This high-level agenda shows how sessions are currently scheduled. Parallel-session titles are working titles, and the speaker line-up is provisional and subject to confirmation. Each room will have English, French and Portuguese interpreters.

Arrival of delegates — Accreditation — Pre-conference events

Bookable rooms are available across the three days for bilateral, breakfast and lunch meetings. Partners are required to make enquiries and book with BICC directly at info@umodzipark.co.mw / reservations@umodzipark.co.mw.

13-14 July 2026 (08:00 – 17:00)
ADEA ESDC Initiative pre-conference workshop
Sunbird Capital Hotel
14 July 2026
Arrival of delegates, ministers, speakers & partners
  • Delegate registration & accreditation.
  • Badge collection & info packs.
  • VIP & ministerial airport reception. 
  • Hotel check-in.
  • No formal programme.
14 July 2026 (08:30 – 14:30)
UNICEF South–South learning exchange
BICC

Open to all FLEX attendees.

14 July 2026 (18:30 – 20:30)
Gates partner dinner
BICC

Invitation only

15 July 2026
Technical Session Day
07:00 – 08:15
ESDC / AFLAI Ministerial breakfast (ADEA)
BICC
  • Ministers of Education | Invite only.
  • Delegate check-in, badge collection & information desk continue.
08:00 – 08:30
Opening & welcome remarks
Plenary in Main Hall
  • Welcome from ADEA
  • Welcome from the Government of Malawi
  • Orientation to FLEX2026.
08:30 – 10:30
SESSION 1A – Sub-theme 1 – From Measurement to Reform: How Learning Data Changes Systems

Tentative speakers

  • Dr David Njengere — CEO, Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC)
  • Samuel Mwambura — Assistant Director for Educational Assessment Resource Centre, Kenya National Examinations Council
  • Reaming speakers to be confirmed
08:30 – 10:30
SESSION 2A – Sub-theme 2 – Whole-System Reform: Aligning Curriculum, Structured Pedagogy and Remediation at National Scale

Tentative speakers

  • Lindiwe Chide — Director of Quality Assurance Services, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Malawi (tentative)
  • Jeannette Bayisenge — Coordinator of the Foundational Learning Delivery Unit, Ministry of Education, Rwanda (tentative)
  • Doukoure Naminata Nurudine — Directorate of Planning and Continuing Education/Training, Ministry of National Education, Literacy and Technical Education, Côte d’Ivoire (tentative)
08:30 – 10:30
SESSION 3A – Sub-theme 3 – School Leadership as a Lever for Foundational Learning

Tentative speakers

  • Felix Ngoma — Director of Primary Education, Ministry of Education, Zambia 
  • Amosi Chipasi — Deputy Director, PEAS, Zambia
  • Leila Abdullahi — Director of Research and Programme Delivery, Africa Centre for School Leadership (govt speakers TBC)
  • Jihane Lamouri — IIEP-UNESCO (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
08:30 – 10:30
SESSION 4A – Sub-theme 4 – From Standards to Classrooms: Governing ECE at Scale

Tentative speakers

  • Prof. George Oduro — Technical Advisor to the Hon. Minister, Ministry of Education, Ghana
  • Dr. Issahaque Munawaru — Deputy Director General of Ghana Education Service 
  • Martha Odundo — Head of Directorate for ECDE, Ministry of Education, Kenya
  • Doreen Ankunda - Ministry of Education and Sports, Directorate of Education Standards, Uganda (tentative)
10:30 – 11:00
Tea / Health break (Refreshments & Networking)
11:00 – 13:00
SESSION 1B – Sub-theme 1 – ADEA–Hempel & AFLAI: What happens to the data generated? Country experiences

Tentative speakers

  • To be confirmed
11:00 – 13:00
SESSION 2B – Sub-theme 2 – FAWE & AccessEnable: What Reaches the Child — Inclusive Pedagogy, Quality Materials and Evidence That Scales

Tentative speakers

  • To be confirmed
11:00 – 13:00
SESSION 3B – Sub-theme 3 – Technology in FL Delivery: From Evidence to Action — Strengthening EdTech & AI Policy and Research for Foundational Learning in Africa

Tentative speakers

  • To be confirmed
11:00 – 13:00
SESSION 4B – Sub-theme 4 – FLIGHT & Speak Up Africa: Aligned to Deliver — How Policy, Systems and Coordinated Financing Drive Foundational Learning at Scale

