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Good practice Imported

aprendIA — IRC's AI Chatbot Bringing Learning Support to Crisis-Affected Northeast Nigeria

Nigeria · Maiduguri · See the Nigeria profile

Evidence: Descriptive / self-reported Top 42% 53/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

The International Rescue Committee's aprendIA chatbot uses OpenAI's models on WhatsApp and SMS to coach teachers and caregivers of crisis-affected children in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. Initial testing found 78% of educators found it intuitive, used 3-4 times weekly.

78 %
Educators finding the tool intuitive
10000
Target teachers/caregivers reached
250000 $
OpenAI award
aprendIA — IRC's AI Chatbot Bringing Learning Support to Crisis-Affected Northeast Nigeria

Details

Maturity
Pilot
Promoter
International Rescue Committee (IRC) — Airbel Impact Lab, with OpenAI
Period
2024–ongoing (Nigeria testing 2025–2026)
Keywords
AI chatbot, refugee and crisis-affected education, non-formal learning, teacher and caregiver coaching

Context

The IRC's Airbel Impact Lab built aprendIA, an AI chatbot on RapidPro (UNICEF's messaging engine) integrated with OpenAI's ChatGPT, delivering pedagogical support over WhatsApp/SMS in conflict-affected Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, northeast Nigeria — channels that need no smartphone or reliable internet.

Results

In initial testing, educators used the tool 3-4 times a week for 30-40 minute sessions; 78% found it intuitive, and users reported higher learner engagement and reduced workload. Backed partly by a $250,000 OpenAI award, IRC aims to reach 10,000 teachers/caregivers, indirectly affecting ~500,000 students.

Conclusions

The claimed cost advantage ('less than half the cost of traditional teacher training') is IRC's internal estimate, not independently verified.

Implementation
Indicative cost
Low (< €50k)
Time to results
Short (< 1 year)
Staffing & skills
IRC Airbel Impact Lab team, participating educators

Conditions for success

  • SMS/WhatsApp delivery requiring no smartphone or reliable internet
  • rapid context-adaptation playbook (14 days)

Commonly funded by

Philanthropic / foundation funding

Indicative funding routes for practices of this type — always check each programme's current calls and eligibility rules.

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Data sources

Where this practice's information was retrieved from, and when.

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