1.3 Our programmes

Edukans is active in four focus countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and Uganda. Country offices have been established and registered in these countries, and national staff engaged. Edukans aims to develop a diversified portfolio in each of these countries, offering the full range of Edukans programmes to change the long-term prospects of the participants and often their families as well. In addition to the focus countries, Edukans also implemented projects in Ghana and Lebanon in 2025.

Pillars 

Our work is structured around three pillars: primary education, skills for work and life, and education in emergencies. Across all three pillars, several key themes, including gender, climate, and digitalisation, shape our approach and guide the impact we create for children and young people around the world. 

Ambitions 2021- 2025 strategy 

Our 2021–2025 strategy set out clear ambitions that guided our work across basic education, skills development, and education in emergencies. These ambitions reflect our commitment to strengthening education systems, improving learning outcomes, and expanding opportunities for children and young people. They included: 

Basic Education

• To reach 5 million children in primary and secondary education with good education.
• To provide 100,000 teachers with training to develop their teaching skills.  

Skills for Work and Life

• To train 200,000 young people in skills needed for work and life.
• To train the staff of 100 TVETs (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) in our skills methods (7-Steps to Work, Entrepreneurship, Work Based Learning, Life skills, and Active Teaching and Learning). 

Education in Emergencies 

• To ensure that 250,000 displaced children and 25,000 young people enjoy full access to quality education, including wellbeing, by training 6,000 teachers. 

In this annual report, we are measuring our impact differently from previous years, to do justice to the various levels in which Edukans operates. In 2025, our collaborative approach took shape through several large‑scale programmes that delivered tangible, system‑level results. Working in strong consortia – such as with governments and knowledge centres – enabled us to reach millions of children and teachers and to contribute to lasting improvements in national education systems.  

Project Highlight – Skills for Work and Life   

Wear the Green Future: ‘From fast fashion to sustainable futures’

The fashion industry in Kenya and Ethiopia is growing fast, but is polluting enormously. And while the industry is growing, youth unemployment remains high. With the support of the Postcode Lottery, Wear the Green Future (WtGF) aims to empower young people engaged in fair fashion with the skills needed to drive sustainability and circularity in the textile industry. In this way, they become the drivers of a circular fashion and textile sector. Simultaneously, it supports companies in building their capacity for waste management and circular practices, contributing to sustainable job creation and climate change mitigation. To create lasting impact, WtGF focuses on systemic change in Kenya and Ethiopia through collaboration with young people, TVETs, the private sector, and governments.  

Sector-wide system change  

• A milestone: circular education has been embedded in the Cotton, Textile and Clothing Policy. Thanks to Edukans’ networking events, a strong presence at Fashion Weeks and national publicity in both Kenya and Ethiopia, Edukans has successfully put itself on the map with Wear the Green Future in this first year after its launch.  
• Policy influence took place at a national level and there was more interest than expected from the government and the education sector. Collaborations have been started with governments and industry organisations. These include: Ministries of Industry and Trade and Education, the  State Department for TVET, Kisumu National Polytech and the Ministry of Labour and Skills. 
• Significant interest from vocational colleges: cooperation agreements signed with initial vocational training programmes.  To reach 4,600 young people, we focused on more than 50 vocational colleges in Ethiopia and Kenya. We also trained 500 vocational college teachers and trained 19 master trainers. 

Development of a green curriculum   

• In both Kenya and Ethiopia, three green training modules were developed based on intensive market research and sector analyses: fashion design, textile production, textile dyeing 
• Innovation through the application of blended learning and Design Thinking training methods for teachers and students. 

Stimulating circular entrepreneurship  

• Strong local visibility and stakeholder involvement 
• Development of a toolkit for the fashion and textile sector in circular entrepreneurship. Scaling up thanks to e-learnin 
• 33 start-ups and 20 textile companies started their training in circular skills and received guidance in entrepreneurship.

The goal of the Wear the Green Future movement is to reduce waste, water pollution, and CO₂ emissions across the textile industry and promote economically viable practices for future generations. Through Wear the Green Future, Edukans is not only strengthening vocational education but also supporting a systemic shift toward a more sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready fashion and textile sector.

CASE STUDY: How young people like Faith (33) are redefining Kenya’s fashion industry

In Kenya’s textile sector, waste and unemployment pose major challenges, but Faith Nyatichi is proving that small businesses can drive big change. Through Fanya Creatives, she transforms fabric scraps into high-value products, creates jobs for youth, and models a scalable, sustainable approach to fashion. With support from Edukans’ Wear the Green Future program, Faith’s journey shows how skills, mentorship, and circular design can build a greener economy. Discover how Faith’s story is inspiring a movement!

Read the case study (externe link, opent in nieuw tabblad)

Project Highlight – Education in Emergencies 

School Greening in Ethiopia

Ethiopia suffers from recurring severe droughts and erratic rainy seasons. The far north of Ethiopia is one of the regions most affected by drought and flooding. In the Afar region, we work to ensure that children continue to attend school during times of crisis. In 2025, Edukans Ethiopia’s Greening Schools and Communities project demonstrated how climate change education can generate tangible and lasting impact when it is embedded across schools, households, and teacher training institutions. Implemented in three primary schools, one high school, one College of Teacher Education, and more than 80 surrounding households, the project reached learners, educators, and families through a practical, community-centred approach to climate resilience tailored to the Afar context.

