Publication: Holistic Learning outcomes Measurement Handbook for education in emergencies and protracted crises

The purpose of this Handbook is to provide a structure for the design and execution of a tailored holistic learning outcome measurement. The Handbook takes a technical, capacity-development and research uptake approach that aims to strengthen learning assessment systems in crisis settings. This Handbook was developed as part of the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) Holistic Learning Outcomes Measurement (HLOM) programme. The programme is implemented by a global technical partner (Cambridge Education and Oxford MeasurEd), six ECW Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP) grantees – in Uganda, Iraq, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Bangladesh – and six National Assessment Partners. 

Oxford MeasurEd leads the technical design and implementation of holistic learning assessments, provides technical assistance and quality assurance to country partners, and develops practical guidance to strengthen learning measurement systems and the use of evidence in education in emergencies.

The Handbook aims to increase the availability of quality holistic learning outcomes data, improve the design and execution of holistic learning outcome measurement in EiEPC contexts, and support system strengthening. The Handbook was initially developed in 2021 to guide programme partners through the design and implementation of learning assessments across six EiEPC contexts. It was shared with country-level stakeholders before beginning country design processes and was adapted based on experiences across contexts. This 2025 edition incorporates updates based on pilot implementations, feedback and lessons learned throughout the process.