​Foundations for Learning (F4L) Project

Foundations for Learning (F4L) project is one component of the Foundation for Education and Empowerment (F4EE) project. F4EE aims to improve educational systems at the pre-primary and primary levels thus strengthening women empowerment and gender eqaulity. The  Aga Khan University - Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED, EA) implements F4L to train and equip students, teachers, school leaders, families, communities, civil society organizations, and government leaders with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values needed to promote more gender-responsive and pluralist quality education systems in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

The F4L project aims to:

  • ​Transform unequal gender norms and power dynamics in and through education

  • Increase access to more gender-responsive, pluralist quality educational opportunities for 1.4 million marginalized children (60% girls) throughout East Africa

  • Enhance the professional knowledge and skills of 20,000 teachers and school leaders to provide more gender-responsive, pluralist learning environments and experiences for marginalised girls and boys

  • Foster more gender-responsive and pluralist education systems by designing new inclusive models for education improvement with 1600 government schools during the foundational years of learning

  • Engage more families, households, and communities in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda to transform beliefs, attitudes, and practices to actively support gender equity and equality in and through education

  • Influence future education policies and practices through evidence generation and communications that promote more gender-responsive, pluralist education at scale

  • Empower more girls by reducing gender and social barriers to educational access, transition, and performance rates throughout East Africa

  • Connect schools with health and nutrition resources to equip learners, particularly girls, with the knowledge and skills needed to live safer, healthier lives


Project Outcomes

1. Strengthen delivery of quality, gender responsive, and inclusive education, early childhood development, and other sustainable development services by:

  • Improved technical capacity of education, early child- hood development, and international development professionals to deliver gender-responsive and inclusive services and programs

  • Enhanced ability of local, provincial and national governments to design and lead in quality gender- responsive and inclusive sector policies and programming

  • Increased availability of quality gender-responsive materials and appropriate resources in education


2.  Reduce gender and social barriers to utilization and uptake of education, early childhood development, and other sustainable development services for women and girls, adolescents, men, and boys through:

  • Increased equitable access to resources and services of women and girls, adolescents, men, and boys at household and community levels
  • Enhance ability of local community structures, institutions and leaders to identify and respond to gender and social barriers, and to foster inclusive governance
  • Enhance knowledge among female and male community members on equitable development practices and benefits

3.  Enhance engagement of international stakeholders in gender sensitive and evidence-based development issues and programming by:

  • Increasing availability of robust gender-sensitive evidence and research to inform decision making at program and policy levels
  • Increase opportunities for learning and dialogue around gender sensitive evidence with local, national and international stakeholders.

Duration

2020-2025

Location

Tanzania, Kenya, ​and Uganda​​

Budget

CAD 6,708,519

Donors

  • Global Affairs Canada

  • Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC)​

Implementing organizations

  • Aga Khan University – Institute for Educational Development, East Africa (AKU-IED)

  • Madrasa Early Childhood Programme (MECP)

  • Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa (AKAM)

  • Aga Khan Education Services (AKES)

  • Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)

  • Project beneficiaries:

  • College tutors

  • Student teachers

  • Primary schools (Including practicum schools)

  • Pre-primary School teachers

  • Primary school teachers

  • Headteachers

  • Education Officers

  • Local Government Authority (LGA)​

Contact person

Nyagwegwe Wango
Manager Projects- IED, EA
Email: nyagwegwe.wango@aku.edu