FLEX Conference 2026

The Africa Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX) is the largest platform for country-to-country exchange in foundational learning across Africa. FLEX2026 will bring together policymakers, thought leaders, development partners, implementers, and other education actors to catalyse the scaling of evidence-based interventions and share initiatives that support teachers and learners in improving foundational learning.

Countries will:

• Share progress on national foundational learning commitments, including progress since FLEX2024 and the 2025 ADEA Triennale.
• Showcase successful interventions backed by strong data and research.
• Reflect on modalities to improve implementation and seizing opportunities for adaptation at scale.
• Strengthen accountability for improving classroom instruction and learning outcomes.
• Foster new partnerships and cross-country technical exchange.

Through presentations, ministerial roundtables and plenary panels, technical deep dives, and formal and informal dialogue, participants will co-create a forward-looking agenda to accelerate progress toward the 2035 targets for ending learning poverty in Africa.

At FLEX, senior officials from the Ministry of Education in Uganda and Zambia – whose participation VVOB is supporting – will be speaking in several sessions that showcase how Uganda and Zambia are advancing foundational learning through evidence, policy and systems strengthening.

Wednesday, 15 July 

• 08:30 – 10:30 CAT | Session 3A | Conference Room 3 (Mbutai) | Sub-theme 3: Education Workforce & System Leadership
  School Leadership as a Lever for Foundational Learning
• 14:00 – 16:00 CAT | Session 2B | Conference Room 2 (Njovu) | Subtheme 2: Teaching, Learning & Pedagogy
  Teaching in a Language Children Understand: Evidence on Literacy and Multilingual Instruction
• 16:00 – 18:00 CAT | Session 1D | Conference Room 1 (Mvuu) | Subtheme 1: Data, Assessment & Accountability
  What Happens When Data Reaches the Classroom?
• 16:00 – 18:00 CAT | Session 4D | Conference Room 4 & 5 (Mpheta & Phwiti) | Sub-theme 4: Governance, Alignment, Cost-Effectiveness & Financing
  Building the Architecture: National Coordination, Parliamentary Oversight & Continental Frameworks

Thursday, 16 July

• 14:00 – 16:00 CAT | Session 2E | Conference Room 4 (Mpheta) | Sub-theme 2: Teaching, Learning & Pedagogy
  Strengthening Evidence-Based Instruction: Early-Grade Literacy and Numeracy
• 14:00 – 16:00 CAT | Session 4E | Conference Room 5 (Phwiti) | Sub-theme: Governance, Alignment, Cost-Effectiveness & Financing Reform
  How to Sustain Leadership & Political Will for Foundational Learning
• 16:00 – 18:00 CAT | Session 2F | Conference Room 2 (Njovbu) | Sub-theme 2: Teaching, Learning & Pedagogy
  Quality from the Start: National early childhood education Spotlights including Tanzania, South Africa, Ghana and Zambia

Friday, 17 July 

• 08:30 – 10:30 CAT | Session 2G | Conference Room 2 (Njovbu) | Sub-theme 2: Teaching, Learning & Pedagogy
  Teaching at the Right Level (1 of 2): Designing, Adapting and Scaling within National Systems