CRECCOM to Showcase Malawi's Community-Led Foundational Learning Experience at FLEX 2026

The Creative Centre for Community Mobilisation (CRECCOM) is participating in the 2026 Africa Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX 2026) from 15-17 July 2026, one of the continent's premier education forums, being held at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.

The three-day conference has attracted approximately 500 participants, including 34 African Ministers of Education, senior government officials, development partners, researchers, civil society organisations and education practitioners from across Africa to discuss practical solutions for improving foundational learning.

CRECCOM will participate in Session 3D, titled "From Participation to System Integration: Reframing Community Leadership in Foundational Learning Systems in Africa." The collaborative session brings together the Common Heritage Foundation (Nigeria), Creative Centre for Community Mobilisation (CRECCOM), Malawi, and Education Research in Conflict and Protracted Crisis (ERICC) to share experiences from Nigeria, Sudan, the Sahel region and Malawi on strengthening community leadership within education systems.

During the session, CRECCOM will contribute insights from Malawi's experience in strengthening partnerships between communities, schools and education authorities to improve foundational learning. The discussion will explore how meaningful community engagement can move beyond traditional school support roles to become an integral part of education systems that promote accountability, evidence-based decision-making and improved learning outcomes.

CRECCOM Program Manager responsible for Action Research Nephitaly Benister said participating in FLEX 2026 provides an important opportunity for Malawi to contribute to continental dialogue on foundational learning while learning from innovative practices across Africa.

"FLEX 2026 provides an invaluable platform for African countries to learn from one another and collectively strengthen foundational learning. We are honoured to contribute to Malawi's experiences and to engage with policymakers, practitioners and researchers who are working towards the common goal of ensuring every child acquires the foundational skills they need to succeed."

CRECCOM's participation at FLEX 2026 reinforces the organisation's commitment to supporting inclusive, evidence-driven and community-centred approaches that contribute to improved foundational learning for all children.

The Africa Foundational Learning Exchange serves as a continental platform for sharing innovations, research and practical experiences that are shaping the future of foundational learning across Africa. Through dialogue and collaboration, participants are expected to identify scalable approaches that strengthen education systems and accelerate progress towards improved learning outcomes.