Benjamin Piper

How to solve the global reading crisis Millions of children in low- and middle-income countries attend school without learning to read, with ineffective teaching methods driving a global learning crisis. New global evidence demonstrates th...

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On @voxdev.bsky.social Talks, @talknormal.co.uk & @geeap.bsky.social panelist @benlpiper.bsky.social discuss how to solve the global reading crisis - and what evidence-based instruction can achieve.

🎧 voxdev.org/topic/educat...

Read the GEEAP-endorsed literacy report: bit.ly/4pVfIw9

Achieving universal foundational learning could increase global GDP by $196 trillion over 20 years - What Works Hub for Global Education This study models the global impacts of universal foundational learning on economic growth, education, employment, health & gender equality.

The insight note makes the choice clear for governments: put core literacy and numeracy at the center of education plans and budgets, and the payoff is huge for young people, economies, and societies. Read more: www.wwhge.org/resources/ac...

This #IDE2026, a new insight note from Mettalytics, @wwhglobaled.bsky.social & the Gates Foundation shows what’s at stake: if 90% of children could read by age 10, universal #FoundationalLearning could add an estimated $196T to global GDP between 2031–2050. That’s trillions, not billions.

How to solve the global reading crisis Millions of children in low- and middle-income countries attend school without learning to read, with ineffective teaching methods driving a global learning crisis. New global evidence demonstrates th...

📢 New 🎙️ @benlpiper.bsky.social, @geeap.bsky.social panellist - explains why ineffective reading instruction is at the heart of the learning crisis, & how evidence-based approaches can transform outcomes

@voxdev.bsky.social on the global reading crisis

🎧 Listen here: bit.ly/3YELmC4

🆕 How to solve the global reading crisis 📢

Today on #VoxDevTalks, @benlpiper.bsky.social (Gates Foundation) discusses how effective reading instruction can transform learning outcomes in developing countries: voxdev.org/topic/educat...

ADQ and Gates Foundation Announce Groundbreaking Partnership to Leverage Responsible AI and EdTech to Transform Foundational Learning Outcomes A landmark partnership will deploy responsible AI and proven EdTech solutions to help strengthen early-grade literacy and numeracy across sub-Saharan Africa.

Today, ADQ and the Gates Foundation launched a new US$40M partnership to advance responsible #AI & #EdTech for #FoundationalLearning. Learn more: www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-...

Huge congrats to Mamadou Amadou Ly on the 2025 Yidan Prize for Education Development — powerful recognition of his leadership advancing equitable education across West Africa. His work shows how mother-tongue instruction can drive learning outcomes for children globally.

“Build the basement first': Gates Foundation's Benjamin Piper on solving Africa's learning poverty by 2035 As African governments confront declining donor funding and a persistent learning crisis, the Gates Foundation has made foundational learning its top education priority. Benjamin Piper, Director of Gl...

It was great to talk with Ecofin Agency at the #ADEATriennale2025.

Read to learn more about how countries are making real progress through political commitment, domestic budget allocation, and clear learning targets: www.ecofinagency.com/insights/191...

Join this Webex Webinar now Simple, modern video meetings for everyone on the world's most popular and trusted collaboration platform.

When the new evidence on reading from diverse contexts points in the same direction, we should pay attention. The new GEEAP report synthesizes ~150 studies on effective reading instruction from LMICs covering 165+ languages.
Join the launch webinar on Dec 4 at 9am ET bit.ly/3Khlhp8

Historic news from #G20SouthAfrica: #IBSALeaders (India, Brazil, South Africa) commit to establish the IBSA Network for Quality #FoundationalLearning – centering learning outcomes for every child. Excited to see momentum grow under SA’s IBSA Presidency next year. acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:...

ADEA is seeking a Founding Executive Director to shape and lead FLIGHT, a new catalytic funding initiative to support African governments to implement proven foundational learning interventions at scale.

Learn more: adeanet.org/en/call-appl...

Addressing Literacy Challenges in Africa through Evidence-based Solutions | ADEA

Honored to join ADEA at the #ADEATriennale2025 to discuss the new GEEAP endorsed report and its implications not just for literacy outcomes, but the potential for economic development if implemented properly. Listen to the podcast here: www.adeanet.org/en/podcasts/...

#foundationallearning #adeatriennale2025 | Benjamin Piper I’m back home after an intense week in Accra with Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), partners and leaders in African education. It was an honor to take part in the #Foundat...

Just back from an intense week in Accra with ADEA, partners, and leaders in global education from across Africa. Don’t miss my takeaways and where we can go with the commitments shared at the #ADEATriennale2025. www.linkedin.com/posts/benjam...

FLIGHT, the Foundational Learning Initiative for Government-led Transformation, empowers African Ministers of Education with tools and networks to strengthen their efforts to improve #FoundationalLearning – centering local leadership for lasting impact. media.licdn.com/dms/document...

Effective Reading Instruction in Low- and Middle-Income Countries : What the Evidence Shows This report is grounded in the Science of reading, a vast, multidisciplinary body of research on how children learn to read and how best to teach reading. Drawing from .

