Every Learner Matters
Our mission is to build agile, resilient ecosystems that prepare every learner for a fast-changing world through ethical innovation, deep learning, and system ownership.
Our Mission
What education must become between now and 2040 — focused on
By 2040, over 50% of the global youth population will live in MEA. This makes education systems the critical lever for lifting millions out of poverty, inequality, and unemployment.This 15-year call to action is rooted in building future-facing education ecosystems that not only expand possibilities but also solve critical challenges through deep technical knowledge and applied expertise. By setting our sights on 2040, we focus our efforts on long-term, transformative impact that improves life chances across the region.
Deep Learning & Adaptability
Equip learners with the mindset and skills to thrive in complexity—rooted in neuroscience, cognitive science, and lifelong learning.
Equity & Ethical AI
Harness the power of technology responsibly to close gaps, not widen them—always centering fairness, privacy, and dignity.
Interdisciplinary Creativity
Blend diverse domains—arts, sciences, technology, and ethics—to cultivate innovation, problem-solving, and new possibilities.
Systems Innovation & Culture Change
Shift mindsets and structures through evidence-based reform, behavioral insight, and deep collaboration with local actors.
Our Mission
What education must become between now and 2040 — focused on
By 2040, over 50% of the global youth population will live in MEA. This makes education systems the critical lever for lifting millions out of poverty, inequality, and unemployment.This 15-year call to action is rooted in building future-facing education ecosystems that not only expand possibilities but also solve critical challenges through deep technical knowledge and applied expertise. By setting our sights on 2040.
Deep Learning & Adaptability
Equip learners with the mindset and skills to thrive in complexity—rooted in neuroscience
Equity & Ethical AI
Harness the power of technology responsibly to close gaps, not widen them—always centering fairness
Interdisciplinary Creativity
Blend diverse domains—arts, sciences, technology, and ethics—to cultivate innovation, problem-solving,
Systems Innovation & Culture Change
Shift mindsets and structures through evidence-based reform, behavioral insight, and deep collaboration with local actors.
Our Mandate
A Bold Commitment to Transform Education
problem-solving skills, and a mindset of continuous learning. Advances in neuroscience and cognitive psychology highlight the need for deep learning, retention, and practical application of knowledge.
To achieve this goal we have established a unique project with the sole purpose of developing agile, equitable, and resilient education systems that go beyond short-term interventions and conventional thinking. Through helping Governments, institutions, and practitioners to adopt technologies, policies, competencies, and behaviors that look to the future and create the platform for every learner to fulfill their potential by 2040. We do this by against students becoming passive consumers of AI-generated outputs. EduMEA2040 places a priority on the importance of fostering flexibility, creativity, and interdisciplinary skills to prepare individuals for opportunities that do not yet exist.
Imagination
we dream big and challenge the current assumptions underpinning education.
Focus
our time is spent on what matters, not on what convention tells us is important
Empathy
Incredible things happen at the intersection of domains. We bring expertise, passion, and enthusiasm.
Radical Optimism
We build for the future rather than the past, we work around possibilities rather than constraints.
Why We Exist
The purpose of the system is what it does.
Despite the levels of investment, education outcomes in most parts of the Middle East and Africa consistently fall below international standards. The longer-term implications are profound and have stifled economic growth, innovation, social stability, health outcomes, and overall development.
The Core Problem
Underperforming education systems are failing to equip learners for today—let alone tomorrow.
The Cost of Inaction
Poor education outcomes ripple across society—weak economies, fragile communities, and lost futures.
Why Quick Fixes Fail
Short-term pilots and top-down interventions ignore real-world complexity and lack staying power.
Our Better Way Forward
We co-create lasting change through deep systems thinking, behavioral insights, and local ownership.
Why We Exist
The purpose of the system is what it does.
Despite the levels of investment, education outcomes in most parts of the Middle East and Africa consistently fall below international standards. The longer-term implications are profound and have stifled economic growth, innovation, social stability, health outcomes, and overall development.
The Core Problem
Underperforming education systems are failing to equip learners for today
The Cost of Inaction
Poor education outcomes ripple across society—weak economies
Why Quick Fixes Fail
Short-term pilots and top-down interventions ignore real-world complexity
Our Better Way Forward
We co-create lasting change through deep systems thinking
Our Approach
Who We Are
We offer different perspectives, varied experiences, and width to our way of thinking and doing. We have also failed along the way; however, failing forward and learning from these experiences gives us that edge.
Diverse Perspectives & Rich Experience
We bring a variety of viewpoints and deep, hands-on experience that broaden our approach to problem-solving and innovation.
Resilience Through Failure
We've encountered setbacks—but we've learned, adapted, and grown stronger. Failing forward gives us a unique edge.
Bespoke Talent Clusters
For every project, we build specialized, tight-knit teams driven by technical expertise, passion, innovation, and evidence-based thinking.
Proven Impact in Education
Our teams have: Supported national education systems Led institutional transformations Operated at both strategic and grassroots levels
Our Services
What We Do
At EduMEA2040, we offer a range of services designed to transform education systems across the Middle East and Africa. From policy innovation to AI integration, our work helps institutions build future-ready, equitable, and high-performing learning environments.
