Malawi Hosts Summit to Tackle Educational Poverty in Africa

Fifteen African education ministers and numerous delegations are meeting in Malawi from July 15 to 17 to discuss educational policies and address challenges including financial constraints, demographic shifts, and security concerns. This third edition of the Foundational Learning Exchange (Flex 2026) aims to find common solutions to end “educational poverty” across the continent.

The summit, launched in Sierra Leone in 2023, comes at a critical time as African education systems grapple with the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent withdrawal of U.S. development aid. Organizers at the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (Adea) note the urgency given Africa’s rapidly changing demographics, nearly 40% of the world’s children will live in Africa by 2050.

Participants aim to shift the focus from identifying problems to implementing solutions, including launching a $35 million intergovernmental fund called “Flight” to support education systems and reduce reliance on international aid. The summit will conclude with a joint declaration outlining commitments to treat education as a strategic investment.