Knowledge and innovation

• KIX brings partner countries together in 4 regional hubs to share information, innovation and best practices.
• KIX is a funding mechanism that provides grants in 88 partner countries to generate knowledge and innovation, and to scale proven approaches.
• KIX hubs offer tailored support for customized research and knowledge based on policy needs, and to strengthen countries’ capacity to generate and use evidence. There are 89 applied research projects.

KIX focus areas:

• Find, fund and scale proven solutions to address the key educational challenges identified by partner countries, and ensure these solutions feed into their policy and planning processes.
• Fund new research to fill knowledge gaps and generate innovative responses to issues identified by partner countries.
• Develop the capacity of organizations and governments in lower-income countries to learn, innovate, build and use evidence.

70 countries have been covered by applied research projects and KIX-supported knowledge has been used in 240 cases to develop and implement education policies in partner countries.

• In Chad, GPE KIX funded research with War Child to explore how technology programs like Can’t Wait to Learn can be scaled sustainably to enhance the quality of education for more refugee and displaced children. The platform has offered refugee and internally displaced children the chance to continue learning, advancing at their own pace and earning credits within the host education system to enable a smoother transition into formal schooling. Read more.
• The GPE KIX “Strategies to Prevent Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Foster Equity in Rural Schools” project is creating safer and more equitable environments by promoting gender equity and safety in schools across Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua. In Haiti, students now recognize situations such as bullying and sexual harassment as forms of gender-based violence. Honduras has seen a significant improvement in school safety through the installation of latches on bathroom doors and water and sewage systems at schools in target intervention areas. Nicaragua has seen a surge in collaborative efforts between teachers, families and community leaders, who have implemented surveillance measures in high-risk areas.
• The Gambia has used research from the GPE KIX project “Data Use Innovations for Education Management Information Systems” to transform the way regional education offices operate. The Gambia now uses an open-source platform that allows staff to access real-time, actionable data, replacing cumbersome paper reports.
• In Zanzibar, teacher management and professionalization are a priority due to overcrowded classrooms and a shortage of teachers. GPE's KIX Africa 19 hub facilitated connections between officials in Zanzibar and Zambia. These exchanges provided Zanzibar with comprehensive insights into Zambia’s regulatory framework for the teaching profession, marking a step toward understanding effective teacher professionalization mechanisms.

The 4 KIX regional hubs lead regular consultation and validation processes with partner countries to identify policy challenges and responses, and support knowledge exchange.

83 countries have been engaging in hub activities and over 700 individuals represent their countries through national delegations comprised of government and other members of the local education group, including development partners and civil society organizations. Each hub convenes national delegations of the countries they support.

Africa 19:

• A consortium comprised of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the African Union manages the hub that oversees activities for 19 GPE partner countries, primarily Anglophone.

  Go to the KIX Africa 19 Hub

Africa 21:

• A consortium including the Institut de la Francophonie pour l'éducation et la formation (IFEF), Conférence des Ministres de l'éducation des États et gouvernements de la Francophonie (Confemen) and the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) manages the hub that oversees activities for 21 GPE partner countries, primarily Francophone.

  Go to the KIX Africa 21 Hub

Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia:

• The Network for international policies and cooperation in education and training (NORRAG) manages the hub that oversees activities in 21 GPE partner countries.

  Go to the KIX EAP Hub

Latin America and the Caribbean:

• A consortium comprised of SUMMA and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) manages the hub that oversees activities in 8 GPE partner countries.

  Go to the KIX LAC Hub

Regional hubs also implement the country support mechanism, which allows countries to apply for timely rapid support to meet national educational needs in technical, knowledge, evidence or facilitation areas.

To obtain this support, countries work with their respective hubs to submit an expression of interest, which is reviewed on a country-by-country basis by the hub, IDRC and GPE.

KIX funds 89 applied research grants implemented in 88 countries. This research builds evidence, mobilizes knowledge and strengthens capacity to adapt and scale innovative approaches for education priorities of partner countries.

KIX grants enhance the effectiveness of GPE grants that support system transformation and policy dialogue.

Research themes are guided by hub consultation and validation processes, and a scoping study of partner countries. Grants under the following themes are funded until 2027:

• Data systems and data use
• Gender, equity and social inclusion
• Teacher well-being
• Early childhood care and education
• Education in emergencies and out-of-school children and youth
• Education system resilience

Gender, equity and inclusion considerations are key priorities.

IDRC issues calls for proposals, manages the independent assessment panels and contracts successful grantees. IDRC also oversees and supports KIX grantees.