As we mark the International Day of Mathematics, we are proud to celebrate the progress being made to strengthen numeracy learning for children in Ethiopia — progress built on strong partnerships, robust evidence, and a commitment to equity.
Our recently published STAGES endline findings highlight the power of long-term, system-focused interventions to improve learning outcomes for marginalised girls. Across 146 schools in Wolaita Zone, 73.3% of Grade 8 girls improved their numeracy skills, reflecting the combined impact of strengthened teaching quality, community engagement, and safer, more inclusive school environments.
This foundation is now informing our Improving Foundational Numeracy Teaching in Ethiopia project, co-designed with the Ministry of Education and Genesis Analytics, supported by the Gates Foundation as part of the Numeracy Research and Development Fund. Through active, participatory, and play‑based methodologies, the programme is equipping 106 teachers, 124 school leaders, and nearly 16,000 early grade learners with the tools they need to build strong mathematical understanding from the start. By focusing on scalable approaches, we are working to ensure every child — regardless of gender, location, or background — can develop the essential numeracy skills they need to progress and succeed.
On this International Day of Mathematics, we reaffirm our belief that numeracy is not just an academic skill — it is a gateway to confidence, problem‑solving, and future opportunity. Together with our partners, we will continue to champion teaching practices, school systems, and community support structures that enable all children to learn and thrive.
If you would like to support our maths mission in Ethiopia, apply to be our new Numeracy Officer – open until 26th March 2026.