CASE STUDY – How climate-smart education is keeping children in school during crises in Ethiopia

Edukans ensures that children can continue to learn and grow, even in challenging conditions and crisis situations. This is also the case in northern Ethiopia, where prolonged drought, flooding and conflict make life a major challenge for people in the Afar region. With support from the Greening Schools and Communities project, we can clearly see the positive impact on the life of teacher Mohammed, his students and the whole community around them. This case study demonstrates how integrated climate education can secure learning for children, improve food security, and build long-term school and community resilience. 

Read the case study (externe link, opent in nieuw tabblad)

Project Highlight – Basic Education 

Leaders in Teaching, Uganda  

In 2025, Edukans Uganda took part in the Leaders in Teaching (LIT) programme Uganda consortium funded by the Mastercard Foundation. Following an extensive preparatory phase, the contract was signed in October 2025 and implementation officially commenced. The Leaders in Teaching (LIT) programme aims to transform secondary education in Uganda by building the capacity of teachers and school leaders to enable young people to acquire skills, knowledge, and competencies necessary to access dignified and fulfilling employment.  

The five-year programme (2025–2030) aims to strengthen Uganda’s teacher workforce and school leadership to ensure young people acquire the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed for education and employment. LIT adresses critical challenges in the teacher lifecycle through four key programmatic pillars: (1) Teacher Recruitment, (2) Teacher Training, (3) Education Leadership and Management, and (4) Teacher Motivation. LIT Uganda will directly reach 67,000 in-service teachers, 7,500 pre-service teachers, 300 tutors, over 6,000 school leaders, and provide targeted support to 1,000 female STEM student teachers, including groups living in a region where access to education is limited. 

As part of the multi-partner consortium led by Luigi Giussani Foundation, Edukans contributes primarily to the TRAIN pillar, led by the British Council. This pillar focuses on equipping educators with inclusive, innovative, relevant, and gender-responsive pedagogical methods to ensure effective implementation of Uganda’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), improving learning outcomes and preparing young people for lifelong learning and successful transition to work. 

Edukans’ strategic role includes digital innovation and community engagement. Together with our partners, we lead the development and management of a Learning Management System (LMS) delivering online training in life skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and gender-responsive pedagogy. The LMS provides interactive training, self-assessments, and resources for 7,500 pre-service teachers and 300 tutors, supporting blended learning and adaptation to diverse school contexts. Edukans also digitises teacher training modules, embedding inclusive, gender-sensitive, and ICT-enabled practices. By integrating life skills, mental health awareness, menstrual hygiene management, and entrepreneurship into teacher training, Edukans ensures new teachers are prepared to foster supportive, inclusive, and effective learning environments in schools. 

Additionally, Edukans mobilises parents and communities to support the CBC rollout, strengthening local ownership of education reforms. This includes training local government representatives, school boards, and faith-based organisations to facilitate dialogue and resource mobilisation, with a focus on the re-entry and retention of girls affected by COVID-19 school closures. Edukans also develops and distributes educational materials in local languages and conducts community meetings. 

Project highlight Basic Education

Building Education Foundation Through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) in Malawi

The Building Education Foundations through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) programme is a flagship initiative from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, designed to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy skills among learners in Standards 1–4 across Malawi. With the support of a growing consortium of implementation partners, funders, and researchers, the BEFIT programme will reach 3.8 million children annually by 2029.  

The programme was launched in 2024 and places education technology (EdTech) at the center of its implementation, delivering child-centred, adaptive learning through tablet-based instruction tailored to individual learner needs. The programme is aligned with the national curriculum, utilises existing government systems, and is integrated into school timetables for long-term sustainability. 

Edukans Malawi serves as the Implementation Support Partner (ISP) in several districts. In this role, Edukans provides comprehensive technical and operational support at district, zonal, and school levels. This support includes facilitating capacity-building trainings, strengthening data collection and reporting systems, documenting implementation challenges, and fostering collaboration between schools and surrounding communities. Edukans is also supporting teachers to adopt effective instructional practices that enhance programme outcomes.  

BEFIT actively engages school leadership, teachers, learners, and community members to create an enabling environment for improved learning outcomes. By October 2025, Edukans supported 93 public primary schools across Mangochi, Machinga, Zomba and Chikwawa. As a result, 2,113 teachers received specialised BEFIT training. The programme reached 78,783 learners, including 2,150 learners with disabilities. Additionally, 61,280 community members were engaged. These numbers demonstrate BEFIT’s commitment to the inclusion of learners with disabilities, and community engagement as essential pillars for sustainable education reform. 

CASE STUDY: How Edukans Malawi brings inclusive education to life for learners like Belington

We believe every child deserves the chance to learn, grow, and thrive, no matter their circumstances. In Malawi, the BEFIT programme demonstrates how adaptive, tablet-based learning can improve literacy, numeracy and inclusion in primary schools.  For 10-year-old Belington Thomas, who faces the challenge of navigating regular education as a deaf boy, this programme with its clear child-centred approach is creating a lasting change to fulfil his potential and build a better future. Read the case study (externe link) to find out how the support of Edukans makes all the difference for learners like Belington.  

