South Africa convened delegations from India and Brazil on 19 October 2026 at the Century City Conference Centre for an IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) Dialogue Forum focused on advancing quality foundational learning. The meeting brought together policymakers, technical experts, development partners, and philanthropic organisations to strengthen cooperation on improving foundational literacy and numeracy, which are essential blocks for educational success and sustainable development.
A major outcome of the engagement was the strong support expressed by India and Brazil for South Africa’s leadership in establishing the IBSA Foundational Learning Network. The Network is envisioned as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and collective action aimed at addressing learning poverty and improving foundational learning outcomes across the three countries.
Discussions focused on refining the Network’s strategic direction to maximise impact. Participants agreed on four priority pillars for cooperation: Quality Early Learning, Teaching and Language, Comparable Evidence, and Delivery and Sustainability. These areas will guide joint efforts to identify effective practices, strengthen implementation, and promote continuous learning and improvement across participating countries.
The engagement also highlighted the importance of effective delivery systems and sustainable financing. India and Brazil shared experiences in decentralised education governance, demonstrating how strong local implementation, supported by national leadership, can improve learning outcomes. Delegates emphasised that public financing remains the foundation of education systems, while development partners, philanthropy, corporate social investment, and innovative financing mechanisms can play a complementary role in supporting innovation and scaling successful interventions. Participants further stressed the need for accountability, evidence-based decision-making, and investments that support the foundational learning continuum from the early years onwards.
Recognising the value of South-South cooperation, the three countries reaffirmed the role of IBSA as a vehicle for sharing solutions and elevating the perspectives of developing countries within global education debates. They also noted the complementary role of IBSA and BRICS in addressing shared educational challenges. The engagement further explored opportunities for collaboration with partners such as UNICEF, OECD, ADEA, and the Gates Foundation.
Looking ahead, South Africa, India, and Brazil committed to advancing the IBSA Foundational Learning Network through sustainable funding, clearly defined priorities, evidence-based collaboration, and strengthened partnerships. The engagement reaffirmed the three countries’ shared commitment to improving foundational learning and contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4: ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.