Thuso

🌟 A historic moment for African education! 34 nations, led by 22 Ministers of Education, and over 500 education experts from the African continent have united behind an unprecedented commitment to end learning poverty by 2035. The statistics are stark, but the resolve is strong and loud. Some of the key targets discussed: ✅ Reinforcing the call for the African Union to declare a Decade of Education ✅ Committing to developing robust continental accountability mechanisms ✅ Focusing our efforts towards evidence-based approaches to improve learning outcomes ✅ Developing and sharing insights on innovative funding models that can achieve maximum impact ✅ Enhancing cross-country collaboration As H.E. Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, and Africa Champion for Foundational Learning noted: "Foundational learning is the most effective way to break cycles of poverty, foster sustainable development and build productive and resilient societies." This isn't just an education initiative—it's Africa taking charge of its future. Proud to be part of this transformative moment. Well done to all who tirelessly worked to make this event such a success! Stay tuned for more news on the key outcomes and pathways that emerged from FLEX2024. Aluta continua! #FLEx2024 #AfricanEducation #YearOfEducation2024 #AfricanEducation #LearningCrisis #EducationTransformation #FutureOfAfrica #EducationInnovation #FoundationalLearning #SDG4 #AfricaFLEX2024 African Union UNICEF Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) PAL Network GEM Report UNESCO The World Bank Human Capital Africa Global Partnership for Education Hempel Foundation African Renaissance Trust UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning

Highlights from Day 2 of #FLEX2024 Here's a short video that highlights the powerful intervention of stakeholders at the opening event of #AfricaFLEX2024. The World Bank | UNICEF | GEM Report UNESCO | Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Hub | NewGlobe | Hempel Foundation | Hakainde Hichilema | Ministry of Education, Government of Rwanda | African Union | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | planitswiss | Joseph Nsengimana | Victoria Kwakwa | Benjamin Piper | Albert Nsengiyumva | Chinedu Anarado | Victoria Egbetayo | Nic Spaull | Clio Dintilhac

“To invest in foundational learning is to invest in a country’s future. A society cannot thrive when its youth are unprepared to contribute to the economy. Reading and understanding a simple text by age ten is not just a milestone, it is a gateway to economic success and a better future for all." An excerpt from my remarks at yesterday’s Ministerial Roundtable “'From Commitment to Action: Governments Leading the End Learning Poverty Campaign” at FLEX2 in Rwanda. Investing in FLN is more than just a policy, it is a long-term strategy leading to benefits for African students and their countries.Every dollar spent on early education returns in the form of reduced dropout rates, lower educational costs, and diminished reliance on social services. I am at the Africa Foundational Learning Exchange in Kigali for critical discussions on how we can drive forward foundational learning outcomes for chidlren across our continent.  Sierra Leone allocates 22% of our national budget to education, one of the highest in Africa, even as we recover from global challenges like COVID-19. As a result of this investment, school enrolments have surged, with over a million more children now in classrooms, thanks to initiatives like the Radical Inclusion Policy, which eliminates school fees and makes education accessible to the most vulnerable. However, enrolment alone is not enough. We have dedicated significant resources to the roll out of our ambitious National Foundational Learning Program, which focuses on literacy and numeracy from the earliest years. This program is designed to ensure that every child has the foundational skills they need to succeed academically and contribute to the economy. FLEX2 provides a forum for renewed commitment and action to the building Foundational Learning Agenda in Africa. The question is not only how we start this journey but how we sustain it and ensure that its momentum benefits every corner of the continent.

A very positive initial day at the FLEX' - 'Moving Together from Commitments to Action at Scale' event at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda this week. Delighted to have been able to serve as moderator of the Ministerial Roundtable: 'From Commitment to Action: Governments Leading the End Learning Poverty Campaign', and to have served as a Panelist for the 'Making sure they are Ready and Supported: Delivering High Quality Teacher Training and CPD in Foundational Learning' Session, Moderated by Dr. Suman Sachdeva Ph.D, Education Specialist and Global Lead on Foundational Learning at UNICEF, alongside other panelists from throughout Africa: Stephen Owusu, Deputy Director General of the Ghana Education Service; Professor Yattu Kanu, Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Sierra Leone; Sanet Steenkamp, Executive Director Ministry of Education, Namibia; Huruma Elias Mageni, Assistant Director, Teacher Education at the Ministry of Science and Technology, Tanzania; Olugbolahan Afowowe, Assistant Director Basic Education Department, Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria; and Sharon Haba, Education Office Deputy Director, USAID, Rwanda. Many thanks to Haritz Goya Lujambio, of UNICEF WACARO for his guidance and input ahead of the Session.

