In the midst of a global education crisis that has left millions of children and youth on the margins, the Aflatoun network of partners stands as a source of inspiration and positive change. As we reflect on the events of 2022, the inaugural year of our 2022-2026 Global Strategy – Energising the Global Movement for Social & Financial Education with its three priorities: Continuously improve inclusive and responsive education resources through different delivery models; Ignite and grow the Global Aflatoun Network, and Drive bold thought leadership in a turbulent (post-Covid-19) world, we find ourselves at the forefront of a mission that holds the potential to reshape the future for generations to come.
In 2022, the global education community witnessed an extraordinary milestone with the Transforming Education Summit, a ground-breaking event that should leave a profound impact on the sector. The summit not only reinforced Aflatoun’s unwavering mission but also received a significant boost from the United Nations Secretary-General’s (UNSG) Vision Statement on Transforming Education. At this pivotal event, the UNSG underscored the critical importance of “Financial Skills” as a core competency in the emerging skill set necessary for young minds to thrive amidst the dynamic shifts toward green, digital, and care economies. While acknowledging this fundamental need, Aflatoun remains steadfast in its belief that overall more audacious and innovative approaches are essential to truly revolutionize the landscape of education.
Therefore, Aflatoun prioritized the further improvement of inclusive and responsive education resources. We introduced ground-breaking initiatives such as the Digital Finance Toolkit, designed to equip learners with the skills necessary to navigate the digital finance landscape. Guided by the principle of meaningful adolescent participation, we developed comprehensive guidelines to ensure that young people have a voice in shaping their own educational journeys. Additionally, we recognized the vital role of parents in the holistic development of children and created financial literacy training modules to empower them as key partners in their child’s education.
The innovative tools were rolled-out through many different capacity building programmes at country and regional level with Aflatoun partners as we ignited and further grew the Global Aflatoun Network. During the year 40 new organizations joined the movement of Aflatoun partners. Aflatoun supported the work of 28 Governments in their commitment to integrate life skills and financial education into their education systems.
Aflatoun’s commitment to drive bold thought leadership in a turbulent (post-Covid-19) world shone through in the release of our pioneering report: “Peer-Led Financial Education for Adolescent Girls in Low and Middle-Income Countries.” This comprehensive review highlighted the effectiveness of peer-led financial education in improving financial literacy among adolescent girls, enabling them to navigate the transition from childhood to adulthood and from school to work life. We finalized a Multi-Country Evaluation of the Life Skills and Financial Education programme. Aflatoun’s classes were found to bring about significant positive changes in adolescents lives. In our unwavering dedication to knowledge sharing, we also published an article on Aflatoun’s social franchise model.
As a result, 3.8 million children were reached by partners of the Aflatoun Global Network prioritizing the most vulnerable. Furthermore, 29.5 million students were reached through integrating Social and Financial Education content into national curricula in different education systems.
Download the report here and explore the highlights of our regions, our innovations and inspiring examples from our global network partners from 2022.
