Intersectoral barriers to boys and girls accessing education include household poverty, abuse, remoteness, poor infrastructure and socio-cultural norms. Attrition, insufficient teachers and low capacity, and risks of violence and/or emergencies jeopardise both learning quality and continuity. In response to such current realities, UNICEF Zimbabwe’s ‘Quality Learning and Skills Development’ programme has shifted the emphasis from education to learning, focussing on services and inclusiveness for both children and adolescents, particularly the disadvantaged and those in humanitarian settings. The programme is about accessing equitable and quality learning opportunities in an efficient, effective and resilient education system.