Selecting the right evaluation approach is central to ensuring that outcomes‑based financing (OBF) programmes for early childhood care and education (ECCE) are both credible and practical. Yet designing evaluations that are methodologically sound while remaining feasible in real-world contexts is rarely straightforward.  Drawing on the design of impact evaluations for ECCE outcomes funds in Rwanda, Sierra Leone and South Africa, this new technical brief explores how these cha

The Use of Randomised Controlled Trials in Outcome-Based Financing Education Programmes Georges Poquillon Evaluation Manager, the Education Outcomes Fund At first glance, outcome-based financing (OBF) and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) appear to be a natural pair. OBF is anchored in the promise that payments are made for actual results. Meanwhile RCTs, still viewed as the 'gold standard' of evaluation, provide a credible estimate of the impact that can be attributed to a

In the latest of Talking Outcomes , EOF’s Chief Programmes Officer Milena Castellnou speaks with George Foday, Programme Manager at the National Youth Awareness Forum Sierra Leone, about NYAF’s experience delivering the Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge.  “Collaboration, not competition, is where real impact happens,” shares George. The discussion highlights how peer learning, partnership, and shared problem-solving supported adaptive management and helped partners

“Even though the project has ended, the learning continues. In many ways, it is just starting.”  In this edition of Talking Outcomes , EOF’s Chief Programmes Officer Milena Castelnou speaks with Erin Northey about the lasting lessons of the Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge.  Over three years, SLEIC delivered measurable results, but its influence goes further. It fostered closer collaboration between partners, encouraged more purposeful use of data, and nurtured a c

In a context of tightening development budgets and mounting pressures on education systems, proving impact matters more than ever. Outcomes-based financing offers one way to show that investment is translating into real change.  In this episode of Talking Outcomes, EOF’s Chief Programmes Officer Milena Castellnou speaks with the British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Josephine Gauld, about the Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge. Together, they reflect on why outc

Last week in Freetown, EOF’s Chief Programmes Officer Milena Castellnou sat down with Deputy Minister Emily Gogra and Dr. Albert Dupiny, Senior Education Advisor from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education for the latest episode of Talking Outcomes.  Together, they explored how lessons from the Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge are helping the government and its partners focus on outcomes, strengthen accountability, and collaborate more effectively to

The British High Commissioner Josephine Gauld hosts closing event for the Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge. Freetown, Sierra Leone – 15 January 2026 – Senior government leaders, donors, implementing partners, private sector representatives and civil society organisations gathered at the British High Commissioner’s Residence last night for the close-out of the Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge (SLEIC), marking a pivotal moment in the country’s education r

EOF’s Chief Programmes Officer  Miléna Castellnou  speaks with Job Matseshe, Managing Director for Sierra Leone at Rising Academies. They explore how a relentless focus on student outcomes, data-driven decision-making, and strong partnerships helped Rising adapt its approach, tailor support to different schools, and deliver meaningful results in SLEIC. Another perspective. Another set of lessons. One goal: improving learning outcomes for every child.  Watch the video here:

For EOF, 2025 was a year of proof and 2026 will be a year of disciplined scale, writes our CEO Amel Karboul Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu and EOF’s CEO Dr. Amel Karboul, in December 2025 I’ve always loved a German expression: zwischen den Jahren, “between the years.” It refers to the days between Christmas and the New Year, a short pause that is neither fully past nor fully future, but suspended in reflection and transition.    I’ve been thinking about the Educat

Celebrating the results of Africa's largest outcomes-based education programme. Freetown, Sierra Leone | 15 January 2026 The British High Commission in Freetown, led by High Commissioner Josephine Gauld, will host the closing event for the Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge (SLEIC) on Thursday, 15 January 2026, marking the conclusion of one of Africa’s largest outcomes-based education programmes. Over three years, the $18 million initiative reached more than 100,000

Last year, EOF launched Talking Outcomes, a video series exploring the results of the Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge (SLEIC).  In the first episode, EOF's Chief Programmes Officer,   Miléna Castellnou ,   sat down with   Ali Inam , Director at  Bridges Outcomes Partnerships , the impact investor who supported three of SLEIC’s five implementing partners. Together, they reflect on what the results reveal: the power of outcomes partnerships, the role of adaptive man

Inclusive early childhood care and education (ECCE) is both a right and a foundation for lifelong learning. Yet across the globe, children with disabilities remain among the most excluded from early learning opportunities.  When outcomes-based financing (OBF) is introduced into ECCE systems, it creates an opportunity to intentionally embed inclusion into how services are designed and delivered.  Drawing on insights from the design of the ECCE Outcomes Fund in Rwanda, this new

This is the third blog in the insights series from the Working Group on Innovative Finance for Early Childhood Development (ECD).

The Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge (SLEIC) was one of the largest outcomes-based education programmes in Sierra Leone, and among the most ambitious in sub-Saharan Africa. Led by the Government of Sierra Leone and supported by a wide range of partners, SLEIC marked a deliberate shift toward financing education based on measurable results.   To mark the close of SLEIC, the Education Outcomes Fund (EOF), together with Rising Academies, has released three new videos

A note from Dr. Amel Karboul, CEO When the Government of Sierra Leone launched the Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge (SLEIC) three years ago, it showed the world what courageous, forward-looking leadership in education really looks like. This was not just a new programme. It was a decision to lead with evidence, embrace transparency, and align public spending with what matters most, children’s learning. President Julius Maada Bio and David Moinina Sengeh, then Minis

This is the second blog in the insights series from the Working Group on Innovative Finance for Early Childhood Development (ECD).

SLEIC set out to improve learning in some of Sierra Leone's most challenged primary schools. Three years later, the independent evaluation shows a programme that not only delivered solid gains but did so under difficult conditions. And in ways that offer lasting value for the education system. Three years after Sierra Leone launched one of Africa's most ambitious outcomes-based education programmes, the final results offer a clear, evidence-driven picture of what improved, wh

The South Africa ECCE Outcomes Fund will give 115,000 children a strong start in life Midrand, South Africa - 2 December 2025 - More than 100 government officials, donors, implementing partners and early childhood development (ECD) experts gathered in Midrand yesterday as Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, officially launched the R496 million (USD 29 million) Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Outcomes Fund, the world’s largest outcomes fund dedicated to earl

South Africa to Launch $29 Million Outcomes Fund for Early Childhood Education

This is the first blog in the insights series from the Working Group on Innovative Finance for Early Childhood Development (ECD).

Using Artificial Intelligence for Better Outcomes in Education and Development

In Kenya, every year, more than 13,000 girls leave school because of pregnancy. Stigma, poverty, and a lack of childcare services leave these young mothers exposed to violence, early marriage, and poor health, locking families into generational cycles of exclusion and poverty.  To help break that cycle, EOF, in partnership with  Healthy Brains Global Initiative (HBGI) ,  United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) , and the SDG Partnership Platform, is co-designing Outcome of Ambi

With FBR@WORK, EOF is supporting the Tunisian Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training to Align Skills with Opportunity  The world of work is being rewritten in real time. In Tunisia, millions of young people are training for jobs that may not exist, while employers struggle to fill the ones that do. Meanwhile, the rapid development of artificial intelligence is transforming industries faster than education systems can adapt, further exacerbating this quiet crisis of sk

Selecting the most appropriate measurement tools for an outcomes-based financing (OBF) programme in early childhood care and education (ECCE) is a crucial first step in ensuring that measurement is both valid and meaningful. However, the process does not end with tool selection. Equally important is the careful adaptation of these tools to the specific context in which they will be applied, taking into account stakeholder priorities, national ECCE policies, and implementation

What happens in the first few years of life sets the course for everything that follows – for children, families, and the societies they help build. Yet, those years remain the most overlooked and least funded stage of education. Rwanda wants to change that. It began, as many transformations do, with a question: How can we ensure that every child gets the best possible start in life? That question now anchors one of Rwanda’s most ambitious education initiatives, the Nkuza Nez

Kigali, Rwanda. 29 October 2025  – The Government of Rwanda, in partnership with the Education Outcomes Fund (EOF) and with the support of the LEGO Foundation, has launched the country's first national outcomes-based financing programme for early childhood care and education (ECCE). The initiative will reach more than 25,000 children aged 3 to 5 years in 390 community-based early child development (ECD) facilities across the country. Building on its early childhood reforms, t

From October 2025 to January 2026, the Education Outcomes Fund (EOF) and partners will launch four new outcomes funds in Rwanda, South Africa, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Together, these new outcomes funds will mobilise over $82 million to support education initiatives led by governments and backed by public, philanthropic, and impact investors.   These funds mark a shift in the use of outcomes-based financing in education—moving from individual pilot projects to broader polic

Tunisia stands out in Africa for having one of the most diversified economies, from manufacturing and agriculture to tourism. Yet beneath...

The Education Outcomes Fund (EOF), in partnership with the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), is launching a new...

Project Background   The Education Outcomes Fund (EOF) invites concept notes for analytic research studies that will generate evidence,...

