The "Foundational Learning Starter Pack" aims to support newly appointed and current Ministers of Education by providing tools and strategies to improve foundational learning in Africa. Developed by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and Human Capital Africa (HCA), the guide addresses the continent's persistent educational challenges. It emphasizes the importance of basic literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional development skills for children.

The guide identifies several major challenges: insufficient teaching materials, lack of adequate teacher training, problems with recruiting and retaining teachers, and inadequate educational infrastructure. It also highlights the importance of collecting and using data to improve learning outcomes. The "Teaching at the Right Level" (TaRL) approach in Zambia and the "Tusome" program in Kenya are presented as successful examples.

The document calls for concerted action by governments, donors, and educational partners to ensure quality basic learning for all children in Africa, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Continental Strategy for Education in Africa 2016-2025 (CESA 16-25).