealed correlations between violence and education-related attitudes, such as prioritization of government education spending and prevalence of educational bribes. In Kenya, the study found that the prevalence of educational bribes was significantly higher in areas with higher levels of violence. The analysis also revealed correlations between violence and female involvement in the community, including involvement in community activities and groups. In Zambia, the study found that the recognition of education as a major national problem was significantly higher in areas with higher levels of violence. The study used a combination of data sources, including the VACS, Afrobarometer, and GADM department shapefile. The VACS data were merged with Afrobarometer data to generate correlations between violence and various attitudes and behaviors. The analysis also used Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression to examine the relationships between violence and education-related outcomes. The study's findings have implications for the development of effective interventions to address violence against children and youth in the education sector. The analysis suggests that addressing violence requires a comprehensive approach that takes into account the complex relationships between violence, gender, and education. The study's recommendations include increasing support for female political leaders, prioritizing government education spending, and addressing the prevalence of educational bribes. The study's methodology involved a two-phase approach. Phase 1 involved a review of existing literature and data on violence against children and youth in the education sector. Phase 2 involved the analysis of VACS and Afrobarometer data to examine the relationships between violence and various attitudes and behaviors. The study's results have implications for policymakers and practitioners working to address violence against children and youth in the education sector. The analysis suggests that addressing violence requires a comprehensive approach that takes into account the complex relationships between violence, gender, and education.