Impact
Our work to improve outcomes for marginalised learners by transforming education policy and planning - using evidence - is already impacting 2.3 million children and has the potential to reach millions more.
In just two years since our first synthesis launched, we have shown how actionable insights can shape policy and impact practice, to improve learning outcomes for marginalised children and youth.
Our impact spans four areas:
- Policy: Our insights have informed new policies and national strategies targeting the hardest to reach children and young people in Kenya and Sierra Leone and unfolding in Uganda. The launch of our new fellowship in Sierra Leone will continue to strengthen government capacity for developing evidence-informed policy.
- Practice: Implementers are embedding these guidelines and policies into programming in formal and non-formal education settings.
- Research: We have developed a novel, rigorous appraisal method for uncovering unpublished reports and maximising the value of local voices and evidence (LIFTED).
- Funding: Funding is being aligned with our evidence-informed insights to make the best use of scarce resources, for example in new funding to support out-of-school children and youth in Sierra Leone return to formal education, appropriate training or employment.
Our impact in numbers
2.3 million
Out-of-school children impacted by our work in Sierra Leone and Kenya
12
National government, NGO and network strategies incorporating guidance and insights from Education.org strategies
75+
Decision makers reporting increased evidence use in their work
15 million
Funding (USD) influenced or redirected based on Education.org’s evidence-based guidance
129
Organisations included in our evidence base due to LIFTED
60+
Countries where evidence is made visible through our LIFTED approach
2.3 million
12
Out-of-school children impacted by our work in Sierra Leone and Kenya
National government, NGO and network strategies incorporating guidance and insights from Education.org strategies
75+
15 million
Decision makers reporting increased evidence use in their work
Funding (USD) influenced or redirected based on Education.org’s evidence-based guidance
129
60+
Organisations included in our evidence base due to LIFTED
Countries where evidence is made visible through our LIFTED approach
2.3 million
12
75+
Out-of-school children impacted by our work in Sierra Leone and Kenya
National government, NGO and network strategies incorporating guidance and insights from Education.org strategies
Decision makers reporting increased evidence use in their work
15 million
129
60+
Funding (USD) influenced or redirected based on Education.org’s evidence-based guidance
Organisations included in our evidence base due to LIFTED
Countries where evidence is made visible through our LIFTED approach
Examples of our responsive model
Kenya
The National Education Sector Strategy was due for an update, meanwhile there were growing numbers of out-of-school children and increased demand for non-formal learning following the Covid19 pandemic.
At the Director General’s request, a technical working group of 10 Ministry of Education directors—alongside the Local Education Group—was formed to adapt global evidence for the national sector plan. Anchored in senior leadership and presidential priorities, it also aimed to strengthen evidence culture and systems.
As a result, we contributed to the country's first national AEP guidelines (ongoing) and first inclusion of out-of-school children in the national education sector plan and budget. This has opened doors for 1.8 million children to continue their education.
Sierra Leone
Following the adoption of the Policy on Radical Inclusion in School post-Covid19 pandemic, the government renewed their commitment to reduce the number of out-of-school children but required updated national guidelines to do so.
At the Education Minister’s request, we embedded a process within the Ministry - not as a standalone project - to align global and national evidence. In less than a year, this led to the country's first accelerated education guidelines. The co-creation process involved a deep consultation phase, including: 12 local government authorities; 20 organisations; and four Ministries. The process strengthened collaboration among implementers such as national and international actors, including , Save the Children, and .
Building on this process, and the need to further strengthen a culture of evidence use, we have launched a fellowship programme with the Ministry, committing to supporting two departmental staff with their professional development in evidence-based decision-making.
USAID
Following the release of our 2021 White paper: An Education Knowledge Bridge, a shared urgency emerged to systematically elevate and apply local evidence more quickly and effectively in decision-making.
At the request of the acting Deputy Administrator, we led a working group—supported by three sub-groups—to develop rigorous, inclusive methods that expand the evidence base without compromising quality.
Within two years, and through collaboration across regional, global, and local organisations, we developed the first guidance for identifying, classifying, and appraising unpublished evidence. This effort directly shaped its $40 million DECODE programme before USAID was paused.
It also led to the further refinement of our unique approach to synthesis, our LIFTED method, which enables the rigorous inclusion of non-academic literature within synthesis.
Kenya
The National Education Sector Strategy was due for an update, meanwhile there were growing numbers of out-of-school children and increased demand for non-formal learning following the Covid19 pandemic.
Sierra Leone
Following the adoption of the Policy on Radical Inclusion in School post-Covid19 pandemic, the government renewed their commitment to reduce the number of out-of-school children but required updated national guidelines to do so.