Download the brief here: Outcomes funds are gaining momentum as an innovative model to finance and deliver a wide range of education services including early childhood care and education, primary education and vocational training.    Unlike traditional financing models, these funds tie payments to the achievement of measurable outcomes - like improvements in literacy skills or job placement and retention - rather than activities or outputs. Often managed in partnership with g

Education is the great enabler and we are all lifelong students. Yet, 7 out of 10 children in low-and middle-income countries are unable to read with understanding by the age of 10. Forthese children, the great enabler becomes the great divider. The Education Outcomes Fund(EOF) makes a tangible contribution to changing this reality. Our ambition is a paradigmshift that transforms education systems and skills-for-employment programmes, shiftingthem from a focus on inputs to dr

April 10, 2025 A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending the 2030 Bana Pele (‘Children First’) Roadmap Leadership Summit in...

Measurement is a cornerstone of successful outcomes-based financing (OBF) programmes for early childhood care and education (ECCE). Reliable, culturally appropriate tools ensure that outcomes are accurately tracked, creating the foundation for fair payments, improved programme design, and scalable impact. That’s why we are pleased to share this set of resources, which draw on the Education Outcomes Fund's experience and provide a practical guide to measurement tool selection.

We are excited to share the revised edition of our concept paper, Outcomes-Based Finance for Early Childhood Care and Education, now featuring a foreword from the LEGO Foundation .   You can download the full paper here:    In this concept paper, we explore:     Past and current results-based finance programmes in early childhood care and education (ECCE), with updated data for this revised edition.  The challenges facing governments in the provision of ECCE services.  The po

The Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge provides learning gains equal to an extra year in the best performing sub-Saharan African...

New evidence review sheds light on insights from past programmes and shows next steps to leverage OBF for ECCE   Governments and philanthropic organisations are increasingly recognising the critical role Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) plays in preparing children for school and laying the foundation for lifelong learning. With this growing acknowledgment comes a challenge—limited public resources for education must stretch across a growing population and an increasi

One year ago today, we published a paper  arguing that the time was right to explore Outcomes-Based Financing (OBF) for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programmes on a larger scale. Our goal was to spark a conversation about how OBF could lead to smarter investments in the critical early years of a child's development. We also extended an invitation to organisations and individuals to join us on a collaborative learning journey, exploring both the potential and chal

22 August 2024 This is the second of two blogs sharing insights from a learning group on innovative finance in education, co-facilitated by the Education Finance Network   and the Education Outcomes Fund . The group has brought together experts from 34 organizations in five discussion sessions over a period of nine months for an earnest exchange on opportunities and challenges around using innovative finance mechanisms in education.   Outcomes-Based Financing (OBF) is a for

This is the first of two blogs sharing insights from a learning group on innovative finance in education, co-facilitated by the Education Finance Network   and the Education Outcomes Fund . The group has brought together experts from 34 organizations in five discussion sessions over a period of nine months for an earnest exchange on opportunities and challenges around using innovative finance mechanisms in education.     Outcomes-Based Financing (OBF), a funding model linkin

3 July 2024 Overview of the Programme    The Education Outcomes Fund (EOF), in collaboration with the South Africa's Department of Basic...

24 May 2024 LONDON — In partnership with the governments of Rwanda and Sierra Leone, the LEGO Foundation, and the Education Outcomes Fund...

April 2024 The education sector is facing a dual crises of low learning outcomes and inefficient and inequitable funding. Learning outcomes were already low before the COVID-19 pandemic and they have further deteriorated as a result of school closures. It is estimated that seven out of every 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries could now be suffering from learning poverty – meaning that they are unable to read and understand a simple story.[1] In Sierra Leone, a

Update: We are pleased to invite you to the pre-bidding conference for the call for expression of interest (EOI) for ECCE Rwanda...

Mise à jour: Nous avons le plaisir de vous informer que la date limite de soumission des appels à manifestation d'intérêt pour le...

Overview of the Programme The Education Outcomes Fund (EOF) in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of...

Updated: September 21, 2023 The importance of high-quality early childhood care and education (ECCE) for children’s school readiness and performance, and life-long well-being, is gaining ever-increasing recognition. In testament to this, the substantial benefits of ECCE for children were highlighted in the Political Declaration adopted at the SDG Summit two days ago. However, many countries still face significant challenges in providing high quality and equitable ECCE servic

In a world of ever-evolving challenges, one constant challenge prevails – the global learning crisis. This crisis has grown even more urgent with an additional 93 million children falling into ‘learning poverty’ globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic ( UNICEF, 2020 ). In Sierra Leone, the government launched the Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge (SLEIC) in 2022 to address learning loss and fulfill its commitment to providing free quality education for all. A groun

Here at the Education Outcomes Fund we are excited to announce the launch of our first program, the Sierra Leone Education Innovation...

In the first semester of 2022, the Education Outcomes Fund and the Government of Sierra Leone jointly selected five grantees; Save the...