Tentative speakers

  • Dr. Joan Oviawe – Executive Director, FLIGHT
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch break
  • Buffet lunch.
  • FLOAT / FLC / FLIGHT closed-door lunch meeting 12:30–14:00 (BICC – Room TBC)
  • Ministerial private lunch in a separate room (TBC).
14:00 – 16:00
SESSION 1C – Sub-theme 1 – Building Trusted Data Systems for Better Decisions

Tentative speakers

  • Lanken Nkhata — Acting Head of the Education Management Information Systems (EMIS), Ministry of Education, Science & Technology (MoEST), Malawi (tentative)
  • Dr Inza Meite — Director DESPS, Ministry of National Education, Literacy and Technical Education, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Jeannette Bayisenge — Coordinator of the Foundational Learning Delivery Unit, Ministry of Education, Rwanda (tentative)
14:00 – 16:00
SESSION 2C – Sub-theme 2 – Teaching in a Language Children Understand: Evidence on Literacy and Multilingual Instruction

Tentative speakers

  • Mubarak Mohammed — Chairman for the State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB) Kaduna State, Nigeria
  • Dr. Cleophus Mugenyi — Commissioner of Basic Education, Ministry of Education, Uganda (tentative)
  • Name (TBC) - Ministry of Education, Science & Technology (MoEST), Malawi 
  • Mme. Ndèye Aby Ndaw - Director of Elementary/Primary Education, Ministry of National Education (MEN), Senegal (tentative)
  • Assoc. Prof. Abba Idris Adam — Commissioner for Education, Yobe State Ministry of Education, Nigeria 
  • Name (TBC) - Ministry of Education, Ethiopia 
14:00 – 16:00
SESSION 3C – Sub-theme 3 – Coaching, School-Based TPD and Communities of Learning

Tentative speakers

  • Hanitriniaina Niry Rakotomalala — Secretary General of the Malagasy National Commission for UNESCO/Ministry of National Education, Madagascar (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
  • Nganga Kibandi — Dignitas Project (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
  • Name (TBC) — Government of United Republic of Tanzania
14:00 – 16:00
SESSION 4C – Sub-theme 4 – The Case for Investment: Economic Returns, Government Reform & Sustainable Partnerships

Tentative speakers

  • Government participation (TBC) — coordinated by the Global Coalition for Foundational Learning
  • Gail Campbell — CEO, Zenex Foundation, South Africa (tentative)
16:00 – 18:00
SESSION 1D – Sub-theme 1 – What Happens When Data Reaches the Classroom?

Tentative speakers

  • Dr. Langson Chibuye — Assistant Director of Primary Directorate, Ministry of Education, Zambia
  • Deloh André — Director of Program Monitoring and Assessment of Academic Achievement, Head of National Evaluation Systems (NES), Ministry of National Education and Literacy, Cote d'Ivoire
  • Dr. Cleophus Mugenyi — Commissioner of Basic Education, Ministry of Education, Uganda (tentative)
  • Faith Nkala — Director - Sub Saharan Africa, Education Development Trust
  • Name (TBC) — Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Zimbabwe
16:00 – 18:00
SESSION 2D – Sub-theme 2 – Teaching and Learning Materials: From Availability to Effective Classroom Use

Tentative speakers

  • Julie Donohue-Kpolugbo — Literacy, Education, and Gender Specialist, CODE
  • Shadreck Chakwawa — Director of Education, Youth and Sport, Ntchisi, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Malawi
  • Honourable Dr. Nono Kgafela Mokoka — Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Botswana 
  • Lesego Masitara — Chief Executive Officer, Department of Basic Education under the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Botswana Zachary Kwena — Director of Research and Evidence, Usawa Agenda
  • Name (TBC) — Ministry of Education, Kenya
16:00 – 18:00
SESSION 3D – Sub-theme 3 – Community Accountability and Resilience in Foundational Learning

Tentative speakers

  • Abel Benister Nephitaly— Action Research Manager, Creative Centre for Community Mobilisation (CRECCOM)
  • Ms. Joyce Saukira — Deputy Director - Directorate of Quality Assurance Services (DQAS), MoEST, Malawi
  • Ms. Mphatso Mary Magombo — Chief Community Development Officer, Directorate of Community Development, Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Malawi
  • Dr. Sani Njobdi — Research Manager, Common Heritage Foundation
  • Dr. Adedoyin Adesina — Program Manager, Common Heritage Foundation
  • Selamawit Alemayehu — Education Research in Protracted Conflict and Crisis Helpdesk (tentative)
  • Nganga Kibandi — Dignitas Project (tentative)
  • Name (TBC) — Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) (tentative)
16:00 – 18:00
SESSION 4D – Sub-theme 4 – Building the Architecture: National Coordination, Parliamentary Oversight & Continental Frameworks

