Every Child Learning is a pioneering initiative aimed at finding new solutions to the learning crisis and improving children's learning effectively and impactfully

We are proud to be seed funders of Every Child Learning, a bold initiative tackling one of the most urgent yet overlooked challenges of our time: the global learning crisis.

Over 90% of children worldwide are enrolled in primary school. Yet today, 7 out of 10 children in low- and middle-income countries cannot read and understand a simple text by age 10. In sub-Saharan Africa, that number rises to 9 out of 10. Even in wealthier nations, learning gaps are widening—often along lines of inequality.

This is learning poverty. It’s time to move beyond asking why children aren’t learning—and focus on what works and how to scale it. We must shift from recovery to acceleration.

Through the Every Child Learning initiative, led by UNICEF Innocenti in partnership with governments, local communities, and educators, we are:

- Identifying scalable, evidence-based education solutions
- Embedding research into real-world implementation
- Strengthening promising education programs—not starting from scratch
- Creating lasting impact through government-led, sustainable action

The goal?
To reduce learning poverty, improve equity and inclusion, and drive transformational, system-level change—starting with foundational learning.

More information on the Every Child Learning programme: http://unicef.fi/ecl
UNICEF Finland