• HCA, Hempel Foundation launch 2-year push for foundational learning reforms
• Initiative targets data use, policy focus to boost literacy, numeracy by age ten
• 90% of sub-Saharan children lack basic skills; $21T in future income at risk
  

Human Capital Africa (HCA) and the Hempel Foundation have launched a new two-year partnership aimed at promoting evidence-based reforms for foundational learning across sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative was unveiled during a closed session at the 2025 Triennale of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), held from October 29 to 31 in Accra. The session was attended by senior representatives from both organizations, development partners, and African education officials.

The collaboration is built on an approach emphasizing data and political accountability, according to Africa Briefing. It is designed to help African countries better monitor academic progress and make foundational learning a permanent priority in their education policies. The pan-African news outlet noted the initiative reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that every African child has the opportunity to read, write, and count by age ten, a necessary condition for solidifying learning and strengthening human capital across the continent.

Obiageli Ezekwesili, Founder of HCA, stated: “We already know what works to get children learning — what Africa needs now is the political will, the discipline, and the partnerships to take those solutions to scale.” Anders Holm, CEO of the Hempel Foundation, clarified that the initiative aims “to strengthen all three — helping governments place foundational learning at the heart of national policies, track progress more effectively, and translate data into tangible improvements in classrooms.

This alliance comes amid a worrying context. The World Bank reports that 90% of children in sub-Saharan Africa do not achieve basic proficiency by age ten, a situation that could cost the region an estimated $21 trillion in future income.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou