System Change Architecture for Learning Excellence (SCALE)

SCALE is a multi-stakeholder initiative working to strengthen Ghana’s education system and improve learning outcomes for millions of children. Backed by public, private, and philanthropic partners, it supports evidence-based, community-led approaches to drive lasting change.

The System Change Architecture for Learning Excellence (SCALE) is an initiative launched by the Jacobs Foundation in partnership with the Ghanaian Ministry of Education and a broad coalition of philanthropic, industry, and multilateral partners. Designed to deliver long-term, system-wide improvements, SCALE supports foundational learning, evidence-based policymaking, and equitable education access across the country.

Through an innovative co-funding mechanism, SCALE has mobilized $118.8 million in additional financing to expand the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP). This includes $40 million from a consortium of funders, comprising the Jacobs Foundation, Fondation Botnar, UBS Optimus Foundation, and 10 leading cocoa and chocolate companies, matched by another $40 million from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), along with further contributions from the GPE Systems Transformation Grant and the Early Learning Partnership Multi-Donor Trust Fund.

The initiative supports the scale-up of differentiated learning to more than 15,000 public schools, reaching approximately 2 million children. It builds on GALOP’s previous success and expands access to all public kindergartens and primary schools, while enhancing teacher training and providing targeted teaching and learning resources. SCALE also strengthens localized leadership through the Communities of Excellence program, which empowers districts to assess local challenges, set goals, and implement tailored, evidence-based practices to improve learning.

Another component is the Ghana Education Evidence and Data Lab (GEEDLab), housed within the Ministry of Education. GEEDLab enhances the generation, dissemination, and application of education research, supporting evidence-based decision-making and informing national policy.

Building on the successes of similar models such as the Child Learning and Education Facility (CLEF) in Côte d’Ivoire, SCALE demonstrates how coordinated, cross-sector financing can drive systemic improvements in education. With a focus on community collaboration, evidence, and child wellbeing, SCALE aims to support every child’s right to quality learning in Ghana.