At FLEX2026, under the theme “From commitment to results: Delivering foundational learning at scale”, attendees from over 34 countries, building on previous iterations of the event, aimed to catalyse the scaling of evidence-based interventions and share initiatives that support teachers and learners in improving foundational learning.

Launching of government-led initiative for foundational learning
The Foundational Learning Initiative for Government-led Transformation (FLIGHT), launched at FLEX2026, aims to connect Ministries of Education across Africa with targeted catalytic African technical support that responds to governments’ existing foundational learning priorities.

Through this initiative, governments, partners and funders are working together to combine resources in support of stronger education systems. Governments have been invited to co-create an FL Reform Brief together with the FLIGHT Secretariat.

To date, $35 million has been pledged by a group of philanthropic funders, including Echidna Giving, Hempel Foundation and Gates Foundation, alongside the Federer Foundation.

Pledging support for early learning in Southern Africa
During FLEX, attendees also highlighted the need for continued collaborative action in the funding space. An example of this is the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Multiplier tool, which allows funders from diverse sectors to pool resources and to mobilise additional funding in line with government priorities.

GPE partner countries can mobilise the Multiplier funding by leveraging cofinancing from development partners or from the private sector and philanthropy. Such collaborative action ensures that investments can reinforce one another effectively, rather than being fragmented across projects.

“By supporting early and foundational learning through the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), we are joining forces to unlock additional funding for education in Southern Africa,” CEO Maya Ziswiler stated, referring to the Federer Foundation’s pledge to mobilise $37 million for the GPE Multiplier. This funding will be used to support early and foundational learning in Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Jo Bourne, GPE Chief Technical Officer, Hon. Bright Msaka SC, Minister of Education of Malawi, and Maya Ziswiler, Federer Foundation CEO, at the FLEX conference.

Key takeaways
The Federer Foundation team are grateful to have participated in a variety of sessions during FLEX. Key takeaways from these include:

• Data is the foundation for stronger early learning systems. Data helps governments to identify gaps, target investments, strengthen accountability, and make evidence-based decisions that improve outcomes for children.
• Quality foundational learning requires a whole-system approach. Effective early childhood education depends on aligned policies, financing, workforce development, inclusion, assessment, governance, and cross-sector coordination.
• School readiness and foundational learning are a continuous journey. A strong transition from early childhood education into the primary grades is critical.
• Sustainable progress is possible when governments take the lead. Partners from different sectors (private, civil society and philanthropy) can provide critical support through evidence, technical assistance and practical tools needed to accelerate implementation.

Looking forward
In the wake of a successful FLEX2026, the Federer Foundation echoes the call of the FLEX Rapporteurs: while significant strides have been made in the early and foundational learning sector across the continent, it is vital that governments, working alongside key stakeholders, institutionalise assessment tools and coaching systems; ensure that funding is diversified; harmonise and use quality data; protect those furthest behind; and coordinate to avoid duplication.

FLEX2027 is scheduled to take place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.