Africa's Education Ministers Meet in Malawi to Measure What Their 2024 Foundational Learning Pledges Delivered

FLEX2026 brings 500+ delegates from across Africa to Lilongwe, 15–17 July 2026, for the continent's first public accountability reckoning on foundational learning

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Credits: AFP - Amos Gumulira

  • WHAT: Africa Foundational Learning Exchange 2026 (FLEX2026) — the continent's third and largest annual convening of education ministers, policymakers, and partners on foundational learning.

  • THEME: "From Commitments to Results: Delivering Foundational Learning at Scale"

  • WHEN: July, 15–17 2026. 

    • Day 1: Technical sessions. 

    • Day 2: Official opening ceremony and ministerial roundtable (livestreamed). 

    • Day 3: School visits and closing resolutions.

  • WHERE: Bingu Wa Mutharika International Convention Centre (BICC), Lilongwe, Malawi.

  • WHO: 500+ in-person delegates. Ministers of Education from across Africa. Hosted by the Government of Malawi in partnership with ADEA, AU Commission, World Bank, UNICEF, Gates Foundation, Hempel Foundation, and Prevail Fund.

  • WEBSITE: flex2026.adeanet.org 

In November 2024, 34 African Ministers of Education signed a five-point Declaration in Kigali, committing to scale evidence-based teaching, strengthen data systems, improve resource allocation, deepen inter-country collaboration, and cut partner duplication. FLEX2026 is the first time those commitments are measured publicly, using the FLEX Indicators framework and the Foundational Learning Action Tracker.

The backdrop is serious. PAL Network household surveys show that fewer than four in ten children across the continent can read or do basic arithmetic by age ten. The USAID withdrawal in early 2025 removed one of the largest sources of education funding mid-implementation across multiple countries. And the continent's demographic window — an estimated 40% of the world's children will be African by 2050 — is narrowing faster than reform cycles typically move.

Three new Africa-led mechanisms, launched at the 2025 ADEA Triennale in Accra, give FLEX2026 a concrete agenda: FLIGHT (a $35 million government-led financing mechanism for foundational learning reform), AFLAI (the African Foundational Learning Assessment Initiative), and the FLEX Indicators framework. FLEX2026 is where the first FLIGHT country partnerships are confirmed.

What to look out for 

  • Day 1 — July 15th: Parallel technical sessions on structured pedagogy, language of instruction, assessment data, teacher training, financing, and EdTech. Open to accredited media.

  • Day 2 — July 16th: Official opening ceremony. Ministerial roundtable (closed door). Gala dinner. Livestreamed on YouTube and Zoom. Press conference hosted by MoEST before the opening.

  • Day 3 — July 17th: Ministerial school visits across Lilongwe. Closing session. FLEX2026 Declaration for Action adopted. Next host country announced.

Media access and accreditation

Media are invited to attend FLEX2026 in Lilongwe from July 15th to 17th 2026. Accredited journalists will have access to:

  • All Day 1 technical sessions and photography.

  • The Day 2 press conference before the opening ceremony.

  • A dedicated media centre at BICC with Wi-Fi, power, and a media liaison on duty throughout all three days.

  • Pre-arranged interview windows with attending ministers and senior partners on Days 2 and 3.

  • The Day 3 school visits and closing session, including live access to the Declaration adoption.

  • Full AV material — photographs, video B-roll, and the highlights clip — within 24 hours of each event day.

To apply for media accreditation, contact the FLEX2026 communications team at adea@afdb.org with your name, outlet, role, and contact details by July 4 2026. Accreditation confirmation will be sent within five working days. 

Key references

  • FLEX2026 official website: flex2026.adeanet.org 

  • FLIGHT Executive Summary: knowledgehub.adeanet.org/en/elibrary/adea2025d018 

  • ADEA Triennale launch announcement: adeanet.org/press-releases/reading-maths-unlock-everything 

  • AU Mapping Exemplars of Good Practice in FLN: au.int/documents/mapping-exemplars-fln 

  • PAL Network — ICAN/ICAR Report: https://palnetwork.org/ican-icar/ 

Media contacts