At the Jacobs Foundation, we believe that rigorous research is a cornerstone of educational progress. By supporting world-class researchers and fostering connections between research and real-world action, we help shape policies and create better learning opportunities for every child.
Annual Report
2024
The future of learning is now
As we reflect on 2024, one thing has become crystal clear: the urgency of our mission has never been greater. At the current rate of global investment in education, 300 million students will lack basic numeracy and literacy skills by 2030. What sets this year apart is our renewed motive to address this as we shape the future of education and its financing while driving groundbreaking research into learning variability.
Highlights
2024 in review: transforming education around the world
News
22 March 2024
Announcing our new Colombian initiative: Colombia Evidencia Potencial en Educación
During a celebratory event attended by high-level politicians from all over Colombia, Colombia Evidencia Potencial en Educación – CEPE – was officially launched. Our Learning Societies portfolio aims to work at both the national and regional levels to strengthen learning networks and improve the uptake and implementation of evidence in national policies. Building on last […]
Learning
21 May 2024
2024 Annual Conference: Embedding Evidence in Education
This year, the annual 2024 Jacobs Foundation Conference took place in Germany at Marbach Castle, under the theme of: Embedding Evidence in Education: How Evidence Travels Through System(s). Despite ongoing efforts to enhance the integration of rigorous research into education policy and practice in recent decades, the utilization of evidence remains relatively limited, particularly when […]
Learning
31 May 2024
Ghanian Education Minister commits to scaling up Education Partnerships
Last week, Global Schools Forum – alongside the Jacobs Foundation, IDP Foundation, and Vitol Foundation – hosted a high-level event on the sidelines of the Education World Forum in London. Under the theme of “Innovative Partnerships at Scale to Achieve SDG 4 in Africa”, education ministers from three African states; Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, […]
News
04 July 2024
Announcing the 2024 Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prizes finalists
The ten finalists have been announced for the Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prizes – which acknowledge institutions or individuals who are working to implement evidence-based solutions to improve child development and learning in practice. Ten finalists have been shortlisted and the three winners are due to be announced ahead of the ceremony in November. […]
Media Release
26 September 2024
International Finance Facility for Education commits to $1.5 billion for global education
During the recent UN Summit of the Future, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UN Special Envoy Gordon Brown unveiled a groundbreaking $1.5 billion investment in education and skills development for the world’s most vulnerable children and youth. The Jacobs Foundation is proud to support this ground-breaking initiative, which represents the largest single increase in education […]
News
11 November 2024
Open Letter: Reintroduction of an education objective in Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy
(German and French translations below) Reintroduction of an education objective in Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy: A Critical Enabler for Prosperity, Peace and Stability Honourable Delegates We, the undersigned—Swiss foundations active in international education—express concern about the deprioritization of education in the current version of Switzerland’s international cooperation strategy 2025-28. It marks a departure from Switzerland’s […]
News
18 November 2024
Prestigious prizes awarded to Colombian, Brazilian, and Pan-African education initiatives
At the Jacobs Foundation, we are committed to the funding, development, and application of best practices for learners at the school level. The winners of the 2024 Best Practice Prizes were awarded in a ceremony held in Zurich, Switzerland, on Friday, November 15, 2024. The ceremony brought together the ten finalists along with education partners […]
News
25 November 2024
Ground-breaking researchers join Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship
The latest cohort of Jacobs Foundation Research Fellows has been announced with researchers representing global excellence joining from countries around the globe—from Chile to Germany. The fellows will be exploring key topics such as mental health and adolescent development, literacy skills among learners from linguistically diverse communities, and how household environments affect children’s memory. Read […]
Reflection
19 December 2024
Looking back on 2024: Five impactful moments that shaped the year
2024 has been an incredible year of learning and collaborating for the Jacobs Foundation. Together with our partners, we’ve been leading in funding evidence on learning, scaling sustainable education solutions through public-private partnerships, and influencing education policies globally. Next year marks 2025, halfway towards the Sustainable Development Goals deadline to achieve quality education for all […]
The Jacobs Foundation in Figures
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Payments for Projects in 2024 by Portfolio
Dr. Jessica Schleider
Lab Director
Dr. Jessica Schleider
Lab Director
Dr. Margherita Malanchini
Developmental psychologist
Dr. Margherita Malanchini
Developmental psychologist
Dr. Joshua Jeong
Developmental scientist
Dr. Joshua Jeong
Developmental scientist
Dr. Sofie Valk
Research group leader
Dr. Sofie Valk
Research group leader
Dr. Brenda Wawire
Developmental scientist
Dr. Brenda Wawire
Developmental scientist
Dr. Roman Stengelin
Developmental psychologist
Dr. Roman Stengelin
Developmental psychologist
Dr. Nia Nixon
Assistant Professor
Dr. Nia Nixon
Assistant Professor
Dr. Brenden Tervo-Clemmens
Developmental psychologist
Dr. Brenden Tervo-Clemmens
Developmental psychologist
Year in review
Hear directly from our partners and prize recipients about how the Jacobs Foundation is transforming education around the world.
Doris Hanappi, Lead of LEARN Policy and Impact at the Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development
Karthik Krishnan, Founding CEO for the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd)
Julian Mariño, Head of the Evaluation Center at Los Andes University Colombia, Member of the Learning Variability Exchange Network (LEVANTE)
2024 Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize Recipients
Big bets for 2030 and beyond
EdLabs connect research and action
Evidence-based investment in education
A global education data bank
EdLabs connect research and action
Education Evidence Labs (EdLabs) generate locally relevant evidence and strengthen the link between global knowledge and local education systems. Operating in Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Switzerland; by 2030, EdLabs aim not only to improve how evidence is used but also to help ensure that new evidence-based practices are put into action. This approach will lead to measurable improvements in educational outcomes, as the evidence is translated into better policies and practices in these countries.
Evidence-based investment in education
Currently, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face a $100 billion annual financing gap. To address this, we are supporting the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd), an innovative financing model that directs multilateral and domestic funds toward high-impact, evidence-based educational interventions.
By leveraging philanthropic and donor investments, IFFEd can multiply financing, increasing the flow of resources for education.
A global education data bank
In line with global efforts in sectors like health and climate change, the creation of a Global Education Data Bank is an exciting frontier. The data bank would allow for “living evidence synthesis,” and provide policymakers and practitioners with real-time, accessible evidence to drive faster adoption of proven practices. With the help of AI, the aim is to create an infrastructure where evidence is continually updated, ensuring that educational interventions are informed by the most current data, ultimately accelerating improvements in outcomes across countries and contexts.
Supporting evidence-based education through BOLD
BOLD—our global, digital platform for scientific knowledge that is changing children’s lives—is a source of free, easy-to-access knowledge, empowering caregivers and educators with the information and tools they need to help every child learn and develop. We are translating science into accessible resources for everyone and, in 2024, we produced almost 100 articles, podcast episodes, interviews, and videos. All of these are freely available on our online platform, ensuring the latest insights on child development and learning reach those who need it most.
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Bringing the history and science of learning to life on screen for children at the Digital Museum of Learning
The Digital Museum of Learning has launched its new global exhibition, Fabrics of Identity, offering an interactive and playful way for students and educators to explore cultural diversity, identity, and inclusivity through engaging digital stories and resources, in collaboration with world-class museums and experts.
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Annual Report 2024 PDF
