Closing the gap – Ensuring there are enough qualified and supported teachers in sub-Saharan Africa
A review of the use of contract teachers in sub-Saharan Africa
15th Teacher Policy Dialogue Forum

The 15th Teacher Policy Dialogue Forum (TPDF) will take place from 23 to 25 November 2026 at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Co-convened by the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030, the African Union and UNESCO, the Forum reflects the collective expertise and priorities of Teacher Task Force members. It will bring together policymakers, teacher representatives, researchers, development partners and other education stakeholders from around the world to exchange knowledge, strengthen collaboration and advance teacher policies in support of SDG Target 4.c, which calls for substantially increasing the supply of qualified teachers through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries.
This year's Forum will be framed by the theme of the 2026 Teacher Task Force and UNESCO Global Report on Teachers, which examines how teacher professional development can be strengthened through lifelong learning, with a focus on teacher agency, policy coherence, equity and sustainability. The Report will be officially launched during the Forum, and its findings will frame discussions throughout the event. Building on recent global commitments, including the Santiago Consensus and the recommendations of the United Nations Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession, the Forum will provide a platform for high-level policy dialogue on the reforms and implementation conditions needed to strengthen teacher professional development as part of broader teacher policy transformation.
- Reimagining teacher learning through a lifelong systems approach;
- Transforming teacher professional development through policy reform;
- Translating policy commitments into sustainable change through financing, governance, partnerships, data and technology.
The Forum will also foster peer learning and collaboration, enabling Teacher Task Force members and the wider education community to share experiences, identify common priorities and shape future action together.
Organized since 2010 by the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030, the Teacher Policy Dialogue Forum is the network's flagship global policy event. It is collaboratively designed by and for Teacher Task Force members, providing a platform for advocacy, knowledge exchange, peer learning and collaboration among governments, international organizations, teacher organizations, civil society, academia and development partners working to strengthen teacher policies and accelerate progress towards SDG Target 4.c. Read the report from the last Policy Dialogue Forum here.
The 15th Teacher Policy Dialogue Forum is co-funded by the European Union in the framework of the Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa.

15th Teacher Policy Dialogue Forum

The 15th Teacher Policy Dialogue Forum (TPDF) will take place from 23 to 25 November 2026 at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Co-convened by the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030, the African Union and UNESCO, the Forum reflects the collective expertise and priorities of Teacher Task Force members. It will bring together policymakers, teacher representatives, researchers, development partners and other education stakeholders from around the world to exchange knowledge, strengthen collaboration and advance teacher policies in support of SDG Target 4.c, which calls for substantially increasing the supply of qualified teachers through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries.
This year's Forum will be framed by the theme of the 2026 Teacher Task Force and UNESCO Global Report on Teachers, which examines how teacher professional development can be strengthened through lifelong learning, with a focus on teacher agency, policy coherence, equity and sustainability. The Report will be officially launched during the Forum, and its findings will frame discussions throughout the event. Building on recent global commitments, including the Santiago Consensus and the recommendations of the United Nations Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession, the Forum will provide a platform for high-level policy dialogue on the reforms and implementation conditions needed to strengthen teacher professional development as part of broader teacher policy transformation.
- Reimagining teacher learning through a lifelong systems approach;
- Transforming teacher professional development through policy reform;
- Translating policy commitments into sustainable change through financing, governance, partnerships, data and technology.
The Forum will also foster peer learning and collaboration, enabling Teacher Task Force members and the wider education community to share experiences, identify common priorities and shape future action together.
Organized since 2010 by the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030, the Teacher Policy Dialogue Forum is the network's flagship global policy event. It is collaboratively designed by and for Teacher Task Force members, providing a platform for advocacy, knowledge exchange, peer learning and collaboration among governments, international organizations, teacher organizations, civil society, academia and development partners working to strengthen teacher policies and accelerate progress towards SDG Target 4.c. Read the report from the last Policy Dialogue Forum here.
The 15th Teacher Policy Dialogue Forum is co-funded by the European Union in the framework of the Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa.

KENYA: A Systems Approach to Strengthening Initial Teacher Education - Case study 11
BURKINA FASO: Reforming K–6 Initial Teacher Education - Case study 9
Ghana : Coordinated Efforts to Develop a Shared Initial Teacher Education Curriculum - Case Study 4
ZAMBIA: “Shaking the Rust Off”: Reforming Initial Teacher Education with a Focus on Foundational Literacy - Case Study 2
Africa Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX) 2026
Malawi will host the third Africa Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX 2026) from 15 to 17 July 2026 in Lilongwe, Malawi, under the theme "From commitment to results: Delivering foundational learning at scale."
Building on the first FLEX hosted by Sierra Leone in 2023 and the second by Rwanda in 2024, FLEX 2026 serves as the premier pan-African platform for education ministers and senior government officials to exchange knowledge and engage with technical and financial partners, civil society, researchers and local implementers on improving foundational learning outcomes. At FLEX 2024 in Kigali, 34 government representatives committed to ending learning poverty by 2035 through the FLEX2024 Declaration for Action. FLEX 2026 will track progress against those commitments and orient systems for delivery and impact at scale.
Objectives
FLEX 2026 will bring together governments and education actors across the continent to:
- Share progress on implementing foundational learning commitments since FLEX 2024 and the 2025 ADEA Triennale;
- Showcase successful system reforms, programme design and implementation quality backed by strong data, research and evidence;
- Reflect on modalities to improve implementation and seize opportunities for adaptation at scale;
- Strengthen accountability for improving classroom instruction and learning outcomes;
- Foster new partnerships and cross-country technical exchange;
- Produce an outcome document, communiqué, and youth call to action.
Thematic areas
Discussions will span a range of foundational learning themes, including data for action and accountability, learning assessment systems, education technology and artificial intelligence, early childhood education, socio-emotional learning, classroom instruction and pedagogy, teacher professional development, school leadership, community engagement and sustainable funding models.
Format
The three-day convening will combine presentations, ministerial roundtables, plenary panels, technical deep dives, and formal and informal dialogue:
- Day 1: Technical exchange sessions on key thematic areas of foundational learning
- Day 2: Official opening, Ministerial Roundtable and high-level technical exchange sessions
- Day 3: School visits, report-back sessions, joint resolutions and closing
Participants
The event will bring together 300-500 participants, including Ministers of Education, senior government officials, international organizations, philanthropic partners, and civil society organizations such as teacher unions, parents’ associations, and youth education advocates and local implementing partners.