African Ministers of Education and Finance Convene in Malawi to Take Stock of Progress in Meeting the Continental Pledge to End Learning Poverty by 2035

Published on

LILONGWE, Malawi, July 13, 2026 — More than 600 education leaders, policymakers, researchers, development partners, and practitioners from over 40 African countries will gather in Malawi this week for the 2026 Africa Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX2026). The three-day event opens this Wednesday, July 15, at the Bingu wa Mutharika International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe. It is the first continental convening since 2024 to take stock of the continent’s shared commitment to ending learning poverty by 2035 and adopt new measures to accelerate foundational learning outcomes at scale.

FLEX2026 arrives at a critical juncture. Nearly 9 out of 10 children in much of Africa cannot read and understand simple text by age 10, a crisis known as learning poverty. At the same time, official development assistance (ODA) to education is declining, public finances are under strain, and governments face growing pressure to demonstrate that investment in foundational learning is reaching classrooms, producing results, and contributing to national economic growth agendas. This third edition of FLEX gives African countries a structured opportunity to do precisely that — to move from commitment to results and accountability.

"Malawi is honoured to host the Africa Foundational Learning Exchange, and we come to this moment not just as hosts but as participants who are doing the work," says Honourable Bright Msaka, Minister of Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Malawi. 

"Through the National Reading Programme, the National Mathematics Curriculum Reform and the BEFIT programme — which is bringing technology-supported learning to thousands of schools across the country — we are making measurable progress. But we also recognise that no country has all the answers. FLEX exists precisely for this: to share what we are learning, learn from others, hold one another to account, and find the solutions that can reach every African child."

Across the three-day programme, delegates will participate in Ministerial roundtables, high-level plenary discussions, technical workshops, peer-learning sessions, country spotlights, school visits, and interactive exhibitions showcasing innovative policies, programmes, technologies, and evidence-based solutions that are improving foundational learning across Africa. Discussions will follow four thematic pillars:

  1. Data, Assessment, and Accountability; 
  2. Teaching, Learning, and Pedagogy; 
  3. Education Workforce and System Leadership; and 
  4. Governance, Alignment, Cost-Effectiveness, and Financing. 

Meanwhile, ADEA and UNICEF will host pre-FLEX activities on data-led decision-making and a south-south learning exchange between Africa and India. On 13th and 14th July, ADEA is convening focal points from 25 countries on its education and skills data challenge initiative (ESDC) to cross-breed learning on practical ways to entrench data-driven decision-making in Ministries of Education. Also, on 14th July, UNICEF is organising a South-South learning session between foundational learning authorities in India and Africa. The session continues previous efforts to adapt some of the experiences that yielded massive learning improvement in India. 

FLEX will conclude on Friday, the 17th, with the presentation and adoption of the FLEX2026 resolutions. 

"What makes this platform unique is that it was instituted and led by African countries, for African countries. Governments come together not simply to exchange ideas but to examine evidence, assess progress against shared commitments, and strengthen the systems that deliver better learning outcomes. As the organising institution of FLEX, ADEA is proud to support our member countries with a trusted platform where they can learn from one another, build lasting partnerships, and accelerate reforms that will help fulfil the commitment to end learning poverty by 2035 and achieve their national education goals," says Albert Nsengiyumva, Executive Secretary of ADEA. 

FLEX was established as an African-led platform for peer learning, policy dialogue, and mutual accountability on foundational learning. The inaugural exchange was held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in 2023, and the second edition was held in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2024, where 34 African Ministers of Education adopted the Declaration of Action, committing their countries to work collectively towards ending learning poverty in Africa within the decade through stronger political leadership, sustained investment, and the scaling of evidence-based reforms.

Beyond the 2025 ADEA Triennale, FLEX2026 marks the first continental opportunity for participating countries to assess progress against those commitments, exchange lessons from implementation, and define new ambitions for addressing challenges impeding progress towards fully meeting the five actions from Kigali and sustaining momentum over the coming decade. The event also advances Africa's broader education agenda, contributing to the implementation of the African Union's Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2026-2035 (CESA 26–35), achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), and 2025 ADEA Triennale recommendations that call for translating policy commitments into measurable improvements in learning.

The Government of Malawi is hosting this event, organized by ADEA, in partnership with the African Union, UNICEF, World Bank, Human Capital Africa, Imagine Worldwide, Luminos Fund, Prevail Fund, Federer Foundation, Hempel Foundation, Gates Foundation and the Mastercard Foundation. Together, these institutions are supporting African countries to strengthen foundational learning through evidence-informed policies, peer learning, stronger implementation, and sustained political commitment.

Official event information, registration, and media accreditation are available at flex2026.adeanet.org.

– ENDS – 

Key references

Media contacts