Tentative speakers

  • Dr. Caseley Olabode Stephens — Principal Officer, Basic and Secondary Education, African Union Commission (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
  • Beth Gum — Senior Policy & Advocacy Adviser for Education, International Parliamentary Network for Education (IPNED) (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
  • Patrine Banda — Ministry of Education, Science & Technology (MoEST), Zambia (tentative)
19:00 – 21:00
ADEA Welcome cocktail reception
Banquet Hall
  • All FLEX participants
  • Finger food
  • Live music / entertainment
  • Professional compere.
Opening Plenary — Ministerial Sessions — Parallel Sessions
07:15 – 08:15
Accelerator programme breakfast meeting (World Bank)
BICC – Room TBC

Government technical team and partners | Invitation only

07:30 – 09:00
Arrival, accreditation & welcome
  • Final delegate registration
  • Ministerial VIP welcome reception
  • Main Hall doors open.
09:00 – 13:00
High-level Opening Plenary — Official Opening of FLEX2026
Main Hall

Part 1 · Official Opening (09:00–10:45): cultural performances; MC welcome & introduction of dignitaries; national & AU anthems; ADEA welcoming remarks (Mr. Albert Nsengiyumva, ADEA Executive Secretary); goodwill messages from partners; African Union remarks (Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, AU Commissioner, ESTI); remarks by host Minister & introduction of Guest of Honour (Hon. Bright Msaka, SC); keynote address & official opening by Guest of Honour (Head of State / delegated official); official group photograph.

Part 2 · Plenary Dialogue (10:50–12:15): Ministerial panel — "Setting the stage: the journey from Freetown to Lilongwe"; partner panel (Hempel Foundation, Gates Foundation, World Bank, UNICEF, Prevail Fund); reflection (Hon. Minister, Rwanda); moderator wrap & handover. Networking / exhibitions follow at the Blue Roof area.

Main Hall 
(500–600 pax) · Professional compere / MC · Simultaneous interpretation EN/FR/PT · Livestreamed.

13:00 – 14:00
Lunch break
  • Buffet lunch
  • Ministerial private lunch in a separate room (TBC).
14:00 – 16:00
Ministerial roundtable [closed session]
Njovbu room
14:00 – 16:00
SESSION 1E – Sub-theme 1 – From Evidence to Impact: Scaling Effective Foundational Learning Reforms

Tentative speakers

  • Ebtehal Elghamrawy — UNICEF (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
  • Mira Kanaan — UNICEF (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
14:00 – 16:00
SESSION 2E – Sub-theme 2 – Strengthening Evidence-Based Instruction: Early-Grade Literacy and Numeracy

Tentative speakers

  • Tom Pugh — Project Director, Numeracy Research and Development Fund, Genesis Analytics
  • Elsie Adeya — Project Manager, Numeracy Research and Development Fund, Genesis Analytics (tentative)
  • Dr. Cleophus Mugenyi — Commissioner of Basic Education, Ministry of Education, Uganda (tentative)
  • Jane Chavula — Mathematics Specialist, Curriculum Development, Ministry of Education, Zambia 
  • Laureen Babirye — Director of External Relations, Building Tomorrow (tentative)
  • Joseph Kalisa Bagambaki — Chief of Scale and Strategy, Building Tomorrow (tentative)
  • Lyson Chikunduzi — Strategic Education Advisor, VVOB (tentative)
  • Virginia Ngindiru — Mizizi Elimu Afrika (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
  • Martin Kungania — Deputy Director, Directorate of Primary Education and the State Department for Basic Education, Ministry of Education, Kenya
14:00 – 16:00
SESSION 3E – Sub-theme 3 – The Middle Tier: Turning Commitments into Delivery