Read the case study (externe link, opent in nieuw tabblad)

Project Highlight – Basic Education

Strenghten Education in cocoa districts in Ghana

    
In 2023, Edukans and Savana Signatures launched the two-year project, funded by the Chocolonely Foundation. The project, which finished in June 2025, aimed to improve teaching quality and parental engagement in fifteen school communities within the Asetenapa cooperative, Eastern Region. The goal was to support 2,608 children stay in school, improve their learning outcomes, and complete their education. 

In cocoa-growing areas, many children struggle with basic skills, only 30% of adolescents aged 10–14 reach grade 3 reading levels, with even lower rates in numeracy. Girls face additional barriers such as early pregnancy and child marriage, leading to school dropout. Implementation of the project focused on three domains:  

• Improved teaching and learning practices through the Teaching with Impact (externe link, opent in nieuw tabblad) approach, 

• Integration of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) (externe link, opent in nieuw tabblad) and Reproductive Health Education (RHE) into classroom practice 

• Srengthened parental and community engagement. 

These activities led to outputs such as 186 teachers trained, 30 SEL/RHE facilitators equipped, 15 schools supported establishing 5 active Child Protection Committees. Parents and community leaders were also engaged in structured dialogues to promote child protection and girls’ education.  

These outputs translated into observable outcomes across all domains, for example, teachers adopted learner-centred methodologies through Edukans Teaching with Impact approach. Observational data from the endline assessment showed that over 85% of teachers demonstrated a learner-centered teaching style, showing a shift in both teaching practices. Professional development in lesson planning, supervision, and concept building supported the uptake of these methods, which are beginning to influence classroom quality.  

Anecdotal evidence and BECE data from head teachers and teachers suggest gradual improvements in learning outcomes, particularly in Suhum. During the project, Suhum has demonstrated consistent and substantial improvement in pass rates, in the sample schools, especially in 2024, where both genders surpassed the 50% threshold. 

Footnote: While Suhum demonstrated consistent improvements in pass rates and learner engagement, Ayensuano’s results were more variable. This discrepancy may be attributed to different contextual factors in the two districts.

Learner‑centred teaching was used to integrate Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Reproductive Health Education (RHE) into classroom practice. Teachers and school leaders now embed these topics into daily routines, strengthening students’ skills in emotional regulation, resilience, and informed decision‑making. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices surveys show gains in SEL and RHE understanding, which are strong indicators of improved well‑being. 

Community members and parents became increasingly engaged. This is also reflected in the establishment of functional Child Protection Committees, increased parental involvement, and stronger collaboration with local government structures. 

While long-term outcomes are still emerging, early signs show promising progress across teaching quality, student retention, and community ownership. The project strengthens education and builds supportive communities for long-term positive outcomes. 

Read more about our work in Ghana (externe link, opent in nieuw tabblad)

Project Highlight – Lobby & Advocacy 

Education back on the political agenda 

In the election year 2025, Edukans, together with other members of the Global Campaign for Education Netherlands (GCE NL), intensified its lobbying efforts for education within Dutch development cooperation policy. Through position papers, campaigns, and meetings with politicians and policymakers, we delivered a clear message: the development cooperation budget must be restored to the OESD-norm 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI), and education is the foundation of sustainable development within that budget and therefore deserves structural priority. 

This joint effort yielded results. Education within development cooperation is once again firmly on the political agenda and has been explicitly included as a priority in the new coalition agreement. In addition, planned budget cuts have been partially reversed, and an additional €257 million per year has been made available for education and youth in the Global South among other areas. This marks an important step toward structural investments in opportunities for children and young people worldwide.   

Read further on Lobby and Advocacy (opent in nieuw tabblad)

Project Highlight – Basic Education  

Action for Life Skills and Values in Kenya 

In Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), children and young people face complex social and structural challenges that threaten their wellbeing, education, and future opportunities. In Kajiado county, exposure to drug use and trafficking, domestic violence, harmful cultural practices, and economic vulnerability have contributed to school dropouts, adolescent pregnancies, and limited life choices for many learners. The Action for Life Skills and Values (ALiVE) Programme, implemented under the Children on the Margins initiative with the support of Porticus, responds directly to these realities by strengthening children’s agency and resilience through education. The project’s overarching goal is to ensure that children in ASAL contexts are equipped with the life skills and values needed to make informed decisions, navigate adversity, and actively shape their own development. Working in partnership with local civil society organisations and education stakeholders, Edukans is integrating Life Skills and Values (LS&V) education into public schools, complementing academic learning with social and emotional competencies that support holistic child development.  

In Kajiado County, the project is currently integrating LS&V education in 50 public schools, guided by the Star School Model. To date, 100 teachers and 50 school leaders have been trained and mentored to embed skills such as self-awareness, communication, decision-making, and character development into everyday teaching and learning. These competencies are reinforced through co-curricular activities, including clubs, sports, and games, and strengthened further through the active engagement of parents, guardians, and communities. Importantly, the project ensures inclusion by reaching children in rescue centres and children’s homes, many of whom are among the most vulnerable.  

A major milestone has been the collaborative development of LS&V training materials through a multi-stakeholder process involving the Ministry of Education, Teachers Service Commission, Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, and education experts. By aligning LS&V content with the Competency-Based Curriculum, the programme is laying the foundation for long-term, system-wide adoption. Through ALiVE Kenya, Edukans aims to  positively impact over 21,000 learners. Beyond the classroom, the project is strengthening collaboration across the education system. In preparation for increasing community capacity to nurture values-driven, resilient learners, we also developed IEC materials contextualised for the parents and local community in Kajiado. With Porticus’ support, ALiVE Kenya is contributing to a more inclusive, responsive education system. One that equips children not only to stay in school, but to thrive.   

