Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge (SLEIC)
The Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge (SLEIC) is a three-year program launched in 2022 with the aim to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes for 134,000 children in 325 public primary schools across all districts of Sierra Leone. With a budget of $18 million, the initiative is designed as an outcomes-based financing project, where payments are tied to the achievement of specific educational outcomes, such as improved literacy and numeracy skills among students. This approach encourages implementing partners to innovate and adapt their interventions to meet the needs of students and schools effectively.
The SLEIC builds on the success of a previous initiative, the Education Innovation Challenge, and focuses on enhancing learning outcomes, particularly for marginalized groups like girls. It employs a rigorous randomized control trial to verify results, ensuring that funds are utilized efficiently and effectively. The program also emphasizes sustainability by setting a price cap per child, which facilitates future scalability by the government. Implementing partners include organizations like Save the Children, EducAid, National Youth Awareness Forum, Rising Academy Network, and Street Child, who collaborate with schools and communities to deliver tailored educational support
Pros
Encourages innovation and adaptation in teaching methods.
Focuses on measurable outcomes which ensure accountability and efficient use of resources.
Promotes collaboration between government and non-state actors.
Cons
Pressure to achieve specific outcomes may limit broader educational goals.
Initial implementation challenges due to reliance on volunteer teachers.
Partners
Government of Sierra Leone
Education Outcomes Fund
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Hempel Foundation
Korean International Cooperation Agency
Bank of America
Implementing partners: Save the Children, EducAid, National Youth Awareness Forum, Rising Academy Network, Street Child