At the Director General’s request, a technical working group of 10 Ministry of Education directors—alongside the Local Education Group—was formed to adapt global evidence for the national sector plan. Anchored in senior leadership and presidential priorities, it also aimed to strengthen evidence culture and systems.
As a result, we contributed to the country's first national AEP guidelines (ongoing) and first inclusion of out-of-school children in the national education sector plan and budget. This has opened doors for 1.8 million children to continue their education.
At the Education Minister’s request, we embedded a process within the Ministry - not as a standalone project - to align global and national evidence. In less than a year, this led to the country's first accelerated education guidelines. The co-creation process involved a deep consultation phase, including: 12 local government authorities; 20 organisations; and four Ministries. The process strengthened collaboration among implementers such as national and international actors, including , Save the Children, and .
Building on this process, and the need to further strengthen a culture of evidence use, we have launched a fellowship programme with the Ministry, committing to supporting two departmental staff with their professional development in evidence-based decision-making.
USAID
Following the release of our 2021 White paper: An Education Knowledge Bridge, a shared urgency emerged to systematically elevate and apply local evidence more quickly and effectively in decision-making.
At the request of the acting Deputy Administrator, we led a working group—supported by three sub-groups—to develop rigorous, inclusive methods that expand the evidence base without compromising quality.
Within two years, and through collaboration across regional, global, and local organisations, we developed the first guidance for identifying, classifying, and appraising unpublished evidence. This effort directly shaped its $40 million DECODE programme before USAID was paused.
It also led to the further refinement of our unique approach to synthesis, our LIFTED method, which enables the rigorous inclusion of non-academic literature within synthesis.
Kenya
The National Education Sector Strategy was due for an update, meanwhile there were growing numbers of out-of-school children and increased demand for non-formal learning following the Covid19 pandemic.
Sierra Leone
Following the adoption of the Policy on Radical Inclusion in School post-Covid19 pandemic, the government renewed their commitment to reduce the number of out-of-school children but required updated national guidelines to do so.
USAID
Following the release of our 2021 White paper: An Education Knowledge Bridge, a shared urgency emerged to systematically elevate and apply local evidence more quickly and effectively in decision-making.
At the Director General’s request, a technical working group of 10 Ministry of Education directors—alongside the Local Education Group—was formed to adapt global evidence for the national sector plan. Anchored in senior leadership and presidential priorities, it also aimed to strengthen evidence culture and systems.
As a result, we contributed to the country's first national AEP guidelines (ongoing) and first inclusion of out-of-school children in the national education sector plan and budget. This has opened doors for 1.8 million children to continue their education.
At the Education Minister’s request, we embedded a process within the Ministry - not as a standalone project - to align global and national evidence. In less than a year, this led to the country's first accelerated education guidelines. The co-creation process involved a deep consultation phase, including: 12 local government authorities; 20 organisations; and four Ministries. The process strengthened collaboration among implementers such as national and international actors, including , Save the Children, and .
Building on this process, and the need to further strengthen a culture of evidence use, we have launched a fellowship programme with the Ministry, committing to supporting two departmental staff with their professional development in evidence-based decision-making.
At the request of the acting Deputy Administrator, we led a working group—supported by three sub-groups—to develop rigorous, inclusive methods that expand the evidence base without compromising quality.
Within two years, and through collaboration across regional, global, and local organisations, we developed the first guidance for identifying, classifying, and appraising unpublished evidence. This effort directly shaped its $40 million DECODE programme before USAID was paused.
It also led to the further refinement of our unique approach to synthesis, our LIFTED method, which enables the rigorous inclusion of non-academic literature within synthesis.
In their words
Our Ministry is committed to making decisions based on the best evidence. Accelerated Education can help out-of-school children learn and progress, and now we have guidelines to ensure the quality of these programmes, based on independent analysis and guidance from Education.org. There is no other actor in our sector providing this type of support.
Hon. Conrad Sackey Minister for Basic Education, Government of Sierra Leone
I am glad to see that Education.org seeks to achieve greater visibility of evidence from various sources. Visibility is also Power. This will help us all to navigate tensions of power and ownership, and addressing this is long overdue.
Dr. John Mugo, Executive Director, Zizi Afrique Foundation, Kenya
In their words
By together identifying solutions and building the capacity to tackle the identified challenges more effectively with evidence, Education.org is helping us to stand on our feet… This is different from all other partners, who tell you: ‘This is the water; drink it’.
Elizabeth Otieno, Deputy Director of Policy, Ministry of Education, Kenya
These guidelines are incredibly timely and serve as an essential tool for our efforts, as we lead a consortium of partners who will implement alongside with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and Sierra Leone’s Teaching Service Commission in a newly designed programme for 60,000 out-of-school children in Sierra Leone.
Patrick Osede Analo, Save the Children Country Director for Sierra Leone