Project Highlight Basic Education  

Harnassing the sun: a climate-smart project in Malawi 

Edukans Malawi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, implemented a one-year project titled “Harnessing the Sun for Improved Learning Outcomes and Sustainable Development” in Lilongwe West Education District, with financial support from EDP, a Portugal-based organisation. The project has strengthened learning environments and promoted sustainable development through renewable energy, environmental education, and climate-smart school initiatives.  

Project Goal and Approach  
The goal of the project was to improve educational outcomes for learners in 10 targeted primary schools by enhancing teaching quality, increasing access to clean solar energy, and promoting green practices. Key interventions included baseline assessments, development and distribution of Teaching with Impact (TWI) manuals, capacity building for school leaders and teachers, mentorship programmes, installation of solar power systems, establishment of school gardens, orchards, woodlots and continuous monitoring and evaluation.  

Reach and Beneficiaries  
The project directly reached 12,992 learners, including 558 learners with diverse or special educational needs. In addition, 192 teachers benefited from professional development and mentorship activities. The project also positively impacted an estimated 20,000 community members. They were trained in the management and maintenance of solar energy equipment while others gained knowledge and skills in farming, environmental management and the use of solar energy as an income generating activity.  

Key Results and Achievements  
All of the 10 targeted schools were equipped with solar energy systems, significantly improving lighting conditions and supporting a conducive teaching and learning environment. The project also established functional school gardens and woodlots, with schools planting a total of 10,219 trees, contributing to environmental conservation and climate change mitigation. Strong collaboration between Edukans and the Ministry of Education enabled the successful acquisition of a duty waiver for imported solar equipment, ensuring efficient implementation. Learners acquired knowledge applicable beyond the classroom, for example, transferable skills in vegetable production and tree planting, which they were then able to use in their households and communities. As the first initiative of its kind in the district, the project demonstrated a scalable model for integrating renewable energy and green education into primary schools. Edukans will continue engaging EDP and other partners to expand these interventions to additional schools across Malawi.  

Project Highlight – Skills for Work and Life  

From excluded to employed: the EASY project, Uganda  

Edukans’ EASY project bridges the gap between education and employment by offering training in coffee and poultry trades and value chains (from farming to processing and marketing), agricultural sectors with real job potential in Uganda. But it’s more than just technical skills: participants learn life skills, entrepreneurship, and green practices to build sustainable livelihoods. By partnering with employers, financial institutions, and local experts, Edukans ensures training is inclusive and tailored to communities with special needs. The goal? Not just jobs, but self-employment and pathways to a decent income. 
 
Empowering Agricultural Skills for Youth and women for green growth (EASY) saw the creation of 6 community based training centres, that were established in line with the Uganda TVET 2025 Act, where 235 youngsters are undergoing a 6-month vocational training programme. Special attention was paid to young people with special needs: educational dropouts, people with disabilities (PWDs), but also refugees and young mothers. 

A start has been made to include those active in the industry in the co-development of training programmes to integrate green skills, entrepreneurship, and digital competencies, ensuring alignment with market needs. Access to finance through partnerships with Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) and microfinance institutions, will further support young people in launching their own businesses. Inclusivity is central in this project, therefore Edukans has built in conditions to embed gender equality and disability inclusion across all interventions by adopting flexible training models targeting local communities with special needs. 

Project Highlight – Skills for Work and Life   

Youth-to-Youth Fund: Empowering Young Entrepreneurs in Ethiopia 

In 2025, Edukans continued its transformative work in Addis Ababa and the Somali region of Ethiopia through the Youth-to-Youth Fund (Y2YF) “PROSPECTS Opportunity Fund”. This project, delivered in partnership with ten dynamic youth-led organisations, focused on equipping young people with the skills, resources, and confidence to launch their own businesses. Participants received access to funding, training, technical support, and long-term coaching, enabling them to develop professional skills, collaborate, and invest in their futures. 

The initiative specifically targeted young people facing challenging circumstances, including refugees and those unable to afford education, ensuring that 1,037 young people, 64.5% of whom were female and 3.7% persons with disabilities, gained suitable tools for sustainable advancement of their businesses. 

By the end of 2025, the project had created 722 jobs, including 319 secondary positions, and connected 638 young entrepreneurs to formal banking and e-commerce platforms. A total of 317 initial grants helped transition informal traders into formal, tax-paying enterprises, while fostering collaboration between refugee and host communities. Sectors such as digital tech, creative services, agri-business, and sustainability flourished, with start-ups ranging from coffee shops and laundries to eco-friendly manufacturing.

Y2YF strengthened sustainable economic transformation, social cohesion and youth leadership. Evaluations revealed that participants not only improved their mental and physical well-being but also enhanced their social skills and employability. Edukans Ethiopia’s 2025 results reflect a clear transition toward system-level impact, moving from access to sustainability, from emergency response to integration, and from youth support to economic transformation. Education and youth empowerment are not only development priorities; they are drivers of long-term, inclusive growth

Education on the political agenda 

In 2025, Edukans actively participated in the Global Campaign for Education, both as a member and, once again this year, as chair. GCE is driven by the conviction that education is a universal human right and that quality education for all is achievable. Over the past year, GCE and GCE-NL and its partners worked intensively to advocate for and support quality education in the Global South, at both national and international levels. This was done in close collaboration with GCE organisations across Europe and North America. All Edukans country offices are members of GCE. Our advocacy and lobby work is illustrated by the examples below. 

