R4D Education’s flagship initiative, the Center for Education Innovations (CEI), aims to identify, analyze, and connect innovative education programs around the world. CEI pursues this goal using two mutually-reinforcing mechanisms: a public online platform at educationinnovations.org and a network of country-based organizations surfacing new programs, engaging local stakeholders, and gaining an in-depth understanding of education innovation activity and opportunities in each country.
CEI partners with funders and research institutions to identify, improve, and grow promising models:
- CEI and UNICEF have collaborated on a strategy to systematically select promising innovative education models ripe for support. After receiving over 150 nominations sourced from the CEI database of programs and UNICEF country offices, CEI and UNICEF named 5 finalists and 10 runners-up. The finalists are receiving funding from UNICEF and M&E and communications support from CEI during a one-year testing phase that will allow innovators to test and strengthen their models while collecting evidence on effectiveness. The insights from this process will be shared as a global public good. Learn more at: educationinnovations.org/unicef
- CEI has partnered with the UBS Optimus Foundation to identify promising child health, education, and violence prevention innovations in West Africa. CEI’s approach focuses on identifying, studying, and supporting the diffusion of health and education innovations targeting children under 8, as well as violence prevention programs serving children 18 and below. CEI is working through in-country partners in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
- CEI houses a hub where practitioners, as well as other members of the education community can find actionable tools and knowledge to support implementation and awareness of evidence-based strategies for improving learning in primary school. The toolkit provides users with information about seven strategies to improve learning and program management. To ensure that practitioners’ needs are addressed, the toolkit draws on evaluations funded through the Hewlett Foundation’s Quality Education in Developing Countries initiative, systematic reviews of early learning interventions and direct input from practitioners in the field. Find out more at: educationinnovations.org
