Stronger together - Strengthening global cooperation to accelerate action on foundational learning

Foundational learning is the cornerstone of all education, equipping every child with the essential building blocks and skills they need to thrive. 

Yet, the world faces a staggering learning crisis: nearly 2 out of 3 children globally are in 'learning poverty,' unable to read and understand a simple story by age 10. In Sub-Saharan Africa, this crisis is even more severe, affecting nearly nine out of every ten children.

Faced with this urgent challenge, the global education community knew it had to act differently. In 2022, the Global Coalition for Foundational Learning was formed with a mission to end learning poverty and accelerate foundational learning worldwide.

Bringing together key education partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, FCDO, UNICEF, UNESCO, USAID, the World Bank, and recently the Global Partnership for Education, the Coalition is a formidable force. Its focus on basic literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills aims to transform education and ensure no child is left behind.

One of the Coalition’s early successes was elevating the learning crisis to the highest political levels during the UN Secretary General’s Transforming Education Summit (TES). This was achieved through coordinated advocacy efforts at the country level, leading to a broader recognition of the urgent need for foundational learning.

At the TES, the Coalition launched the Commitment to Action on Foundational Learning, a pivotal agenda now central to the SDG4 High-Level Steering Committee (HLSC). This commitment has been endorsed by 30 countries and 34 organizations, signaling a growing global consensus on the importance of foundational learning.

The Coalition embodies the principle that stronger collaboration leads to greater impact. The group has implemented new ways of working and collaboration, globally and in-country. For example, in Pakistan, partners are working together to support federal and provincial authorities to accelerate foundational learning agenda, organizing their first national conference on foundational learning and establishing the National Foundational Learning Hub.

A hallmark of the Coalition’s strategy is its integrated approach. Staff from member organizations meet regularly to align resources and strategies, maximizing their collective impact. This collaborative model breaks down silos, ensuring that efforts are synergistic rather than fragmented.

The Coalition’s efforts are structured around three key pillars:

1. Supporting Country-Led Action and Implementation: The Coalition provides coordinated support to low- and lower-middle-income countries, helping them implement evidence-based solutions to improve foundational learning at scale.
2. Improving Learning Data and Monitoring: By supporting countries in monitoring learning progress and enhancing the availability of learning data, the Coalition ensures that interventions are informed by accurate, timely information.
3. Advocacy and Communication: Strategic advocacy and communication efforts are crucial for gaining endorsements, driving policy changes, and ensuring accountability for implementing the Commitment to Action.

Aligning efforts and resources have been instrumental in generating and disseminating critical evidence and unified guidance. The Foundational Learning Action Tracker (FLAT), an initiative by UNICEF and the Hempel Foundation, has been an instrumental tool that monitors country progress on foundational learning. Ministries of education can use this tool to drive evidence-based change in their countries.

The Coalition also uses the tracker for advocacy efforts around accelerating foundational learning. Most recently, FLAT data on progress towards foundational learning in Africa was used in a powerful side event during the African Union’s Year of Education Summit in February 2024 to bear on a strategic, sustained change agenda to address the learning crisis in Africa. This included leveraging the Coalition’s influence at the global, regional and national levels to help persuade decision-makers to change policy, practice and budgets. 

The impact of this coordinated approach is already evident. For instance, in Malawi, the Coalition helped identify and prioritize learning challenges, leading to the evaluation of upcoming learning assessments. Similarly, the menu of assessment options developed by the Coalition has supported teams in countries including Cabo Verde, Ethiopia, Ghana and Uganda in addressing learning data gaps.

With strong leadership and laser focus on moving the needle on foundational learning, the Coalition is proving the power of global cooperation. 

Stronger together, we can drive accelerated action to end learning poverty and ensure that all children have the foundational skills they need to thrive. Who’s with us?