Trough the sector organisations Partos, Edukans supported broader campaigns such as “The Netherlands is not an island” and and Foundation for Global Citizenship initiatives advocating for increased investment in development cooperation and the strengthening of global citizenship. 

Advocacy in Kenya 

Edukans Kenya continued to advance strategic advocacy efforts aimed at shaping a more inclusive and sustainable textile and garment sector. Through our flagship Wear the Green Future (WtGF) initiative, Edukans Kenya played a key role in supporting the development and launch of Kenya’s national Cotton, Textile, and Apparel (CTA) Policy, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments (MITI). The CTA Policy is expected to catalyse sector-wide transformation by strengthening links between education, industry, and communities, while unlocking new opportunities for youth employment, enterprise development, and sustainable industrialisation across Kenya. We have contributed to the development of Cotton, Apparel and Textile policy in collaboration with Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in an effort to streamline circularity and sustainability. In the coming years, we will develop policy briefs and cabinet memo to advocate for multisectoral interventions in greening the textile sector.  

The State Department of Industry recognized Edukans Kenya for their efforts and participation in the development and launching of the policy. This milestone reflects our commitment to influencing policy frameworks that promote green growth, decent work, and value-chain development within the sector. 

Advocacy in Ethiopia 

To strengthen sustainability and policy influence, two advocacy committees were established in 2025. These committees are actively advancing lobbying and advocacy efforts with the Afar Regional Education Bureau (REB) to promote the integration of climate change education and school gardening into formal primary and secondary school curricula, ensuring alignment with the regional context and long-term adoption beyond the project lifespan. A major milestone was achieved at the Aysaita College of Teacher Education, where climate-smart education was institutionalised within the teacher training programme. Climate change and gardening are now embedded in course planning, delivery, and assessment, equipping future teachers with the competencies required to integrate climate awareness and practical environmental learning into their classrooms. This systemic change significantly amplifies the project’s impact, as graduating teachers carry climate-smart approaches to schools far beyond the immediate target area. 

Regarding the Wear The Green Future Project, Edukans Ethiopia undertook focussed and result-oriented advocacy work to enhance the awareness at ministerial level by including national, regional and local experts.  This advocacy role led to the successful development and accreditation of three dedicated green skills training modules in garment, textile, and fashion design. At a result of the advocacy work, the Ministry of Labour and Skills assigned dedicated working group members to be part of the green skills training module development which are now fully utilised by 16 Polytechnic colleges.  

Advocacy in the Netherlands 

Over the past decade, the political landscape in the Netherlands became increasingly less favourable to international cooperation in general, and to education in the Global South in particular. Due to political choices and the orientation of successive right-wing governments, the internationally agreed OECD norm of allocating 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) to Official Development Assistance was abandoned. Education almost entirely disappeared from the political development cooperation agenda and the focus shifted towards other areas. Against this backdrop, Edukans together with its GCE-NL partners, significantly intensified its lobbying and advocacy efforts in 2025. 

The year 2025 marked an important political shift. After ten years in which education had not been a priority within Dutch development cooperation policy, education has now been clearly returned to the agenda. During the election period, letters were sent to all political parties conveying the core message that education forms the foundation of all development and should therefore be a spearhead of Dutch development cooperation policy. In the summer of 2025, several position papers were published advocating for the restoration of the development cooperation budget to the internationally agreed OECD norm of 0.7% of GNI, with education as a clear priority within that budget. These efforts had a visible impact. Ten out of fifteen political parties included in their election programmes the commitment to once again link the development cooperation budget to OESO norm. Eight parties explicitly named education as a priority within development cooperation. 

A positive outlook 

In the new coalition agreement (beginning 2026), education is explicitly mentioned as a key priority, alongside youth, women’s rights, global health, and food security. The importance of education is explicitly linked to stability, opportunities for young people, and the strengthening of international partnerships. Planned budget cuts have, for the time being, been halted and partially reversed. An additional €257 million per year has been made available for, among other areas, education and youth in the Global South. Thanks to these targeted lobbying efforts, education is once again firmly anchored in political debate and in the new coalition agreement. In the coming period, Edukans will focus on further strengthening parliamentary support and on developing a concrete action programme for politicians and policymakers, ensuring that the additional resources are used effectively and sustainably for education in the Global South. The challenge now is to translate renewed political attention into structural and long-term impact for children and young people worldwide. 

In 2025, we once again worked alongside a broad and diverse community of partners, including individual donors, foundations, corporations, schools and churches. Their contributions vary in scale and form, but share a common significance: together, we make it possible for children and young people to access quality education. Education is not a charitable gift, but a fundamental right. Through their engagement, our partners help turn this right into reality. Without this collective commitment, our programmes would not exist. 

Thanks to this invaluable support, we raised €6,191,144, enabling children and young people in the Global South to gain meaningful skills to work towards a brighter future.

At the same time, we operate in a rapidly changing environment. Global budget cuts and shifting political priorities continue to place pressure on funding within the NGO sector. This context requires us to remain focused, adaptive, and forward-looking. By staying agile and open to change, we continue to safeguard and grow our impact. 

