Ottawa, Canada , 23rd October, 2025— The African Union–Pan African Institute for Education for Development (AU‑IPED) programme participated in the Ottawa Inter‑Hub Learning Exchange Mission, a global convening that brought together Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (GPE KIX) hubs and partners to share experiences on knowledge mobilisation, policy influence, and country support mechanisms.
The mission provided a platform for AU‑IPED to showcase African‑led approaches to strengthening education data systems, present continental tools, and deepen collaboration with other KIX hubs working to translate evidence into policy and practice.
Showcasing the SAS‑P Platform
During the exchange, AU‑IPED delivered a presentation on the Systems Assessment and Strengthening Platform (SAS‑P), a continental tool designed to support country‑led Education Management Information System (EMIS) assessment and reform. The presentation highlighted how SAS‑P aligns with African Union EMIS Norms and Standards and SDG 4, while prioritising reflection, national ownership, and action planning over compliance‑driven assessments.
Participants engaged in discussions on how SAS‑P enables countries to identify system gaps, prioritise reforms, and develop realistic improvement plans grounded in local contexts.
Strengthening Inter‑Hub Collaboration
On the margins of the mission, AU‑IPED held a bilateral meeting with the KIX EMAP Hub, focusing on shared challenges in education data systems reform and opportunities for cross‑regional collaboration. The discussion explored peer learning approaches and joint policy dialogue initiatives that could strengthen EMIS reforms across regions.
From Knowledge Exchange to Policy Action
A key session on policy influence and uptake examined both successful and stalled pathways from evidence to action. AU‑IPED shared a successful case stemming from the 2nd KIX Knowledge Café on Education Data Systems, held in July 2025, which brought together more than 70 participants from over 15 countries.
Following the exchange, Liberia identified similarities in EMIS challenges and requested AU‑IPED support. This led to an EMIS Peer Review and National Dialogue in September 2025, culminating in national commitments to develop a new EMIS Policy Framework and a costed Action Plan for 2025–2028.
The session also reflected on lessons from a planned policy dialogue in Sierra Leone that did not proceed due to budgetary misalignment between national expectations and available KIX resources, underscoring the importance of early and realistic financial planning.
Supporting Country‑Led Reform in Liberia
Under the KIX Africa 19 Country Support Mechanism, AU‑IPED facilitated a peer review and national dialogue in Liberia, bringing together peer reviewers from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia. The country‑led process generated concrete reform proposals, including the establishment of an EMIS Technical Working Group, updates to national EMIS policies, and the creation of a dedicated EMIS budget line.
Key Lessons and Way Forward
Across the mission, discussions reinforced that peer‑to‑peer approaches accelerate ownership and reform, while sustained facilitation and realistic financing are essential for evidence uptake and long‑term impact.
The Ottawa Inter‑Hub Learning Exchange strengthened AU‑IPED’s role within the KIX ecosystem, highlighted scalable African practices in education data systems reform, and reinforced the value of inter‑hub collaboration in advancing evidence‑informed education policies globally.
The Ottawa Inter‑Hub Learning Exchange Mission was facilitated by the Global e‑Schools and Communities Initiative (GESCI) with funding support from UNESCO’s International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (UNESCO IICBA).