Early Childhood Education
Young children’s participation: Ways to engage and what’s needed to do it well
Washington, D.C. – The Brookings Institution’s Center for Universal Education (CUE) is excited to announce the official launch of the Knowing-Doing Network Leadership Coalition (KDNLC), a global impact network combining CUE with ten leading civil society organizations (CSOs) deeply rooted in diverse local communities worldwide. The KDNLC’s mission is to gain a deeper understanding of education systems transformation, with the aim of improving holistic learning for children and young people around the world.
Rebecca Winthrop, Director of the Center for Universal Education, stated, “The Knowing-Doing Network Leadership Coalition embodies CUE’s mission to accelerate educational progress and systems change so that all learners, particularly the most marginalized, can develop a breadth of skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world. We’re proud to stand alongside our dedicated partners from diverse corners of the world, working tirelessly to empower young minds with the skills they need to overcome today’s greatest challenges.”
The KDNLC, made possible with support from the LEGO Foundation, is comprised of organizations from Chile, Ghana, India, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, South Africa, and the United States, all addressing critical systemic themes such as gender equality, climate action pedagogical innovations, education leadership, educational equity, family-school engagement, early childhood learning opportunities, and more. In addition to the Center for Universal Education at Brookings, the KDNLC includes:
- Creative Centre for Community Mobilization (Malawi)
- Dignitas Limited (Kenya)
- Dream a Dream (India)
- Enseña Peru (Peru)
- Fundación para el Impulso de la Eduación y la Cultura Reimagina (Chile)
- Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (Ghana)
- Pakistan Coalition for Education (Pakistan)
- SmartStart Early Learning NPC (South Africa)
- Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development (Jordan)
- Vía Educación (Mexico)
Today’s youth face complex challenges, including the climate crisis and the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by historical injustices such as gender-based violence, economic inequality, and racism. Yet, global education systems inadequately prepare them, particularly those in marginalized settings, to navigate these challenges and drive positive change. Now more than ever, children and young people need education systems that foster their (re)engagement, socio-emotional well-being, critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative skills.
Recognizing these complex challenges, the KDNLC will focus on understanding what it takes to ensure that all children and youth develop a broad spectrum of skills, ranging from foundational academic skills like mathematics, literacy, and writing to socio-emotional skills like creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Together, the KDNLC will collaborate to advance knowledge and effective practices in transforming education systems in at least ten different country contexts, ensuring that children and young people can access holistic learning opportunities.
The primary objectives of this network collaboration include:
- Establishing shared understandings of how impact networks can address critical social issues in the education sector.
- Creating opportunities to enhance the work of systems transformation in local education jurisdictions.
- Amplifying the work and voices of civil society organizations working in their local contexts. Enhancing the capacity for equitable and participatory evidence generation and utilization.
- Providing a globally recognized platform for locally driven learning and action on education systems transformation for holistic learning and thus advancing the efforts of partners, especially in the Global South.
- Connecting organizations working on different aspects of systems transformation with each other and with the broader global ecosystem.
With the majority of its members composed of CSOs located in the geographic Global South, the evidence produced by the KDNLC and the practices it will promote will serve as a valuable complement to evidence generated by other regional and global initiatives and actors working in diverse contexts in the Global South and the Global North.
For more information about the KDNLC, visit our webpage or email [email protected].
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About the Brookings Center for Universal Education
The Center for Universal Education (CUE) is a leading policy center focused on universal quality education and skills development around the world. The center plays a critical role in accelerating education change so that all learners can thrive in a rapidly changing world. For more information, visit brookings.edu/about-the-center-for-universal-education.
About Brookings
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to conduct in-depth, nonpartisan research to improve policy and governance at local, national, and global levels.