In 2025, we laid an even stronger foundation for all our fundraising endeavors, building on the strategic path laid out in 2024. We invested deliberately in building and deepening relationships and in gaining a better understanding of what motivates our donors and partners. In parallel, we strengthened our visibility through multiple campaigns and applied a more data-based approach. This combination of relationship-driven fundraising and consistent public presence is essential for sustainable growth and for demonstrating that we are a reliable and professional expert in our field. 

We also took a critical look at our role and responsibility in communication. We use language and imagery to advance our mission, while recognising that communication itself is part of our purpose. Words and images are not neutral; they shape perspectives and influence how we understand the world and one another. In response, we developed an inclusive communication guide and strengthened international collaboration in the creation of our communications. 

The following sections provide further insight into our partners, activities, and the results we achieved together in 2025. 

Thank you for your contribution! 

Private donors 

In 2025 we received €2,700,476 from our private donors, a decrease of €267,588 due to a large sum of legacies in 2024. We saw an increase of 5.4% in income from monthly donors who started supporting us after face-to-face acquisition. Acquiring new donors is crucial to maintain our donor base. Face-to-face acquisition remains the best acquisition channel. At the same time, our always on campaign targeted new online audiences to ask them for a donation. A big telemarketing campaign was launched to ask direct debit donors to up their yearly contribution. This campaign lead to an increase in income through telemarketing. Lastly, our donor segments had been revisited to create a new, steady base to build donor journeys that fit the current way of data and donor driven working in our sector.

Postcode Lottery:

proud partner since 2014

For over a decade, Edukans has been a proud partner of the Postcode Lottery, a collaboration that has unlocked opportunities for thousands of children, young people, and teachers in the countries we work in. Thanks to the lottery’s players, those children, young people, and teachers have been impacted with quality education, empowering them to contribute to just and sustainable societies.  

In 2025, the annual contribution from the Postcode Lottery of €600,000 reflects the strong relationship and mutual trust between our two organisations. The Postcode Lottery is unique in its approach of unearmarked funding and should be considered an example on how trust can equal greater impact.  

Besides the annual contribution, the Postcode Lottery also awarded funds to our daring project, Wear The Green Future, enabling a long-held dream for Edukans to place education at the heart of a circular, green, and futureproof economy in Kenya and Ethiopia. In 2025 Wear the Green Future took flight and sparked an interest even larger than anticipated. See also highlights of the year. (externe link) 

International donors*

In 2025, available funds from institutional sources came under pressure, largely due to shifts in budget priorities both in the Netherlands and globally, including reduced USAID funding and limited contributions from the United States. This context required us to remain focused, adaptive, and forward-looking. We responded by exploring innovative fundraising approaches as part of our new multi-annual strategy, ensuring that we continue to safeguard and expand our impact through sustained partnerships with key collaborators.

Over the year, we secured more than 1.9 million euros in funding from international institutional donors. While revenue from institutional grants fell slightly below expectations, this reflects an increasingly competitive landscape and fewer opportunities within the education funding space. Nevertheless, our strategic collaborations have progressed, albeit requiring more time and engagement than initially anticipated, ultimately laying a stronger foundation for long-term impact.

Our long-standing partnerships continued to evolve and strengthen. We are particularly proud that Edukans has been selected as a key education partner for UNHCR and UNICEF for the next five years, a clear recognition of our expertise.

We have also expanded our reach through new collaborations. Edukans Malawi joined a consortium dedicated to improving literacy in primary schools across Malawi, funded by Imagine Worldwide. Thanks to its strong and successful results it has been invited by Imagine Worldwide to expand its activities across multiple districts.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to deepening engagement with international funding partners. Strengthening our partnership with Enabel and the Mastercard Foundation has been a key focus, culminating in the launch of the Leaders in Teaching Programme in Uganda in 2025, designed to enhance teaching capacity and quality education outcomes.

Maintaining and strengthening relationships with international and institutional donors remains central to our strategy, enabling long-term projects with sustainable impact. Through these efforts, we actively contribute to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all, and SDG 8, which promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

* Following guidelines from Dutch Council for Accounting (Raad voor de Jaarverslaggeving), in our financial accounts (see chapter 10) funds received from international government institutions are reported separately from funds received from international non-profit organisations.

Green Education Campaign

The Green Education Campaign was Edukans’ end-of-year fundraising campaign, launched with the goal of raising €20,000, the equivalent to enabling green education for six schools in Malawi. The campaign focused on the acute impact of climate change on children and young people, emphasising how green education helped build resilience against extreme drought, flooding, hunger, and poverty. Through compelling storytelling, the campaign showed how education equips students with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves, their communities, and future generations. The results exceeded expectations: a total of €24,572.50 was raised, 23% above the original target. This success made it possible to support not six, but seven green schools in Malawi. The campaign demonstrated strong donor engagement and reinforced Edukans’ commitment to climate-resilient, sustainable education.

Strategy

As part of Edukans’ strategic development process, last year we focused on conducting a comprehensive internal audit to assess our organisational strengths and reflect on key lessons learned. This provided clear direction for Edukans’ future strategy. It confirms where our core value lies, but also shows that if we are to remain relevant, effective, and resilient, we must make sharper choices. Below are four strategic implications emerging from the findings.

