GPE KIX and Global Initiatives Share Approaches to Policy Impact and Scaling
Through roundtable and panel discussions at CIES 2025 conference, GPE KIX created a platform for cross-organizational learning from other global research initiatives in the education sector. Discussions highlighted how these global initiatives are working to ensure that quality research translates into meaningful educational reforms while navigating the complexities of scaling impact within diverse contexts.
Research to Policy Impact
The roundtable addressed the first challenge, translating research into effective policy implementation. It was led by GPE KIX, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the KIX Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Asia and Pacific (EMAP) Hub, with representatives from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Aga Khan Foundation's Schools2030 Program, and the Programme APPRENDRE funded by the Agence Française de Développement.
A common theme emerged: the importance of demand-driven research that responds to actual needs in educational systems.
Through the years, GPE KIX has developed a collaborative approach to identifying needs, working through its four regional Hubs to survey national delegations and review existing policies. This ground-level engagement ensures that research priorities reflect the real concerns of education ministries rather than external agendas.
The Programme APPRENDRE shared how they've evolved their methodology over time in phases. Their current third phase represents a significant shift, with five selected countries where education ministries will directly define research priorities themselves
For the Aga Khan Foundation, they found the multi-layered nature of the educational systems approach impactful.
"At the program level, we worked with the Ministries of Education and district and local education authorities," stated Bronwen Magrath. "Equally, if not more important to us, is to respond to the needs of our schools and teachers, because in School2030, we observed a big gap between evidence-based policy and actual classroom practices. We want to focus our efforts on evidence, demands and realities assumable to close these practice gaps."
Jean-Marc Bernard, the roundtable discussant, offered a thoughtful perspective on why research often fails to influence policy. The disconnect, he noted, frequently stems from how research is presented rather than its content. Policymakers need more than evidence that innovations work; they require practical guidance on implementation within their specific contexts. His comments highlighted the importance of translation efforts and synthesizing evidence in accessible, action-oriented formats.
The conversations reflected the shared commitment of these initiatives to bridge research and policy, working through different approaches.
Scaling and Systems Change in International Education
GPE KIX also hosted a panel discussion that addressed the second challenge, scaling successful initiatives across diverse educational systems, a captivating two-part panel that brought together contrasting perspectives from funders and implementers on integrating systems thinking into educational initiatives.
The funder panel featured representatives from major organizations, including the IDRC, FCDO, Co-Impact, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
GPE KIX highlighted its focus on scaling research that is applied and engaged, with systems thinking built into the process. With an emphasis on how research projects typically begin with stakeholder and systems mapping to understand the various factors, like the people, organizations, positions, and relationships involved. In addition, policy environments, cultural contexts, and gender and equity considerations are all crucial elements when thinking about adaptation and scaling. GPE KIX also emphasized stakeholder engagement, co-creating research and integrating knowledge mobilization from start to finish.
Drawing from IDRC experience, GPE KIX highlighted the importance of shifting focus to scaling impact, recognizing that projects, programs, and approaches are means to an end.
“To improve impact, these means can change, collaborate with others, and potentially become less visible as they integrate into broader systems,” said Tricia Wind, Program Leader, GPE KIX, IDRC.
The implementer session provided practical insights that complemented these theoretical frameworks. The panel included representatives from Teaching at the Right Level Africa, Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED), the Ministry of Education, Zambia, Associates in Research and Education for Development (ARED), and the University of Oslo.
Jeffrey Nyandroro, CAMFED's Senior Impact Manager, shared a compelling example: "For our Youth-led Life Skills Mentorship program to be scaled, it was essential to engage national, district, and local government offices—not just as implementers, but also as partners in research and in the dissemination of findings," he said. "In Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Zambia, scaling had to align with each government's specific context and priorities. As a result, while the program is integrated across all three countries, its implementation and scale-up look different in each." This experience demonstrates how scaling can act as a catalyst that sets systems change in motion.
Through these roundtables and panel discussions at CIES 2025, the collective insights from GPE KIX and other global research initiatives reinforced the importance of context-specific, demand-driven approaches that engage stakeholders at all levels of the education system—from ministerial offices to individual classrooms—as essential for meaningful, sustainable education reform worldwide.
GPE KIX and its partners presented other insightful panels at the conference that addressed these critical issues.
About CIES 2025
The Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) 2025 conference, held in Chicago from March 22 - 26 gathered nearly 3,000 global education experts, educators, researchers, and policymakers to explore challenges and opportunities in education systems worldwide. This year's theme, "Envisioning Education in a Digital Society," reflects the rapid technological advancements reshaping our lives, work, and society, profoundly impacting education. The conference explored how the growth of connectivity and widespread use of digital applications drive digital transformations in education.
