AIM4Learning Program: Transforming Basic Education for 70 Million Children in Eastern and Southern Africa

Despite considerable progress in school enrollment over the past two decades, education outcomes in Eastern and Southern Africa remain alarmingly low.

A transformative new initiative, the Advancing Innovative Methods to Promote Learning (AIM4Learning) Program, is set to revolutionize basic education across Eastern and Southern Africa. Backed by $1.54 billion in funding from the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the regional program seeks to expand equitable access to education and significantly enhance learning outcomes.

Addressing the Learning Crisis

Despite considerable progress in school enrollment over the past two decades, education outcomes in Eastern and Southern Africa remain alarmingly low. Only 11 percent of children in the program’s target countries can read and understand a simple text by the age of 10, and 14 million school-age children remain out of school. AIM4Learning is designed to reduce this number to 7 million by 2034, equipping millions of children with the skills needed for a prosperous future.

“The rapid population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa makes foundational learning more important than ever. AIM4Learning is a bold and ambitious initiative dedicated to ensuring quality education for all children. By investing in education, we are investing in the future prosperity, stability, and dignity of the entire continent,” said Victoria Kwakwa, Vice President for the World Bank’s Eastern and Southern Africa Region.

Implementation and Reach

AIM4Learning will be implemented in phases over a 10-year period, beginning with Ethiopia and Comoros:

• In Ethiopia, the program will be executed through the Ethiopia Education Transformation Operation for Learning (ETOL), benefiting nearly 20 million students in pre-primary and primary education.
• In Comoros, the initiative will support approximately 130,000 students in public pre-primary and primary schools and provide assistance to nearly 400,000 teachers across the two countries.

Both projects are co-financed by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), with additional countries joining AIM4Learning in subsequent phases.

Leveraging Technology and Innovation

AIM4Learning is built on four key pillars, ensuring a holistic approach to education transformation:

1. Transforming Learning Spaces – Improving school infrastructure and integrating digital learning solutions.
2. Developing an Effective Teacher Workforce – Enhancing teacher training, management, and accountability.
3. Strengthening Education Systems and Financing – Supporting decentralized governance and efficient resource allocation.
4. Encouraging Cross-Country Collaboration – Facilitating knowledge-sharing and policy alignment across the region.

Through these pillars, the program will scale up cost-effective and impactful innovations, including:

• Leveraging digital technology to reach both in-school and out-of-school children,
• Reorganizing school learning delivery methods to improve efficiency,
• Enhancing curricula and assessment systems to ensure better learning outcomes,
• Strengthening school governance through decentralized management strategies.

A Future-Ready Education System

“Technology is increasingly recognized as an accelerator for learning, especially for vulnerable and hard-to-reach children,” said Laura Frigenti, CEO of the Global Partnership for Education. “Deploying technology and resources to address the education crisis and prepare children for the jobs of the future is a monumental challenge. Strong partnerships are key to offering context-relevant technological support and transforming education systems for the 21st century.”

With AIM4Learning’s ambitious goals and strategic approach, the program is poised to become a catalyst for change in Eastern and Southern Africa. By embracing innovation, collaboration, and investment, AIM4Learning aims to reshape education across the region and unlock new opportunities for millions of children.