Integrity 

To make sure that the integrity system is completely implemented, it is necessary to keep integrity on the agenda and actively invite staff members and partners to discuss sensitive issues together, with respect for each other. With regard to handling integrity reports within our organisation, we have noticed that these are difficult to resolve internally because we know each other so well. That is why, in 2026, we will investigate whether we can (partly) outsource this to external parties such as Partos or GoedeDoelenNederland. 

7.2 Organisational structure and Environmental Social Governance (ESG) policy

In a world of constant change, Edukans aims to strengthen our commitment to sustainable development, improve decision-making processes across all organisational levels, effectively communicate our mission, and foster deeper engagement with stakeholders.  Edukans operates as one organisation with five offices located in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, the Netherlands, and Uganda. Country Directors represent the Country Offices in relationships with our stakeholders and are responsible for country office management. Country Offices are tasked with designing and implementing projects, forging strategic partnerships at the national level, and mobilising resources through country-based institutional and international donors and advocacy. Edukans Netherlands is responsible for programme strategies, developing, updating, and validating educational models and methodologies, forging strategic partnerships, the organisational planning and control cycle, overall financial management, account management and private and global fundraising, global campaigning and communication, and stakeholder management. It focuses on designing and enhancing educational approaches and tools, fostering stakeholder engagement, driving strategic fundraising, and building strategic partnerships both globally and within the Netherlands. Edukans Netherlands and the Country Offices collaborate seamlessly through international teams, ensuring effective teamwork and providing support wherever it is needed. 

The mission of Edukans is fundamentally rooted in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, embodying ESG’s social dimension by advancing equity, well-being, and societal impact through quality education. Edukans further advanced its ESG policy in 2025. The primary focus areas are outlined below: 

• Promoting diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, and emphasising health and safety. These were focused on during the development of a Gender and DE&I policy.
• Enhancing wellbeing and sustainability. The health and wellbeing of staff was addressed by repeating the employee satisfaction survey and emphasising health and safety with tools such as OpenUp to facilitate the well-being of staff members.
• We aim to minimise international travel whilst at the same time recognizing that travel is sometimes necessary for cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange. The necessity of travel has therefore been carefully evaluated. The ESG policy was extended with criteria for travelling, which will support Edukans in (more) sustainable development and decision-making when it comes to flying and CO2 emissions.  
• In addition, Edukans’ Dutch office relocated in 2025 and sustainability and, where possible, reusability of materials have been considered in the preparations for furnishing the office premises.  

7.4 Volunteers 

In 2025, Edukans worked with five volunteers who committed themselves with great enthusiasm and dedication to supporting our organisation. Their contribution was valuable and wide-ranging, providing practical support across various activities at the Edukans office. We are deeply grateful to our volunteers for their continued commitment, flexibility, and willingness to contribute their time and expertise. Their engagement plays an important role in supporting Edukans’ work and our shared ambition to advance quality education.

7.5 Supervisory Board    

Members of the Supervisory Board of Edukans are appointed for a period of four years and may be reappointed twice. As of 31 December 2025 the Supervisory Board consisted of the following members:  

• J. Mesman, chairman, as a member responsible for integrity, Professor (Youth & Society) at Leiden University. Field of expertise: education, pedagogical skills, diversity and inclusion (appointed in 2023).
• D.M.J. Haaksma,chairmanaudit committee, Director Finance, Control & Analytics at Stichting Hogeschool in Utrecht. Field of expertise: accountancy (The term ended on 31 December 2025 and has been confirmed for a second term until 2029).  
• K.R. Rosalina, as a member responsible for integrity,educationalistand consultant at Drakenfruit. Field of expertise: education (appointed in 2023). 
• R.N. Zomer, member audit committee, Manager International Business atEvofenedex. Field ofexpertise: Fundraising, small medium enterprises, (appointed in 2023). 

None of the members of the Supervisory Board have declared additional positions which may conflict with their membership of the Supervisory Board of Edukans. Each year, the members of the Supervisory Board receive attendance fees in line with the guidelines of Goede Doelen Nederland and CBF. 

The Supervisory Board acts in accordance with the provided framework and the ‘Regulations of the Supervisory Board’. The audit committee consists of two members of the Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board monitors continuity, supervises the realisation of strategic objectives, reviews the quality of management, and advises the management board about relevant social developments. The Supervisory Board approves the strategic plan, the annual plan and budget, the annual accounts and the annual report, including auditors report, as part of the financial planning and control cycle, and focuses on the assessment of financial management and the quality of controls.  In 2025, The Supervisory Board held 5 meetings.   

The Supervisory Board endorsed the strategic direction and the key strategic shifts, recognising the ambition of the approach and the transformative nature of the organisational model. 2026 will serve as a transition year in which the strategy will be further refined, tested, and assessed for financial, legal, and organisational feasibility, after which the multi‑year strategy will be submitted to the Supervisory Board for formal approval.

8.2 Integrity    

Providing a safe working environment for staff members, teachers, students and partner organisations is high on the agenda within Edukans. An Integrity Committee consisting of four senior members monitors the effectiveness of the integrity system, coordinates the handling of a formal report and leads the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and tools that support a culture in which people feel safe to discuss ethical dilemmas (moral deliberation) and dare to speak-up.    

