Nairobi, Kenya – June 25, 2025 – Representatives from ministries of education in Africa, regional organizations, and foundational learning stakeholders from across Africa gathered in Nairobi for a pivotal workshop focused on developing a unified accountability framework to track progress on foundational learning commitments made at the Africa Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX) 2024. The event, held from June 24th to 25th at Tribe Hotel in Nairobi, was hosted by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and Human Capital Africa (HCA), with support from the Gates Foundation and facilitation by Better Purpose.

The workshop brought together Ministry of Education representatives from Kenya and Uganda, alongside key stakeholders including the African Union, Southern Africa Development Commission (SADC), Conference of Ministers of Education of French-Speaking Countries (CONFEMEN), UNICEF, the University of Cape Town, PAL Network, Africa Practice, the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), and various development partners.

Participants engaged in robust discussions to unpack, review, and refine a draft monitoring framework designed to support countries in delivering on the five key commitments outlined in the FLEX 2024 Declaration. These include ensuring political will, adequate financing, use of evidence-based solutions, improved data systems, and effective coordination–all aimed at eradicating learning poverty in Africa by 2035.

The Nairobi workshop forms part of a broader consultation process led by ADEA and HCA to design an African-led accountability mechanism. This tool will enable governments to track both learning outcomes and the implementation of key policies and programs aimed at improving foundational literacy and numeracy. It will integrate with a parallel effort to find a new host platform for 1:1 assessments such as the Early Grade Reading (EGRA) and Math (EGMA) Assessments.

“This process is about moving from commitments to action,” said Shem Bodo, Senior Program Officer at ADEA, in his opening remarks. “It’s about ensuring that governments, partners, and stakeholders are collectively accountable for transforming foundational learning in Africa.”

The workshop also drew insights from parallel accountability efforts in other sectors, such as health, with participants reviewing practical tools and experiences from the malaria eradication campaign. This was based on lessons shared by colleagues from the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA). The feedback gathered will inform the final version of the FLEX Monitoring Framework, set to be presented at the next Africa Foundational Learning Ministerial Coalition meeting in July 2025 and later at the ADEA Triennale in October 2025 in Accra, Ghana.

This effort marks a significant milestone in building a continental system for education accountability, reinforcing Africa’s commitment to ensuring that every child acquires the basic literacy and numeracy skills needed to thrive.