Since 2018, the Jacobs Foundation has partnered with organisations in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Colombia, and Switzerland to enhance the use of evidence in education policy and practice. The goal has been to ensure that programs aimed at improving children’s learning are firmly grounded in evidence.
The Jacobs Foundation Communities of Change initiative, champions and empowers community-led transformation processes. The initiative places strong emphasis on strengthening evidence-informed teaching and learning practices, particularly at the school district level. Central to this work is the idea of Community-led learning ecosystems (CLLEs) as an integral part of this approach. CLLEs are rooted in the active involvement of teachers, parents, and the wider community in which a school operates, reflecting a growing and well-evidenced consensus that community engagement is central to achieving systemic, long-term changes in education policy and practice.
However, there is no single way of designing and implementing a CLLE. In fact, by their very nature, CLLEs oppose fixed and linear notions of what they should be. This reflects both a broad and evolving understanding of the concept, combined with the fluid, contextual and evolving nature of CLLEs in practice.
This review comes at a time when there is significant interest in understanding and supporting CLLEs. However, there is a need for further exploration and articulation of the role evidence plays in CLLEs. This includes how evidence is generated, understood, and used to inform policy and practice – particularly at the community level.
This report, based on a desk review of existing evidence, frameworks, and interviews with key informants and experts, provides an overview of the current discussions surrounding these ecosystems. It highlights both the opportunities and challenges related to evidence use in supporting these ecosystems and seeks to address the growing demand for consolidated knowledge and practical insights.
Read the learning brief here.
Explore key insights from the report in this live conversation with its authors and funders. Watch the video below.