The Daara Development Academy is a game-changing initiative designed to empower Sub-Saharan African implementers in transforming foundational learning outcomes. Despite growing school enrollment, millions of children across the region still struggle to meet critical learning benchmarks. Shockingly, 9 out of 10 children in Sub-Saharan Africa cannot read with comprehension by age 10, in stark contrast to their peers in high-income countries.Daara Academy addresses this education crisis by equipping local organizations with the tools and expertise to lead sustainable, high-impact literacy and numeracy programs. Co-created by 11 organizations across the region, coordinated by Better Purpose and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (GF), Daara is grounded in the belief that locally driven solutions are key to improving teaching, learning, and student outcomes.
Daara’s Core Learning Goals
The program tackles the most pressing barriers to achieving strategic impact:
- Pedagogical Excellence: Strengthening the understanding of the science behind teaching and learning, ensuring effective classroom practice.
- Evidence Use and Generation: Building capacity for data-driven programming to align initiatives with evidence and impact.
- Scaling Programs: Preparing organizations to work closely with governments to expand sustainable education programs.
- Talent Management: Enhancing strategies to attract, retain, and develop staff aligned with market and organizational needs.
- Fundraising Capability: Boosting knowledge of the funding landscape and building meaningful engagement with potential donors.
A Collaborative Learning Approach
Daara offers diverse learning opportunities, including:
- Study tours expert lectures, and workshops
- Coaching, consultancy support, and technical assistance
- Peer learning and collaboration among participating organizations.
Additionally, the program features an Innovation Fund to support collaborative projects aimed at enhancing foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) outcomes.
Driving Education Transformation in Africa
By empowering local organizations, Daara Academy ensures they are better equipped to lead educational reform at scale, driving significant improvements in literacy and numeracy across the region. Successful outcomes from the first cohort could pave the way for future cohorts, with plans to engage a Sub-Saharan Africa-based grant manager for long-term coordination.
For more information or to explore ways to support the Daara Development Academy, reach out to:
- Simi Otusanya – simi.otusanya@betterpurpose.co
- Rigobert Pambe – rigobert.pambe@betterpurpose.co
Daara Organizations (Click on logos to access website)