Education

The challenge: Worldwide, 600 million children and teenagers fail to reach basic levels of learning proficiency. Nearly half of them remain out of school. However, even those in school are not being prepared to succeed in or contribute to society. Among illiterate youth, nearly two out of three are girls – a fact that has remained largely unchanged for the last 20 years. These gaps in education translate to a world where people of all ages are left out of opportunity, and do not reach their full potential as adults.

Our solution: We strengthen education systems to equip girls and boys with the knowledge and skills to help them interact effectively with the world and contribute to a pluralist society. From preschool programs to advanced education for adults, our investments train teachers and administrators, and improve classrooms and schools, with a focus on dismantling the barriers to education for women and girls. We support policy and research to develop and scale affordable, innovative solutions that raise the quality and accessibility of public school systems for the most marginalized children worldwide.

Sowing the seeds of potential

The first 1,000 days of a child’s life, it is said, sets the stage for all future growth.

Daring to Deliver: Midwives on the Frontlines

Midwives are often on the frontlines of health care in developing countries, delivering crucial patient-centered care to women and their

Meet Mwatime: How this 7-year-old can get access to quality education

The world’s 1.1 billion girls are a source of power, energy, and creativity.

Dispatch from the field: Running the Distance

Aditya Rau was part of the 2017-2018 cohort of the International Youth Fellowship Program. He participated in the International Development

Dispatch from the field: An Ode to Ali

Gautham Krishnaraj was part of the 2017-2018 cohort of the International Youth Fellowship Program. He participated in the International Development

Projet d’amélioration de l’accès à des services éducatifs de qualité (PASEQ)

Duration: 2014-2017 Location: Mali Reach: 160,500 people (16,200 children and 144,300 parents and adults) Budget: $5.3 million (Global Affairs Canada: $4.5

East African Dialogue Series

Duration: 2014-2017 Location: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda Reach: This is a research project with no direct beneficiaries. Budget: $350,000 (AKFC: $150,000; International

Enhancing Employability And Leadership For Youth (EELY)

Duration: 2011-2017 Location: Pakistan Reach: 252,000 people (114,200 women and 137,800 men) Budget: $19 million (Global Affairs Canada: $16 million; AKFC:

Partnership For Advancing Human Development In Africa And Asia (PAHDAA)

Duration: 2012-2018 Location: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Canada, Egypt, Uganda, India, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Tanzania