Context

Managing education data systems across sub-Saharan Africa presents numerous macro-level challenges. These include theoretical strategies, resource constraints, staff turnover, political instability, cumbersome procurement processes, fragmented digital platforms, and inadequate coordination among stakeholders. To enhance effectiveness, there is a call for human-centred, collaborative, and innovative approaches. Shifting focus from technology to human capacity is crucial for accurate and timely data that facilitates evidence-based decision-making. 

Objectives

The Unlocking Data initiative, pioneered by ESSA, Zizi Afrique Foundation and EdTech Hub aims to increase uses and users of education data by scaling up the ‘Unlocking Data’ approach using a Design-Based Implementation Research (DBIR) methodology. Main activities include using data-driven mapping and situational analysis to address research gaps, fostering learning communities at country and regional levels, sharing and synthesising global expertise, lessons, and resources.

The initiative will also generate new knowledge that responds to the needs and priorities of policymakers and practitioners and to ensure mobilisation of that knowledge by facilitating close engagement between policymakers and researchers. This will strengthen the capacities of knowledge producers and users (policymakers, researchers and broader data ecosystem stakeholders) to scale use of data in planning, policy and practice.

Publications

• The Broken Spider Web: Navigating the Complex Education Data Ecosystem in Cameroon

• Guidelines for Mapping Education Data in Sub-Saharan Africa 

• Draft Unlocking Data Methodology

• ILO Summary and Synthesis Report

• BE2 Deep Dive Summary Report

• Summary and Synthesis of July 2020 Workshop