All staff members, Supervisory Board Members, volunteers and participants representing Edukans are required to sign the Edukans Code of Conduct, the Child Protection Policy and the Code of Conduct: Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Policy. In addition, all (new) staff members need to successfully complete the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) training on the UNICEF Agora platform and a VOG statement is part of the recruitment and selection procedure for staff in the Netherlands. A Confidentiality Advisor has been appointed and trained for staff members to discuss any concern confidentially. The Edukans Integrity Policy includes guidelines on how to file a report and provides links to communication channels. In addition to the formal reporting channel integrity@edukans.nl Edukans opened up an additional communication channel (externe link, opent in nieuw tabblad) (via WhistleB) where people can report any concerns anonymously. 

In 2025, two cases were reported to the integrity committee. Both have been followed up by the integrity committee through various consultations and follow-up sessions. Edukans has zero tolerance of any violation of our integrity policy and adequate measures have been taken as a follow-up to the investigation by the integrity committee.   

As part of the new strategy, we are preparing an organisation-wide programme centred on our organisational compass: identity, values, and norms. To make sure that the integrity system is implemented completely, it is necessary that talking about integrity becomes a regular point of attention within the organisation and integrated in our daily work. Therefore, we conducted in-country meetings to discuss our integrity policy and the dilemmas faced in practice. The CEO and the Supervisory Board organised a half day reflection on integrity and social safety at Edukans: reflecting on challenges, lessons learned and the way forward.  

We do our utmost to make the integrity system at Edukans work and to create a safe space for everyone. Edukans will continue to build on the trust placed in us by our stakeholders and lower the threshold for anyone wishing to raise a concern by paying specific attention to moral deliberations and the contextualisation of Integrity.  

8.4 Risks  

Edukans proactively identifies and assesses both internal and external organisational and project factors that could pose risks to our organisation. This includes potential threats to the health and wellbeing of our staff and beneficiaries in the communities we work with. Our approach to risk management emphasises prevention and the development of effective coping strategies to adequately handle these risks when they do occur.  

Learning poverty 

Over 272 million children worldwide are not in school, and an even greater number of children cannot read or write proficiently (UNESCO, 2025). Without foundational learning such as reading and writing, pupils often fail to thrive later in school or when they join the workforce. Edukans believes that education is a universal human right, and quality education for all is achievable. We advocate both at a global level and in focus countries for the importance of good quality education and the allocation of financial resources in realisation of SDG4. 

However, access to good quality education is not sufficiently high enough on the agenda of the governments in our focus countries. The political climate worldwide has become less supportive of international cooperation and strengthening civil society in general, and education in particular. Financial resource allocation of donors prioritises humanitarian aid and quick wins which threatens the chances of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on and through better education.  

Repositioning as civil society organisation  

In 2025, available funds from institutional sources came under pressure, largely due to shifts in budget priorities both in the Netherlands and globally, including reduced USAID funding and limited contributions from the United States. As a result we reimagine our role as CSO, aligning with new paradigms to redefine our strategy that guide impactful choices. Edukans is responding to these changes by exploring innovative fundraising approaches, ensuring that we continue to safeguard and expand our impact through sustained partnerships with key collaborators. This will be reflected in our new multi-annual strategy for 2026-2030. 

Financial risks

Internal control procedures are in place and have been revised and improved to mitigate and/or absorb financial risks relating to potential misuse of funds and potential losses (i.e., due to corruption, fraud, theft, or high inflation rates), as well as for receiving, allocating, and the payment of funds. Edukans constantly works to improve cost recovery ratios, as well as financial reporting systems. Edukans has adopted a sustainable investment strategy, with a diversified investment portfolio which offers better safeguards against volatile market developments.   

Staff well-being, safety & security 

Edukans prioritises the safety and well-being of its staff in all countries where we operate. Project areas in these countries are often disrupted due to war, political, climate and/or economic crises. For example, the devastating impact of an earthquake in Berhale and the hardship faced by the community around our country office in Ethiopia. We mitigate risks through comprehensive safety, security, and HR policies combined with mandatory security trainings for staff ensuring a supportive and responsible environment for our team members. Edukans acknowledges the vital role that our human resources play in ensuring the delivery of quality education as an organisation. Our staff members often take on multiple roles beyond their primary responsibilities due to the structure and size of the company. To support this dynamic, managers work closely with our HR team to offer coaching and support for managing work-related stress, fostering a healthy and positive work environment. 

We explored the opportunity for Edukans to become a member of the OpenUp platform, which focuses on the mental wellbeing of employees and their families. From 2026 onwards, this platform will be accessible to employees to further support their mental wellbeing.  
 

Alignment of policies 

Strategic priorities of governments and partners organisations can change over time. Education programmes can only be effective when embedded in the national education system and aligned with the country specific objectives and priorites. Edukans works closely with governmental agencies and certification institutes to ensure alignment of policies and strengthen the education system now and in the future.     

Cybersecurity & AI 

At Edukans, we recognise the importance of a secure digital environment and take a proactive approach to managing risks in the fields of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. While threats such as hacking, data breaches, and identity fraud remain a concern – particularly within an international operating context – our organisation has implemented robust measures to effectively mitigate these challenges. 

The increasing use of artificial intelligence offers great potential for innovation, but also introduces new responsibilities. We embrace these opportunities while ensuring that the associated risks are carefully managed. To safeguard our organisation and those we serve, Edukans uses managed laptops within a secure IT infrastructure. Key preventive measures include continuous network monitoring and comprehensive staff awareness programmes. Since 2025, all employees participate in ongoing online cybersecurity training, fostering a vigilant and well-prepared workforce.