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Project Overview
BI Zambia, in partnership with Mwabu, is supporting the Ministry of Education in Zambia to implement the Education and Skills Data Challenge (ESDC), an initiative led by ADEA with support from the Mastercard Foundation. The project aims to strengthen the production, management, and use of education and skills data to enable more evidence-based decision-making across the sector. The assignment focuses on improving data governance and systems through the establishment of Technical Working Groups (TWGs), reactivation of Data Management Committees (DMCs), and the development of national indicators frameworks, metadata, and standardized data validation procedures. It also includes large-scale capacity building through training and mentorship to strengthen data collection, validation, and use at central, provincial, and district levels. The project also supports the design and deployment of an education and skills dashboard to improve data accessibility and use, alongside the development of a national data dissemination strategy and targeted stakeholder engagement efforts.
Project Inception Meeting
The project commenced in May with a planning meeting involving the Ministry of Education, represented by the Director of Secondary Education, the Assistant Director for Early Childhood Education, and the Assistant Director for ICT. The meeting marked the beginning of a collaborative effort to strengthen education data systems, laying the foundation for improved data quality, accessibility, and evidence-based decision-making across Zambia's education sector.
Official Launch of the ESDC Initiative
On 12 June 2026, Zambia officially launched the ADEA Tackling Education & Skills Data Challenge (ESDC) Initiative and oriented the newly established Technical Working Group (TWG), marking the start of a collaborative effort to strengthen education and skills data systems. The event, officiated on behalf of the Permanent Secretary by the Director of Secondary Education, reaffirmed the Government's commitment to evidence-based planning and data-driven decision-making. Implemented by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with ADEA and the Mastercard Foundation, with BI Zambia and Mwabu Zambia leading country implementation, the initiative will strengthen education data documentation and standards, build institutional and technical capacity, and improve data accessibility and use. The launch brought together government, development partners, civil society, ZamStats, and TWG members to advance a shared vision of a stronger, data-driven education sector in Zambia.
Technical Working Group
The TWG serves as the initiative's national technical governance and validation body, providing technical oversight for key project deliverables while coordinating and harmonising education data efforts across Ministry of Education directorates and partner institutions. Its membership comprises representatives from key Ministry directorates—including Human Resources, Standards, TESS, Primary and Secondary Education, School Health and Nutrition, Planning and Information, ICT, Early Childhood Education, Universities, and Curriculum Development—alongside Smart Zambia and ZamStats. Technical sub-groups will support implementation in Data Quality, Capacity Building, and Dashboard Development & Dissemination.
The TWG will:
Coordinate and align education data efforts across institutions.
Provide technical oversight and validate key project deliverables.
Bridge national policy priorities with implementation at provincial, district, and school levels.
Strengthen institutional ownership and the long-term sustainability of education data systems.
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