Learning Pioneers Programme

UNICEF’s Learning Pioneers Programme seeks to chart new paths in children's education, reshape learning landscapes, and empower children’s future by launching a new era in digital learning worldwide.

As countries rapidly embrace digital education, the programme has expanded to 12 countries with a focus on upskilling Ministries of Education and UNICEF Country Offices in innovative and futures-oriented thinking and methodologies, grounded in a systems approach. This capacity development support to countries is critical as part of the countries’ journey to model for scale EdTech solutions from the Blue Unicorn Portfolio of safe, impactful digital learning tools. These 12 countries are increasingly seen as digital learning champions and good examples for other countries to follow. 

The Learning Pioneers Programme is a two-year journey where countries partner with the UNICEF Office of Innovation’s Learning Innovation Hub to pilot and accelerate digital learning tools to address the learning crisis and shape the future of learning.  These countries are at the forefront of mapping, testing and making scalable EdTech tools that can later be rolled out in multiple countries. It aims to leverage the rapid developments in educational technology or EdTech to transform children’s education and reach millions. 

The Programme covers critical phases beginning with identifying the countries keen to shape the future of learning, followed by understanding local contexts in the countries and visualize possible futures that can be explored by leveraging digital learning. It moves on to piloting for scale Edtech tools that have high-impact on student learning outcomes and are highly scalable.

The approach involves starting small to test hypotheses, iterating and then accelerating and scaling up the pilot. The programme embodies a startup ethos, embracing a “fail fast, learn quickly” approach, and follows a disciplined approach to innovation based on data-driven decision-making, collaborative navigation of uncertainties, and addressing challenges openly. 

The programme aims to serve as a force multiplier and position Learning Passport countries as learning innovation ambassadors across the globe.

Moving forward, stronger emphasis will also be on supporting countries on scaling and sustainability, going beyond just the EdTech tool scaling but also influencing the broader national digital education direction. This is in line with strategic shifts for digital education being emphasized in the UNICEF Digital Education Strategy. From standalone digital learning to integrated digital transformation, from tech-driven to human-centred approaches, from outputs to outcomes. There is strong emphasis on empowering teachers acknowledging the critical role they play in accelerating learning outcomes and how technology can effectively support teachers.