Unlocking a World of Learning

A recent report by RESULTS, Building on strong foundations: The U.S. role in tackling the global learning crisis, highlights the impact of USAID's investments in addressing global education disparities and learning loss through public basic education. According to the report, “USAID has become a de facto leader and the largest bilateral donor in the area of foundational learning,” supporting an estimated 246 million children and youth and millions of teachers and administrators in 53 countries.

Overview

Based on an extensive literature review and expert interviews, the report concludes that USAID's support of structured pedagogy in basic education, with a focus on foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN), led to improved foundational learning outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. These gains in learning outcomes have a generational impact benefiting communities beyond individuals and families. The approach serves as a best practice model for other governmental and non-governmental donors aiming to scale foundational early grade literacy and numeracy outcomes.

Why Foundational Numeracy and Literacy (FLN)

USAID prioritizes FLN as a strategy to enhance basic education globally as it is fundamental for future learning and effective instruction, increasing academic outcomes, and the development of critical social-emotional skills crucial for lifelong learning. 

The report underscores FLN’s impact on a range of life outcomes, including promoting gender equity, reducing early marriages, and improving economic opportunities for women. Strengthening foundational skills also opens doors to economic advancement for children from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and literacy skills enhance access to health information, promoting healthier lifestyles, reducing infant mortality rates, and improving future maternal and child health.

Additionally, literacy skills gained through FLN initiatives also equip children with skills for climate resiliency and contribute to social cohesion through structured educational activities, fostering active engagement in public service, economic development, and democratic governance, essential for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Lessons Learned

Analyzing data from over a decade of USAID programming to improve learning outcomes, the report spotlights four key findings for institutionalizing FLN practices:

1. Structured Pedagogies Yield Rapid Learning Gains: FLN’s structured pedagogies and instructional methods can quickly and significantly enhance learning outcomes.
2. Teacher Support is Paramount: Teachers are critical to the achievement of learning outcomes in FLN. Coaching and support to teachers strengthens the effectiveness of FLN programs.
3. Enhanced Accountability is Essential: The sustainability of FLN successes hinges on improving accountability within public education systems. Accountability is improved when school and government leadership are highly knowledgeable about content, measurement, planning, and reporting.
4. Active Government Engagement Ensures Long-Term Impact: Sustainable progress requires active participation from partner country governments in both model development and implementation to increase consistent uptake of new FLN approaches.

Recommendations 

These learnings provide evidence of what works at scale and can be used to advance the 15 recommendations outlined in the report along three distinct results tracks:

1. Address the global learning crisis through sustained support for quality public-sector foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) in partner countries.
2. Sustainably strengthen public systems by investing in local capacity building.
3. Strengthen partnerships, increase coordination, and leverage multilateral engagement to create greater foundational learning policy alignment.

As a leader in addressing the global learning crisis, USAID plays an essential role in guiding and supporting international efforts to prioritize foundational learning. Looking ahead to 2030, the challenges are substantial, underscoring the urgent need to improve access and outcomes in education policies to ensure every child receives the foundational literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills they deserve.

Find more detailed recommendations in the report here.