Tentative speakers

  • Musa Birungi — Senior Education Officer, Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda
  • Raymond Obiayi Ombere — Principal Education Officer for Arua City and the National Chairperson of the National Association of Municipal and District Education Officers (NAMUDEO-U), Uganda
  • Harriet Apio — Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda (tentative)
  • Deborah Kimathi — Education Development Center (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
  • Chinwe Umeh-Ujubuonu — Human Capital Africa (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
14:00 – 16:00
SESSION 4E – Sub-theme 4 – How to Sustain Leadership & Political Will for Foundational Learning Reform

Tentative speakers

  • Almaret du Toit — Chief Education Specialist, Western Cape, South Africa
  • Name (TBC) — Government official, Uttar Pradesh state, India 
  • Name (TBC) — Member of Parliament, Government of Zambia
  • Name (TBC) — Ministry of Education, Brazil (virtual)
  • Dr. Gola António - National Director of Preschool and Primary Education, Ministry of Education, Angola 
  • Mr. Fábio Manno — Chief of Education at UNICEF Angola
16:00 – 18:00
SESSION 1F – Sub-theme 1 – Strengthening National Assessment Systems: From Design to Sustainability

Tentative speakers

  • Name (TBC) — Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education, Sierra Leone
  • Hanitriniaina Niry Rakotomalala — Secretary General of the Malagasy National Commission for UNESCO/Ministry of National Education, Madagascar
  • Yves Razafimandranto — Ministry of National Education, Madagascar
  • Clement Osei Antwi — Deputy Director, Learning Assessment, Policy and Implementation, Ministry of Education
16:00 – 18:00
SESSION 2F – Sub-theme 2 – Quality from the Start: National ECE Spotlights inc. Tanzania, South Africa, Ghana and Zambia

Tentative speakers

  • Patrine Banda — Ministry of Education, Science & Technology (MoEST), Zambia (tentative)
  • Names (TBC) — Government/Ministry of Education of the United Republic of Tanzania
16:00 – 18:00
SESSION 3F – Sub-theme 3 – Strengthening the Early Years Workforce for Foundational Learning

Tentative speakers

  • Mr. Sidi Moilid — Special Adviser/Envoy, representing the Minister, Mauritania
  • Mr. Soumaré Oumar — ADEA Focal Point, Mauritania 
  • Nada Elattar UNICEF — Chief of Education, UNICEF Mauritania
  • Martha Odundo — Head of Directorate for ECDE, Ministry of Education, Kenya
  • Andiwo Obondoh — Education Development Trust
  • Names (TBC) — Ministry of Education Ghana
16:00 – 18:00
SESSION 4F – Sub-theme 4 – Spending Smarter: Public Expenditure Innovation for Foundational Learning

Tentative speakers

  • Polycarp Omondi OTIENO — UNICEF (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
  • Nobuyuki Tanaka — World Bank (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
19:00 – 22:00
ADEA Welcome dinner (TBC)
BICC
  • All FLEX participants
  • Formal sit-down dinner
  • Live band & cultural entertainment
  • Goodwill remarks from ADEA, host government and dinner sponsors.
School Visits — Final Parallel Sessions — Restitution — Closing
07:15 – 08:15
FLIGHT breakfast meeting (Gates)
BICC – Room TBC

Ministers of Education | Closed door meeting

08:00 – 10:30
School Visit

School visits for government delegates — guided visits to designated schools (depart 08:00, return by 10:30)

08:30 – 10:30
SESSION 1G – Sub-theme 1 – Bringing Learning Assessment to Communities

Tentative speakers

  • Muhammad Usman — Program Manager, PAL Network (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
  • Dr. Mary Goretti Nakabugo — Executive Director, Uwezo Uganda (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
08:30 – 10:30
SESSION 2G – Sub-theme 2 – Teaching at the Right Level (1 of 2): Designing, Adapting and Scaling within National Systems

Tentative speakers

  • Dr. Moyo — Curriculum Specialist, Literacy, the Ministry of Education, Zambia
  • Yusuf Nasir — The Permanent Secretary, Government House Katsina, Nigeria
  • Hamza Usman — Executive Director, International Partners and Social Development
  • Dr. Cleophus Mugenyi — Commissioner of Basic Education, Ministry of Education, Uganda (tentative)
  • Hon. Dr. Halima Mohamed — Minister of Education, Eritrea (tentative)
  • Vusi Simelane — Primary Education Inspector and Acting Chief at the Free Primary Education Unit, Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), Kingdom of Eswatini
  • Martin Prew – Affiliation (TBC)
08:30 – 10:30
SESSION 3G – Sub-theme 3 – Parents, Communities and Reading at Scale

