This Communique captures a landmark moment where African and global education leaders pledged an African-led shift in funding for foundational learning amid falling aid and rising debt burdens. Presented at the “Disrupt to Deliver” event on the sidelines of UNGA 80, the communiqué highlights the urgency of tackling Africa’s learning crisis—where up to 89% of children lack basic reading and numeracy skills—and the economic costs of inaction.

The document outlines how governments are mobilising domestic resources, innovative financing, and African technical expertise to sustain programmes once donor-funded, such as Zambia’s catch-up initiatives, Senegal’s bilingual education, and South Africa’s FLOAT model. It stresses evidence-based, cost-effective interventions—teacher training, learning materials, and improved procurement—as pathways to high returns on investment and reduced aid dependency.

Drawing lessons from India’s philanthropic reforms, it calls on African governments, philanthropists, and partners to move beyond traditional aid, embrace catalytic investments, and integrate outcome-based accountability. The communiqué sets the stage for the ADEA 2025 Triennale in Accra, which will review progress on ending learning poverty and scaling foundational learning across the continent, positioning Africa to lead its education financing agenda on its own terms.