About
Unlocking Data is a pan-African initiative led by the Zizi Afrique Foundation in partnership with Education Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA), Effective Basic Services Africa (eBASE), the University of Malawi’s Centre for Education Research and Training (CERT), and EdTech Hub. Supported by the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (GPE KIX), a joint initiative with Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Unlocking Data seeks to increase the availability, accessibility, and effective use of education data to inform decision-making and improve education systems for young people in Kenya, Malawi, and Cameroon.
The big challenge and how EdTech Hub contributes
The challenge
Education data in many sub-Saharan African countries is often fragmented, siloed, and underused. Disconnected data collection systems can result in duplication of efforts, inefficient use of resources and missed opportunities to close evidence gaps. As a result, policymakers and education actors may lack the reliable, timely data they need to guide reforms, monitor progress, and improve learning outcomes at scale.
How we contribute
EdTech Hub contributes research expertise and technical support to strengthen the evidence base for education data use in Kenya, Malawi, and Cameroon. The Hub supports the mapping of education data ecosystems, helping to identify gaps, overlaps, and opportunities for improved coordination and learning.
Working alongside consortium partners, EdTech Hub facilitates stakeholder engagement and supports the creation of communities of practice to promote better data sharing and use. The Hub also contributes to building capacity among policymakers and practitioners to use data effectively for decision-making, helping ensure that education policies and programmes are informed by robust evidence.
Focus areas
- Data for decision making, improving Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), and greater inclusivity.
See publications
Explore a collection of publications and resources from the Unlocking Data partnership on their evidence library.
Go to library
Timeline of activities
Africa Evidence Network (AEN) Conference
1 October, 2025
The Unlocking Data Initiative presented its progress and activities at the AEN conference, which convened policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations and all types of evidence intermediaries to foster collaboration among those engaged in or supporting evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) in Africa.
Session at the EE4A conference (Education Evidence for Action)
26 to 28 August, 2025
The Education Evidence for Action (EE4A) Conference brought together policymakers, researchers, and practitioners from across Africa to spark new ways of turning education data into action. In a dynamic pre-conference session, the Unlocking Data Initiative and African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) spotlighted pressing gaps (such as inaccessible government datasets, weak disaggregation, and siloed systems), while showcasing innovations such as real-time school report cards and interactive dashboards from Uganda, Burkina Faso, and Senegal. The event closed with a call to build a vibrant Pan-African community of learning to champion collaboration and evidence-driven change.
Webinar to share and present Evidence Gap Maps
9 July, 2025
Topic: Who produces and uses data? A dialogue on Evidence, Power, and Participation in African Education Systems.
The session brought together researchers, policymakers, and partners to explore findings from a new Evidence Gap Map (EGM) and discuss how we can collectively strengthen education data systems to support better decision-making. Additional resources are available here: https://unlockingdata.africa/resources/
EdTech Hub has been a valuable partner in generating evidence on what works in foundational learning, helping to move the sector from assumptions to data-driven solutions”.
Research Manager, ZiZi Afrique Foundation
Through its direct support and the development of global public goods, EdTech Hub has strengthened our capacity to implement and scale evidence-based EdTech interventions”.
Research Manager, ZiZi Afrique Foundation
