Fueling Locally Led Change in Education

Kenya is home to a rising generation ready to shape its future—and education is the foundation. We support local leaders and organizations, researchers and youth in designing solutions rooted in their lived realities. By investing in locally grounded efforts and drawing on global insights, we help spark the systemic change needed for all learners—and their communities—to thrive now and for generations to come.

Bridging the Education to Opportunity Gap

By 2035, Africa will send more people into the global workforce annually than the rest of the world combined. Kenya’s youth are the most educated generation in the country’s history, yet many still lack the opportunity and skills to earn a dignified living and truly thrive. That’s why we invest in locally-led efforts to create relevant, dignified learning-to-earning pathways—designed with and for young people and their communities.

Championing Kenya’s Underserved Youth

Young people in Kenya—especially those in rural and underserved communities—face persistent barriers to accessing quality education. Only 26% of youth aged 14–17 attend secondary school, and attendance in rural areas is less than half that of urban areas. These disparities are even more pronounced for girls, who face lower enrollment and learning outcomes due to social, economic and cultural barriers (EPDC, UNICEF).

We support organizations working to expand access to education and opportunity, applying a gender lens across all our work to ensure solutions are inclusive and responsive. Reducing these disparities is essential to building a future where all learners and their communities can thrive and pursue their full potential.

Image from our partner, Education Sub Saharan Africa

Powered—and Empowered—by Local

We believe lasting change happens when those closest to the challenge lead. That’s why our work in Kenya centers local researchers, educators, community leaders, youth advocates and government partners. We work alongside these partners to strengthen an education ecosystem shaped by local expertise, priorities and values. Watch our video to see how community-led stories reveal the deeper systems that shape learning in Kenya.

Learn More About Imaginable Futures' Approach

Illustration of a female Kenyan teacher kneeling down, handing young female student a phone — Illustration by Wanjira Killyua

Our Focus:
Strengthening Kenya’s Education Ecosystem

Building Equitable Education-to-Opportunity Pathways

We believe all young people deserve the opportunity to define and pursue their own paths to thriving futures. Our investments in Kenya focus on initiatives that expand flexible, relevant pathways for young people to learn, earn and lead. We support models that go beyond traditional education—connecting learners to dignified work, skills development, mentorship and social capital.

Our work is deeply rooted in equity, particularly gender equity. Girls, especially those from underserved communities, continue to face systemic barriers like early marriage, school access, poverty and cultural expectations that limit their full participation in education and the workforce. Our investments intentionally address these inequities, creating inclusive environments where all learners—regardless of gender or background—have the support and agency to succeed.

Building Equitable Education-to-Opportunity Pathways

We believe all young people deserve the opportunity to define and pursue their own paths to thriving futures. Our investments in Kenya focus on initiatives that expand flexible, relevant pathways for young people to learn, earn and lead. We support models that go beyond traditional education—connecting learners to dignified work, skills development, mentorship and social capital.

Our work is deeply rooted in equity, particularly gender equity. Girls, especially those from underserved communities, continue to face systemic barriers like early marriage, school access, poverty and cultural expectations that limit their full participation in education and the workforce. Our investments intentionally address these inequities, creating inclusive environments where all learners—regardless of gender or background—have the support and agency to succeed.

Advancing African-Led Research and Evidence

We believe the future of education in Kenya—and across the African continent—must be shaped by and with African leaders, researchers and institutions. That’s why we’re committed to shifting the center of gravity in education funding toward local expertise and leadership. Today, this work is most visible in our support for African-led education research—an essential driver of systemic change, yet an area where more than 80% of locally led research remains underfunded. We fund local researchers, institutions and evidence agendas to ensure that policies and programs reflect the realities and priorities of the communities they aim to serve.

Beyond research, we are part of a growing effort to rebalance philanthropy. Through trust-based, collaborative partnerships with local changemakers, we’re working toward a stronger, more sustainable future for Kenyan learners.

Advancing African-Led Research and Evidence

We believe the future of education in Kenya—and across the African continent—must be shaped by and with African leaders, researchers and institutions. That’s why we’re committed to shifting the center of gravity in education funding toward local expertise and leadership. Today, this work is most visible in our support for African-led education research—an essential driver of systemic change, yet an area where more than 80% of locally led research remains underfunded. We fund local researchers, institutions and evidence agendas to ensure that policies and programs reflect the realities and priorities of the communities they aim to serve.

Beyond research, we are part of a growing effort to rebalance philanthropy. Through trust-based, collaborative partnerships with local changemakers, we’re working toward a stronger, more sustainable future for Kenyan learners.

Illustration of students excitedly listening to their teacher — Illustration by Wanjira Killyua

Collaboration for Greater Impact in Kenya

We collaborate with peer funding partners to maximize resources, support organizations and bridge funding gaps. Our partnerships have strengthened early childhood development, advanced education research and driven policy change—mobilizing greater investment in locally-led solutions. By partnering with aligned funders, we scale impact and facilitate long-term solutions that expand education and opportunity across East Africa.

Learn More About How We Collaborate

Over a Decade of Commitment and Care

Our journey in Sub-Saharan Africa began in 2011 through Omidyar Network, using a hybrid funding model to support for-profit entrepreneurs and social-sector changemakers. Our investments spanned across the continent to shape education systems through equitable edtech, innovative schooling models and skills development.

As Imaginable Futures, we gradually shifted to a systems approach to address more inequities for learners and therefore honed our work deeper within Kenya and South Africa, focusing on diverse career opportunity pathways for youth and early childhood education. We partnered with organizations expanding flexible learning pathways, building social capital and improving access to quality child care so that all learners could thrive.

Today our work is most concentrated within Kenya as we invest in opportunities that will strengthen the education system for Kenya’s youth. And, we still have our eye across the greater African ecosystem because our work remains shaped by the rich learnings, partnerships and experiences we’ve shared across the region.

Case Study

Kenya

05.01.25

This case study of the Africa Education Research Consortium shows a value-driven, locally led funder collaborative is putting African researchers at the center of education research.

Insights

Kenya

03.07.25