Human Capital Africa Roundtable:‘’Our Children are not Learning: We Must Fix the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Crisis Now’’

WHEN: 19th September 2023 from 12:30 PM GMT-4

WHERE: New York, Harvard Club on the sidelines of the UNGA Summit
WHO: Human Capital Africa and other stakeholders
ATTENDANCE: Request to participate physically or virtually here.

Objectives and deliverables of the Summit:
Human Capital Africa (HCA) has convened Heads of State, Ministers of Education, donor partners, business leaders, civil society organisations and prominent African intellectuals at the Harvard Club in New York to discuss the progress on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy in Africa. The event which will take place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York is a call to action for leaders to make commitments to address the learning crisis in Africa, where 9 out of 10 children are unable to read with understanding by the age of 10.

Africa has made great strides in Education. Currently 99% of children in sub-Saharan Africa are enrolled in primary school, the highest level ever reached within the continent. Such success is evidence that with enough political goodwill and the right actions, it is possible to successfully deliver reforms. Whilst this has laid an excellent foundation, access alone has not guaranteed that children are learning in schools. We now need to begin to focus attention on the quality of education.

The roundtable will provide a platform for leaders to showcase what they are doing within their countries to address quality of education but also provide an avenue to discuss the gaps and opportunities available to ensure that Foundational literacy and Numeracy is at the front and center of conversations on matters of education in Africa.

Participants:
The roundtable will be attended by African Heads of State and Government, global leaders,
development partners, civil society organizations, researchers, academia and relevant stakeholders,
among others.
1. President of Zambia, H. E Hakaunde Hichilema
2. Former President of Tanzania, Mr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete
3. Former President of Malawi and Chair of HCA’s Advisory Board, Dr. Joyce Banda
4. Regional President for Western and Central Africa, World Bank, Ousmane Diagana
5. CEO, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mark Suzman
6. Founder and CEO of Human Capital Africa, Dr. Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili
7. Former First Lady of South Africa, Graça Machel
8. Economist/Public Policy Expert, Jefrey Sachs
9. CEO Equity Group Holdings, James Mwangi
10. Journalist, magazine editor, columnist, broadcaster, and author, Tina Brown.