Why the Helpdesk?
The Challenge
Education systems are increasingly operating in contexts of polycrisis, where displacement, climate-related disasters, violent conflict, health epidemics, and economic and political instability intersect to disrupt learning at the very moment it is needed most. Meanwhile, innovative financing is urgently needed while education in emergencies remains underfunded and under-prioritised within humanitarian response.
In these volatile contexts, decision-makers require timely, reliable research and data to ensure access to quality, continuous education. Yet persistent gaps between research, policy, and practice make informed, real-time decision-making a significant challenge.
How we help
The ERICC Helpdesk was established to address these challenges by providing actionable, evidence-backed guidance to support meaningful change in education programmes and policies. In response to queries from FCDO education advisors, the Helpdesk provides tailored technical assistance and research reports designed to strengthen decision-making and maximise impact.
Drawing on the expertise of local and international specialists across more than 40 topic areas, the Helpdesk translates rigorous research into practical, context-relevant recommendations that bridge the gap between research and implementation.
Our Services
We work to provide evidence-driven support to help FCDO education advisors make informed choices that lead to meaningful outcomes for the learning and development of children in crisis and conflict. Our services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each requester, and fall into three broad categories of support:
Rapid evidence reviews
We conduct swift, rigorous syntheses of existing evidence on specific questions, enabling decision-makers to quickly access the research they need to inform their work.
Data collection
We support the design and implementation of context-appropriate data collection activities to help organisations gather, analyse, and use evidence effectively in their programming.
Technical assistance
We provide hands-on technical support throughout the policy and programme lifecycle—from design and development to implementation and evaluation. Services include: Support for policy and programme design Monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems Capacity strengthening
Visit our Response Library to view publicly available reports written in response to past requests.
Our Roster of Experts
Our Helpdesk brings together over 50 highly skilled experts and senior researchers from the International Rescue Committee (IRC), partner organisations across the ERICC consortium, and external expert consultants. Together, they represent a unique blend of technical, research, and policy expertise grounded in extensive experience in education in crisis and protracted conflict contexts. Spanning more than 40 topic areas and based in over 15 countries, our roster includes both local and international specialists with deep contextual knowledge across ERICC focal countries and beyond. Education practitioners provide specialised technical and programmatic support, while researchers and academics contribute rigorous qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method expertise. Across all services, our team delivers evidence-based guidance, strengthens and scales programmes, and supports informed decision-making with globally informed and locally grounded perspectives.
TESTIMONIALS
"The team was so responsive, professional, and flexible. They really went above and beyond in not just the quality of the work, but their willingness to help non-experts grasp a complicated subject."
"We have been hugely appreciative of the ERICC Helpdesk and its engagement, support, and capacity. It has been helpful not only for generating invaluable research but has also … enabled us to build relationships and garner trust from other key education stakeholders."
"[The researchers] are comprehensive and responsive in their approach to research and engagement. The final product is hugely helpful in informing both Post and partner programmatic and policy decisions and has already been utilised to inform the design of advocacy priorities."
ERICC Research Programme Consortium
The Education Research in Conflict and Protracted Crisis (ERICC) programme also hosts the ERICC research consortium which is building an evidence base to support education systems strengthening, and ultimately support children’s holistic learning and development in conflict and crisis. Learn more about the ERICC Programme and check out ERICC publications.
ERICC member organisations include:
Centre for Lebanese Studies
Common Heritage Foundation
International Rescue Committee
ODI
Otherwise
Queen Rania Foundation
UCL