This study presents a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of the My Village foundational learning camps, an accelerated learning intervention implemented in rural Nepal and Tanzania. Although both contexts employ a common Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) pedagogy—grouping children by ability and providing targeted literacy and numeracy instruction—the delivery models differ: Nepal adopts a community-led structure, whereas Tanzania implements a school-led approach. Using detailed ingredients-based costing and harmonized measures of learning outcomes, this study compares the costs, impacts, and value for money of these two context-responsive models.

Effectiveness is estimated using baseline and endline assessments based on the International Common Assessments of Numeracy and Reading (ICAN/ICARe), using Difference-in-Differences models combined with Propensity Score Matching and entropy balancing to address selection bias. Results indicate substantial improvements in foundational skills in both countries, with markedly larger gains in Nepal’s community-led camps. Cost analysis shows that Nepal’s model achieved a lower cost per child (US$15.12) than Tanzania’s (US$24.47). When linked to learning gains, Nepal exhibits significantly higher cost-effectiveness ratios, reflecting both lower delivery costs and stronger impacts.

Heterogeneity analyses reveal larger benefits for younger children and those from the lowest wealth groups, highlighting the equity potential of foundational learning interventions. Together, these findings demonstrate how delivery setting shapes both costs and outcomes and illustrate the importance of context-responsive models for achieving cost-effective and equitable learning gains in resource-constrained environments.

Authors:
Yuyan Jiang, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Najme Kishani, PAL Network, Kenya
Ricardo Sabates, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Yuyan Jiang is currently a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge, UK. Her research focuses on social mobility and inequality in education.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

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