Working Together: The People Driving Educational Innovations based on evidence

Across the globe, dedicated individuals and organizations based in the Global South are collaborating to transform education systems through evidence-based approaches.  

At the core of this collaborative educational transformation is the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange’s (GPE KIX's) comprehensive approach to education systems. By understanding country contexts and leveraging evidence, GPE KIX creates meaningful change through research and Innovation, providing countries with access to demand-driven global solutions and knowledge-sharing platforms. Knowledge Brokering happens through four regional hubs, each managed by experienced partners who facilitate cross-country knowledge exchange and strengthen the capacity of education stakeholders to identify, use, and mobilize evidence related to priority policy challenges.  

Advocacy and Accountability are strengthened through Education Out Loud (EOL), which reinforces civil society's capacity to engage in education planning, policy dialogue, and monitoring at national levels while creating supportive environments for advocacy globally. 

Evidence as the Foundation for Change 

A common thread among these educational innovators and activists is their unwavering commitment to evidence-based approaches for meaningful education reform. 

Gezel Mondesire-Charles, an educator from Dominica working on a GPE KIX project analyzing gender differences in educational outcomes across Caribbean schools, articulates why evidence matters: "Education is dynamic, constantly changing, addressing and adapting to the needs of society. People need evidence or reasons to make certain changes. Having that evidence allows them to make informed decisions, which helps ensure that educational systems can better respond to the needs of society and future generations." 

Building on this perspective, Syeed Ahamed, a policy analyst and Founder and Chief Executive Officer at the Institute of Informatics and Development (IID), Bangladesh, which collaborates closely with GPE KIX and EOL, elaborates on why evidence is particularly crucial in education policy: "Education is more of a future investment, not a current one where you immediately do something and see results the next day. Policymakers can come to power, implement changes, and leave before seeing immediate results. The outcomes emerge much later, when you can no longer undo what's been done. That's why in education, as a future investment, evidence-based research is significantly more important than in other fields—it creates a foundation for lasting change”. 

Knowledge Exchange in Action 

GPE KIX regional hubs are proving instrumental in equipping countries to share and utilize evidence through capacity strengthening and the establishment of sustainable structures for knowledge exchange. 

Nuong Dieu Nguyen, Country Director at Room to Read and national coordinator of the EMAP Hub in Vietnam, highlights what makes GPE KIX unique: "Many organizations support research and innovation in education, but GPE KIX truly emphasizes national ownership and leadership. They respect countries by ensuring that national teams drive the entire process, from identifying issues to conducting research. GPE KIX taps into what already exists in the country and brings added value to those projects. With the regional hubs and networks, GPE KIX is uniquely positioned to be responsive to country needs." 

This approach has yielded tangible results, as seen in Vietnam, where systematic knowledge exchange directly addresses the country's education policy priorities.  

Advocacy Through Education Out Loud 

Complementing the research and knowledge-brokering aspects is the advocacy work championed by EOL. 

Nancy Pellowski Wiger, part of EOL's global learning team at the University of Minnesota, shares a compelling example: "We worked with a project in Zimbabwe addressing school-related gender-based violence. The initiative collected local-level data that showed schools exactly what they needed to work on for a whole-school approach, examining codes of conduct and understanding different stakeholders' perspectives on gender-based violence. This data illuminated where alignments existed and where perspectives differed, helping schools, learners, teachers, and all stakeholders identify clear next steps." 

Aditi Arur from Christ University, India, another EOL global learning partner, explains the power of combining qualitative and quantitative approaches: "Stories from the field connect at an emotional and relatable level with people, while quantitative data helps contextualize the larger patterns. People are often limited by their own context, but when data is presented in a quantitative, visually effective manner, it tells stories in a uniquely powerful way." 

A Collaborative Approach to Educational Transformation 

What makes this collaborative approach to educational transformation so effective is the seamless integration of research, knowledge brokering, and advocacy. By bringing together diverse stakeholders from researchers and policymakers to educators and civil society organizations, we have created an ecosystem where evidence-based educational innovation can flourish. 

This unified approach ensures that educational reforms are not just theoretically sound but also practically implementable and sustainable. It recognizes that transforming education requires both policy changes and community engagement, all guided by evidence and adapted to local contexts. 

As these educational innovators continue their work across different regions and contexts, they demonstrate that the most effective path to educational transformation lies in collaboration, evidence, and a shared commitment to creating better learning opportunities for all children and youth. 

We want to hear from you.

Are you also working with GPE KIX to transform education based on evidence? Share your stories of collaboration and impact with us by submitting blog posts and news items.  

Spotlight on some of GPE KIX innovators driving educational innovations