EdTech Hub is pleased to announce the launch of our research portfolio, representing the largest public-private investment in primary research around EdTech evidence in low- and middle-income countries to date.
The nearly GBP 5.5 million-portfolio was commissioned to fill the evidence gap decision-makers grapple with when choosing EdTech interventions to support children, teachers, and school communities.
“While the Covid-19 pandemic brought most of the world to halt in 2020, it also profoundly accelerated the demand for EdTech, even as the evidence gap widened,” says EdTech Hub Executive Director Verna Lalbeharie. “In 2021, private investment alone accounted for $22 billion in global EdTech interests. This research portfolio is our opportunity to meet demand with data. Decision-makers deserve evidence to inform their EdTech solutions, and 285 million children out of school – and counting – deserve their best choices.”
In recognition of this challenge, EdTech Hub issued a call for expressions of interest in Summer 2021, and 104 proposals were received. External review was provided by experts in the field and four externally led studies were selected for the current portfolio, alongside nine studies led by EdTech Hub. Over the next several weeks, we will be profiling each partner in-depth to learn about their research questions, and will host learn-out-loud events over the duration of each project.
The research will take place in and focus on Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania. Select studies in the portfolio will be complemented by more than GBP 1 million in on-the-ground ‘sandbox’ trials conducted by EdTech Hub in-county, offering real-time local evidence and feedback.
This is the second such EdTech Hub investment in primary research. In 2021, GBP 200,000 in grants were awarded by EdTech Hub to 10 partner organisations to investigate the intersection of evidence and EdTech in low- and middle-income countries in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The portfolio will be conducted over the next two to three years and is supported by the FCDO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the World Bank. Stay up to date with interim findings, research methodologies, trending topics, and more by joining our email community, or connect with us on Twitter, and LinkedIn. #evidence4edtech