Tentative speakers

  • Dennis Daka — World Vision Zambia Education representative
  • Makayiko Kayimba — Education Technical Coordinator and Specialist, World Vision Malawi
08:30 – 10:30
SESSION 4G – Sub-theme 4 – Beyond Public Budgets: Blended Finance, PPPs & Outcomes-Based Models

Tentative speakers

  • Bakary Mouze Mogne — Education Policy Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Ministry of National Education, The Comoros (tentative)
  • Name (TBC) — Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education, Sierra Leone (tentative)
  • Ellena Simango — Director, Directorate of Basic Education (DBE), MoEST — Malawi (tentative)
  • Joseph DiSilvio — Programme Manager, Education Outcomes Fund (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
10:30 – 11:00
Return from school visits — Tea / Health break (Light refreshments)
10:45 – 13:00
SESSION 1H – Sub-theme 1 – From Readiness to Learning: Strengthening Data Across the Early Years

Tentative speakers

  • Name (TBC) — Countries (TBC), coordinated by UNICEF
  • Name (TBC) — Countries (TBC), coordinated by World Bank
10:45 – 13:00
SESSION 2H – Sub-theme 2 – Teaching at the Right Level (2 of 2): Adaptation in Crisis and Displacement Contexts

Tentative speakers

  • Hon. Dr. Al-Tohami Al-Zein Hajar — Hon. Minister of Education, Sudan
  • Prof. Bulama Kagu — Executive Chairman for Borno State Universal Basic Education Board, Nigeria
  • Hassan Mohamed Ali —Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education, Somalia
  • Maria Zakharia Ahmed — Head of Quality Assurance Department, Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education, Somalia
  • Name (TBC) — Government reps from Jordan and Gaza
  • Dr Suman Sachdeva — UNICEF 
  • Ramya Madhavan — Global Head of Advisory, Street Child (tentative, govt speakers TBC)
  • Dr. Annet Kajura — Ag. Commissioner, Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda (tentative)
10:45 – 13:00
SESSION 3H – Sub-theme 3 – Teacher Workforce Policy, Allocation and System Leadership

Tentative speakers

  • Oladele Akogun — Senior Researcher and Regional Research Director, Oxford Policy Management
  • Ariana Young – Affiliation (TBC)
  • Name (TBC) — Adamawa State House of Assembly (Nigeria) (tentative)
  • Name (TBC) — Government official, Ghana 
  • Name (TBC) — Government official, Senegal
  • Tuamanaia Foimapafisi — Research Specialist, UNICEF Innocenti
  • Poaty Christophe — Ministry of Pre-primary, Primary, Secondary Education & Literacy, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (tentative)
10:45 – 13:00
SESSION 4H – Sub-theme 4 – What Works, at What Cost: The Evidence Base for Scaling Foundational Learning

Tentative speakers

  • Amy Barnecutt — Principal Consultant, Education Development Trust (EDT)
  • Name (TBC) — Government reps and countries (TBC), coordinated by EDT
  • Silvia Diazgranados — Senior Education Researcher, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Colombia
  • Name (TBC) — Government reps and countries (TBC), coordinated by IRC
  • Name (TBC) — World Bank
  • Name (TBC) — Countries (TBC), coordinated by World Bank
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch
  • All delegates return to venue.
  • Buffet lunch
  • Ministerial private lunch in a separate room (TBC).
14:00 – 15:00
Restitution — school-visit feedback & plenary reflection
Main Hall
  • Structured feedback from school-visit groups
  • Key outcomes from all parallel sessions
  • Open reflections from delegates.
15:00 – 16:15
Closing Formalities — FLEX2026 Declaration & Communiqué
Main Hall

Part 1:,Outcomes & Resolutions: 

  • Presentation of key outcomes & resolutions (Rapporteur-General / ADEA Technical Lead); 
  • Reading & tabling of the FLEX2026 Declaration for Action, incl. Youth Call to Action (Communiqué Committee Chair); 
  • Adoption of the Declaration (Hon. Minister of Education, Malawi + Ministers).

Part 2: Handover & Closing: 

  • Announcement of FLEX2028 host country & symbolic handover; 
  • Remarks by incoming host; 
  • Closing remarks (Hon. Minister of Education, Malawi); 
  • Vote of thanks (ADEA Executive Secretary); 
  • Official close.
16:15
Farewell tea break & dispersal (Delegates disperse — End of FLEX2026)