What we did
The project
617 million children worldwide lack basic proficiency in reading and mathematics. To address the problem, the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) launched the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX) to bridge the gap between education policy and practice through innovative funding and knowledge sharing.
Recognizing the urgent need for improved educational outcomes, GPE committed significant resources to develop this mechanism that not only funds innovation but also fosters an environment where knowledge and experiences are shared across borders. The KIX initiative represents a strategic pivot from traditional grant-based funding to a risk-sharing model that supports a variety of innovative projects aimed at enhancing national education systems.
Innovating education systems
We designed the KIX strategy on dual pillars of Learning Exchange and Knowledge and Innovation Funding. These parallels created a dynamic ecosystem where GPE partners could both contribute and benefit from shared knowledge and innovations: while the Learning Exchange serves as a central hub for sharing best practices and facilitating peer-to-peer learning, the Knowledge and Innovation Funding provides financial support for promising educational innovations.
Our strategy emphasized innovation programming, the first of its kind for a fund of this type. We developed methods for co-creation, prizes and champion networks which would distinguish it from traditional grant mechanisms which are prevalent education funding programs.
ASA and grant agent selection
Simultaneously, the ASA mechanism was established to strengthen civil society’s role in promoting transparency and accountability in education. This involved a meticulous process of selecting grant agents capable of managing and disbursing funds effectively. The selection process prioritized transparency, capability, and alignment with GPE’s objectives, resulting in the recommendations to select and approve the grant agents based on their management frameworks and extensive geographic reach.
Stakeholder focused engagement
We engaged a number of stakeholders from Member States, CSO’s, private sector and partner UN agencies throughout the design of KIX. We designed workshops and delivered them to a representative group of participants at a multi-day session in Brussels that helped guide the design of KIX, as well as identify ways to make the fund accessible, regionally relevant, and support Member States.
We presented our initial strategy to the GPE Strategy and Impact Committee (SIC) of the Board at their session in Washington DC which built traction around our direction, and gained support from Member States and sister UN Agencies. At the next session held in Paris, we finalized the strategy, provided our recommendations for Grant Agents, budget and implementation plan which was approved, along with an additional tranche of funding to the sum of 40 million USD.
Driving change through knowledge
The impact of the KIX and ASA initiatives has been significant, enhancing GPE’s ability to foster education reform and innovation at multiple levels. By supporting a wide range of projects, from local grassroots initiatives to large-scale policy reforms, KIX and ASA have contributed to a more inclusive and effective educational landscape. Moreover, the strategic selection of grant agents has ensured that these efforts are sustainable and aligned with the overarching goals of strengthening education systems in developing countries.
