Top employers in education: A primer

Education transforms lives and is a keystone in global development. Yet, some 264 million children don’t attend school, while 15 million girls will never attend a classroom — half of them located in sub-Saharan Africa. The fourth Sustainable Development Goal is to ensure quality education for all and its targets by 2030 include quality primary and secondary education for all girls and boys, eliminating gender disparities in education, and substantially increasing the number of qualified teachers — particularly in low- and middle-income countries and small island developing states. Last week, the International Day of Education celebrated the role of education for peace and development. Devex has rounded up some of the largest organizations, with over 1,000 employees, solely dedicated to working toward these goals. Ajuda de Desenvolvimento de Povo para Povo Type: NGO Staff: 3,000 Headquarters: Machava, Mozambique Project locations: 60 projects across all provinces of Mozambique ADPP promotes equitable social and economic development, particularly targeting children, orphans, and those living rurally — especially women and girls. One key focus is to improve primary education through teacher training. American Institutes for Research Type: Institute Staff: 1,500 Headquarters: Washington, D.C., U.S. Other offices: 24 offices across the U.S., El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, and Zambia Project locations: Worldwide AIR is one of the largest behavioral and social science research organizations in the world. It works with local partners to enhance equitable access to education for children at all levels, as well as improving its quality and relevance. View AIR’s current openings here. Bharti Foundation Type: Foundation Staff: 1,001-5,000 Headquarters: Gurugram, India Project locations: India The Bharti Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises and works with underprivileged children across India by improving their access and quality of education. The foundation also provides education and training opportunities for young people to increase their employability. British Council Type: Institute Staff: 5,001-10,000 Headquarters: London, U.K. Other offices: Manchester Project locations: 100+ countries The British Council is the U.K.'s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. It offers English teaching and trains teachers in developing and post-conflict countries through radio, web, and TV broadcasts. It also helps to transform national education systems, build more inclusive and open societies, and increase young people’s opportunities through its education and society programs. View the British Council’s current openings here. Creative Associates International Type: Consulting Staff: 1,001-5,000 Headquarters: Washington, D.C., U.S. Other offices: 23 field offices across Asia, Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Middle East Project locations: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East, and North Africa Creative Associate works with underserved communities by sharing expertise in education, governance, stabilization, and transitions from conflict to peace. Within its education programs, its goals are: accelerate learning; policy reform and training for students, teachers, administrators, and policymakers; procurement of school supplies; combating child labor and human trafficking; school health and nutrition; and HIV prevention. View Creative Associate International’s current openings here. Education Development Center Type: NGO Staff: 1,001-5,000 Headquarters: Boston, U.S. Other offices: Chicago, New York; Washington, D.C. Project locations: 23 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East, and U.S. EDC designs, delivers, and evaluates programs in education, health, and economic opportunity across the globe. It creates education resources; advises on policies; and conducts evaluations and qualitative and quantitative studies across projects. View EDC’s current openings here. Education Development Trust Type: NGO Staff: 1,001-5,000 Headquarters: Reading, U.K. Other offices: Bandar Seri Begawan, Hyderabad, Dubai, Nairobi Project locations: Africa, Asia, Middle East, and U.K. Education Development Trust is an education charity that works with governments and schools to design and deliver sustainable education solutions across the globe. It runs projects through four programs: school system reform; school inspection and evaluation; English language teaching; and careers and employability services. View Education Development Trust’s current openings here. Global Concern Type: NGO Staff: 5,001-10,000 Headquarters: Sydney, Australia Project locations: Bangladesh, Malawi, India, Zambia Global Concern provides education, skills training, health care services, and food security programs to communities to further self-sufficiency and sustainability. View Global Concern’s current openings here. IEEE Foundation Type: NGO Staff: 10,000+ Headquarters: Piscataway, U.S. Project locations: 160 countries The IEEE Foundation is the philanthropic partner of technology advancement organization IEEE and works to enhance technological literacy, support technical education, and improve access to technology globally. It recognizes the need for engineers and STEM professionals and encourages and supports education in these sectors. JA Worldwide Type: NGO Staff: 1,001-5,000 Headquarters: Boston, U.S. Other offices: Belgium, Jordan, Ghana, U.S., Argentina, and China Project locations: 100+ countries JA is one of the world’s largest youth-serving NGOs and works to prepare young people for employment and entrepreneurship. It delivers hands-on, experiential learning in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Room to Read Type: NGO Staff: 1,001-5,000 Headquarters: San Francisco, U.S. Other offices: 8 global offices and 10 program offices across 17 countries Project locations: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Zambia Room to Read focuses on literacy and gender equality in education in low-income communities. It works with local communities, partner organizations, and governments to develop primary literacy skills and reading habits among primary school children, as well as supporting girls to complete secondary education. View Room to Read's current openings here. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Type: Funding agency Staff: 5,001-10,000 Headquarters: Paris, France Other offices: 54 field offices Project locations: Worldwide UNESCO is the U.N. agency responsible for education and leads global efforts to ensure every child and citizen has access. It is the only U.N. agency with a mandate to cover all aspects of education. View UNESCO’s current openings here. Y-PEER Type: NGO Staff: 10,000+ Headquarters: Sofia, Bulgaria Other offices: Regional centers in Amman and Bangkok Project locations: 52 countries across Eastern Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Africa Y-PEER was created by the U.N. Population Fund in partnership with UNICEF. It is a youth peer education network of organizations and institutions, working to strengthen and spread adolescent sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention education worldwide through peer-to-peer education. Other large organizations working in this area include: Azim Premji Foundation Type: NGO Staff: 1,001-5,000 Headquarters: Bangalore, India Project locations: 40+ Indian districts across six states and one union territory The Citizens Foundation Type: NGO Staff: 5,001-10,000 Headquarters: Karachi, Pakistan Project locations: Throughout Pakistan Fe y Alegría Type: NGO Staff: 10,000+ Headquarters: Bogota, Colombia Project locations: 28 countries across Latin America, Europe, and Africa Good Neighbors Type: NGO Staff: 1,001-5,000 Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea Other offices: Geneva, Buena Park, Bangkok Project locations: 35 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean Pearson Education Services Type: NGO Staff: 35,000 Headquarters: London, U.K. Other offices: Offices 55+ countries Project locations: 70 countries Did we forget any major aid organizations working in education? Let us know by placing your comments below.