𝗖𝗛𝗙 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗶, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀: 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲, 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝟱 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 – 𝟭𝟳 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

FLEX 2026.

Common Heritage Foundation (CHF) contributed to the conversation on strengthening foundational learning systems across Africa with a presentation on “𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮.” Drawing on research from conflict-affected communities in northeastern Nigeria, the presentation highlighted how local communities have developed practical solutions that keep children in school, even in the face of significant challenges.

The presentation demonstrated that the challenge is not the absence of community-led solutions, but the limited integration of those solutions into formal education systems. By facilitating dialogue between communities and education authorities in Adamawa State, the research informed the co-development of practical initiatives addressing barriers such as poverty, flexible school entry and re-entry, and strengthened School-Based Management Committees, initiatives that are already showing positive results.

The speakers reinforced the importance of moving beyond community participation to system integration, where local knowledge and innovation are recognised as valuable resources for improving access, quality, and continuity in foundational learning across Africa.