Grateful to have had the opportunity to moderate the Ministerial Roundtable: 'From Commitment to Action: Governments Leading the End Learning Poverty Campaign', as part of the wider Africa Foundational Learning Exchange 'FLEX' - 'Moving Together from Commitments to Action at Scale' event at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda today, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Government of Rwanda, The World Bank Group, Hempel Foundation, Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), UNICEF, USAID, and NewGlobe. Very pleased to have been able to engage closely with The Hon. Minister of Education of Malawi, Madalitso Wirima Kambauwa, and the Hon. Minister Conrad Sackey, of Sierra Leone, following opening remarks by sophia ashipala of the African Union, and Wongani Grace Taulo of UNICEF. Likewise, some very insightful presentations by Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili, Chinwe Umeh-Ujubuonu, Manos Antoninis, Professor Brahm Fleisch, and Moitshepi Matsheng, and strong closing remarks by Jephthe Mve Mvondo of UNICEF, calling for continued engagement with the End Learning Poverty for All in Africa (ELPAF), launched at the African Union Commission earlier this year. Many thanks to Naila Butt of the African Union for serving as moderator for the wider session. Very much looking forward to the remainder of the event in Kigali in the coming week.

The founder and CEO of Human Capital Africa, Dr. Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili, will speak at the African Union's session, "Empowering Africa's Future: Advancing Foundational Literacy and Numeracy to End Learning Poverty.” Following the African Union's declaration of 2024 as the Year of Education and the launch of the End Learning Poverty Campaign, the need to check and balance our progress, learn from best practices, and scale interventions that work has never been more critical. Dr. Oby will set the stage for the conversations during this session on November 11th from 3:10 PM to 5:00 PM at Main Hall 3 of the Kigali Conference Centre.

Save the Date! Join us at the Africa FLEX Conference for a high-impact session titled "Empowering Africa's Future: Advancing Foundational Literacy and Numeracy to End Learning Poverty". Taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, Main Hall 4, from 11:20 to 1:00 pm, this session will bring together leaders from the African Union, UNICEF, and partner organizations to deepen political commitment, showcase transformative achievements, and foster powerful cross-sector collaborations. Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to ending learning poverty in Africa and empowering the next generation. Matthew Goldie-Scot Wongani Grace Taulo Polycarp O. Otieno David Albert Michael Amira Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Hub #AfricaFLEX2024 #EndLearningPoverty #YearOfEducation

It was a pleasure delivering the first draft of the #National #bluecarbon policy for #Seychelles with Michael Brown, on behalf Thuso at a National workshop that took place today. The next steps include cumulating all this feedback from the workshop as well as online to produce a second draft for validation towards the end of November. This piece of work would place Seychelles at the forefront of the blue carbon agenda within the region, thanks to the support from The Commonwealth Secretariat and SeyCCAT (Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust) to the government of Seychelles. #cop29 #climateaction #carbonmarkets #sustainability #resilience Seychelles Ministry of Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning NDC Partnership Matthew Goldie-Scot Alexandra Tigan Aurelius Nkonde Uzoamaka Nwamarah

Very pleased that Michael Brown is taking on a new role as Senior Consultant at Thuso, overseeing the continued growth of the group's work in Environment Agriculture, and Conservation, with a particular focus on Africa, and Small-Island States. A very well deserved promotion, and a credit to the outstanding work he has done to date, engaging closely with many of Thuso's key clients, including Save the Children Australia, and The Commonwealth Secretariat. Looking forward to seeing his career continuing to develop.

Delighted to have had the opportunity to contribute to today's International Scientific and Practical Conference, hosted by the Republican Scientific and Methodological Center for the Development of Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the University of Management and Future Technologies, delivering a short presentation ‘Reflecting on recent national policy initiatives, lessons and opportunities’. Very positive to be able to reflect on the considerable process made to date, in Uzbekistan, with support from UNICEF, the Global Partnership for Education, and other partners, and to hear from other speakers, including: Star Xin NIE, CEO of the Global New Energy Academy; Bo Ning, Professor at Shanghai Normal University and the UNESCO Teacher Training Centre; Choon Yip Sitoe, of the National Institute of Education, Singapore, Nanyang Technological University Singapore; and James Waldron, Director of Society at 100 Principals for 100 Principles. Very much looking forward to seeing these important reforms in Uzbekistan continue, in close collaboration with Alberto Biancoli, Yana Chicherina, and the wider team at UNICEF.