#OutNow: The new report on effective reading instruction from GEEAP provides compelling guidance on how children learn to read and how to teach them most effectively. Evidence-based teaching matters. documents.worldbank.org/en/publicati...

The Gates Foundation Global Education team is off to Accra for the ADEA #Triennale2025. Join us and partners at the following sessions to hear about #FoundationalLearning progress and the programs that are improving learning outcomes across the continent.

How bilingual instruction is boosting learning in Senegal Senegal’s experiment with bilingual education is showing how teaching children in the languages they speak at home can boost learning.

Glad to see Mamadou Amadou Ly and ARED recognized in @devex.com. We’re proud to partner on their work in bilingual education so more kids get high-quality instruction in a language they understand. www.devex.com/news/how-bil...

Last month, I joined a partners visit to India and learned how the national education mission has led to measurable improvements in learning outcomes. With strong political will, prioritization and accountability, large-scale reform is an achievable goal.

At the #UNGA80 #DisruptToDeliver event, it was clear that there is strong commitment to improve learning outcomes. Smarter spending and a laser focus on foundational skills are the way forward.

knowledgehub.adeanet.org/en/elibrary/...

Since USAID’s closure @datafirst.bsky.social's AFLEARN data hub has worked to preserve essential education data from over 43 countries, representing over 20 years of evidence. Great to see partners working together to address challenges imposed by aid cuts: www.datafirst.uct.ac.za/aflearn/data...

Congratulations to Mamadou Amadou Ly, ARED's Executive Director, for being awarded the Yidan Prize for education development. ARED’s work highlights the critical role of mother tongue instruction in equitably driving foundational learning outcomes yidanprize.org/laureates/ma...

Smart solutions needed to finance foundational learning - New African Magazine It is time to refashion finance and strategy to equip every child with the foundational skills to learn, earn, and lead, because the future for all of us depends on it. Across many low- and middle-inc...

It's time to rethink how we fund global education. Flexible, strategic donor investments designed to align with local priorities leads to impact. Let’s invest in what works. Read more from a recent op-ed written by myself and Hon. Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima: newafricanmagazine.com/31035/

Thanks ADEA for having me on their podcast series. I am inspired by education colleagues and ministers that have decided to prioritize learning and dedicate domestic funding to ensure students gain foundational skills. Listen here: creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...

The Precarity of Aid for Basic Education and What To Do About It Global aid is entering a period of retrenchment. After a decade of expansion, budget announcements for 2025 point to cuts across major donors, driven by fiscal tightening and competing domestic and in...

A new analysis underscores the threat of shrinking education aid. We must pivot existing resources toward evidence-based foundational learning programs that unlock millions in GDP growth, higher earnings, and employment opportunities. Learn more: www.cgdev.org/blog/precari...

I’m joining Gates colleagues, as well as grantees and partners this week at #UKFIET2025.

This event offers a great opportunity for knowledge sharing that builds on the momentum we’re seeing from African governments prioritizing #FoundationalLearning given its huge returns.

Pleased to share the new communications toolkit on #FoundationalLearning, packed with practical, evidence-based strategies to help governments, educators, and partners engage new audiences.

Explore it here: www.imidibaniso.co.za/wp-content/u...

Doing more with less: Why foreign aid should prioritise foundational learning now Cuts to global education funding will forgo at least $100 billion in lifetime earnings. Supporting national governments to leverage domestic financing to improve foundational learning should be a prio...

New in @voxdev.bsky.social, I joined @noamangrist.bsky.social, Pia Britto, @gamblingondev.bsky.social, Michelle Kaffenberger, and @deankarlan.bsky.social on the impact of funding cuts and what we can do to continue progress despite them.
voxdev.org/topic/educat...

This week, the Global Coalition for Foundational Learning, joined by African partners such as Human Capital Africa (HCA) and ADEA, is in India to learn from India’s reforms and strengthen… | Human Ca... This week, the Global Coalition for Foundational Learning, joined by African partners such as Human Capital Africa (HCA) and ADEA, is in India to learn from India’s reforms and strengthen South–South...

Just wrapped a powerful week in India with the Global Coalition for Foundational Learning. Grateful to hear from the experts implementing #FoundationalLearning programs and to see the effects of strong government leadership. More from Human Capital Africa: www.linkedin.com/posts/human-...

Doing more with less: Why foreign aid should prioritise foundational learning now Cuts to global education funding will forgo at least $100 billion in lifetime earnings. Supporting national governments to leverage domestic financing to improve foundational learning should be a prio...

🆕 Doing more with less: Why foreign aid should prioritise foundational learning now

By @noamangrist.bsky.social @blavatnikschool.bsky.social, Pia Britto @unicef.org, @gamblingondev.bsky.social, Michelle Kaffenberger @wwhglobaled.bsky.social, @deankarlan.bsky.social & @benlpiper.bsky.social ⤵️

When teachers are supported and engaged in #FoundationalLearning, children’s learning outcomes notably improve. Looking forward to the discussions at @unesco.org’s World Summit on Teachers and the commitments that emerge.