Less than 3% of global education research is led by African scholars — a gap that limits the relevance and impact of policies shaping classrooms across the continent. In a roundtable discussion held in partnership with Imaginable Futures and Echidna Giving as part of Devex Impact House @ UNGA80, education leaders and philanthropists explored how to strengthen an African-led research ecosystem. Speakers underscored that when research agendas and funding priorities are set outside the continent, African educators and institutions struggle to generate locally-grounded evidence. Some 90% of published education research is led by people who don’t live in Africa — a reality that undermines efforts to tailor learning systems to Africa’s growing youth population and future workforce needs.
Shifting this dynamic will require more than new funding — it demands collaboration that puts African leadership at the center. Representatives from universities, governments, and philanthropic organizations discussed how catalytic, locally-driven funding can help researchers align studies with real policy challenges and expand access to publishing platforms. Participants also considered real-world examples such as HERI-Africa, Harnessing Education Research for Impact, a Pan-African initiative that aims to transform how education research is generated and used across the continent — ensuring learning solutions are grounded in African realities and leadership.
Ultimately, the discussion pointed to a broader transformation underway: a move from “aid to agency” in education research. By investing in African-led inquiry and trusting those closest to the issues to lead, funders and institutions can help build a more relevant, impactful, and sustainable knowledge ecosystem — one that empowers the continent to shape its own educational future.
Watch the full interview.
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