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Session Submission Summary

A Data-Driven Approach to Foundational Learning and Peacebuilding

Mon, March 30, 9:45 to 11:00am, Hilton, Floor: Ballroom Level - Tower 3, Continental 2

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

In a world marked by division and conflict, education is a critical tool for peace. Yet, for it to be effective, we must first ensure every child has access to quality foundational learning. The Data for Foundational Learning (D4FL) program is a global initiative dedicated to expanding and improving education data to monitor progress in foundational learning, particularly for girls, thereby laying the groundwork for a more peaceful and equitable society.
This symposium explores how high-quality education data can serve as a catalyst for peace by fostering more inclusive, evidence-based, and effective education systems. We will present several ongoing D4FL projects that demonstrate how data can mitigate divisions and promote social cohesion in Global South.
• Using a National Test to Report Against Global Standards: Ghana's collaboration with ACER UK to improve its National Standardized Test provides a government perspective on how comparable learning data can inform decision-making at all levels. This initiative serves as a blueprint for empowering nations to use their own data for global reporting, ensuring that local contexts and voices are cantered in the international education discourse.
• Collaboration for Sustainable Change: This presentation will highlight the partnership between the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and NFER to establish a regional educational assessment hub. This grassroots initiative exemplifies how international partners can "stand behind" local experts to amplify the voices of those often unheard, building South-South collaboration and fostering sustainable, locally driven solutions.
• Measuring Progress in Foundational Learning: The PAL Network’s ICAN-ICAR Initiative showcases how empowering local actors to generate their own data can lead to peacebuilding. By providing cost-effective, paper-based assessment tools in 12 countries, this project supports evidence-based policymaking and interventions, promoting equity and inclusion in education where it is most needed.
• Supporting Countries with the Right Assistance: The World Bank's Accelerating Learning Measurement for Action (ALMA) and Accelerator 2.0 programs demonstrate how direct technical support can lead to improved learning outcomes. By addressing technical gaps and strengthening evidence-based interventions, these programs create a pathway to more equitable and peaceful learning environments at scale.
This symposium will bring together governments, technical partners, and researchers from around the world to share tangible examples of how data on foundational learning is not just a metric, but a means to empower communities, build trust, and ultimately contribute to a more harmonious global society.

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