The World Bank has cited our Child Learning and Education Facility (CLEF) program in Côte d’Ivoire as a best-practice example of a public-private partnership.
This major recognition showcases the program as a potential blueprint for other countries. The CLEF program is a central part of our efforts to work with governments to ensure that evidence is at the heart of education policy and practice.
Since its inception in 2021, CLEF has been a collaborative effort. Spearheaded by the Ivorian government, it has brought together stakeholders from the government, philanthropic sector, and the cocoa industry in a coalition to coordinate action around the common goal of improving quality education and preventing child labor in cocoa growing regions of Côte d’Ivoire.
The World Bank says that the coalition “has mobilized a substantial amount of industry finance” using an innovative funding mechanism to support education. The program focuses on building school infrastructure, training teachers in effective pedagogical practices, and engaging parents in their children’s learning. Investment from CLEF has contributed to an increase in the percentage of students completing primary school in Côte d’Ivoire to 78.4 percent, which is above the average for Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the case study acknowledges that significant challenges remain in improving learning outcomes.
TPI Global has also commended CLEF for its collaborative approach.
CLEF was also cited in a recent report by The Partnership Initiative (TPI) exploring the role of Public-Private-Philanthropy Partnerships (PPPP) in improving education. The report commended the Jacobs Foundation for using its convening power to bring stakeholders together, and, with the government in the driving seat, says that the program “is an archetype for the most collaborative way of working.”