Systems Strengthening
The MEA region is a graveyard of strategic plans and policies that have had little or no impact. Either the design was not the right fit or the ability to execute was weak. Our in-depth systems diagnostic assesses national education system alignment and coherence, pinpoints gaps, and reveals untapped opportunities to boost student performance, teaching quality, systems efficiency, and innovation. The consistent and applied use of education data to make decisions is often a barrier to systems improvement, Our approach is to work intensively to strengthen data collection methods, data governance, data analysis, and importantly, the use of data at school levels to improve student learning.
From Plans to Performance
We break the cycle of ineffective strategies by diagnosing misalignment, execution gaps, and design flaws in education systems across MEA.
System Diagnostics
Our in-depth analysis uncovers opportunities to improve student outcomes, teacher quality, and overall system innovation.
Strengthening Data Systems
We enhance data collection, governance, and analytics to support smart decisions at all levels of the education system..
Data-Driven School Improvement
Empowering schools to use data effectively for real-time insights and continuous learning improvement.
Policy and Strategy (research)
Why It Matters
Across the Middle East and Africa, education reforms often stall because they rely on outdated policy frameworks, weak evidence, and top-down strategies disconnected from system realities. To design durable, future-ready policies, we must innovate how research is generated, used, and embedded in education systems.
EduMEA2040’s Research, Strategy, and Policy Innovation practice supports countries and institutions to move beyond reactive policymaking toward proactive, data-driven, and iterative policy development that responds to the complex demands of today’s learners and economies.
Our Approach: Future-Focused, Evidence-Rich, Locally Grounded
We combine traditional policy expertise with behavioral science, systems thinking, futures methodologies, and AI-powered research tools to create policies that are practical, forward-looking, and contextually relevant.
Behaviorally Informed Policy Design
Apply behavioral insights and “nudge” strategies to drive policy adoption, motivate students, engage parents, and shift teacher behaviors.
Futures and Foresight Methods
Anticipate future shifts in AI, labor, climate, and demographics through horizon scanning and scenario planning with key stakeholders.
Living Evidence and Real-Time Data Use
Shift from static reports to dynamic, real-time data systems and knowledge platforms for continuous policy improvement.
Embedded Systems Diagnostics and Strategy Reviews
Map systems deeply to identify structural gaps, political economy barriers, and key bottlenecks.
Higher Education ( strategy)
Most universities are facing financial pressures. A battle for student numbers, costs are rising, interntional recruitment is a tough market and employers trust in higher education is eroding. Everything has changed
Through an evidence-based institutional assessment, we can objectively assess a university in various dimensions. The diagnostic will provide insights into the university’s strengths and weaknesses, enabling targeted improvements for reputation, impact, AI readiness and financial sustainability. The diagnostic focuses on the following key aspects
• Governance and decision making
• Teaching, learning and assessment
• Research and innovation
• AI and data analytics integration
• Employability and Employer Partnerships
• Entrepreneurship and enterprise education
• Lifelong learning
• Organizational capability
• Financial sustainability
• Green campus
• Student services
• Alumni engagement
• Community engagement
• Marketing strategy and social media impact
• International and local partnerships
• International faculty and student recruitment
• Financial sustainability
Universities are assesed and benchmarked against other universities to understand the levels of maturity aganst each dimension . A set of practical recommendations will enable universities to develop a sustainable and realistic approach to improving and measuring their institutional improvements . Through creating a strong use of data culture, you can benchmark your university against others to provide regional and best-in-class comparisons and design impactful interventions that will improve your reputation, impact and financial sustainability. replace this (The practical recommendations will enable universities to develop a sustainable and realistic approach to improving and measuring their quality of provision, finances, rankings, and reputation. Through creating a strong use of data culture, you can benchmark your university against others to provide regional and best-in-class comparisons and design impactful interventions. )
AI-Powered Education Transformation
Personalized Learning Pathways
Implementing adaptive learning platforms that tailor educational content to individual student needs, enhancing engagement and outcomes.
Intelligent Tutoring Systems
Deploying AI-powered tutors that offer real-time feedback and support, facilitating continuous learning beyond the classroom.
AI Literacy and Capacity Building
Providing training programs for educators and policymakers to effectively integrate AI tools into curricula and administrative processes.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Utilizing AI analytics to inform policy and practice, enabling evidence-based strategies for educational improvement.
Ethical Data Governance & Data Quality
Designing robust data governance frameworks that ensure education data is secure, inclusive, and high-quality. We support education systems in building trustworthy, interoperable data infrastructure to power responsible AI, reduce bias, and safeguard student privacy.
Our approach
Our approach is grounded in equity and inclusivity, ensuring that AI technologies serve all learners, including those with special needs and diverse linguistic backgrounds. By integrating AI thoughtfully and ethically, EduMEA2040 aims to empower educators, engage students, and elevate educational outcomes across the MENA region and beyond.
Sustainable Development
The role of education in sustainable development within the MEA region, given the context of climate change, social inequalities, displacement, refugees, war, and economic development, can be considered critical. Education is an effective long-term strategy to achieve social transformation, increase environmental awareness, and facilitate economic transition.
We work with governments and institutions to empower teachers and learners from early grades to higher education to take individual and joint action to transform society and care for the planet. We achieve this through advancing policy, transforming learning approaches, developing connected curriculums, building capacities of educators, empowering and mobilizing youth, and catalyzing partnerships at local levels.
Future of work ( solutions)
Reskill, Upskill, and Unlearn is the mantra for nations as they face the chronic challenges of a young population, a shifting labor market, and workforces that will be reconfigured through technology adoption,
Too much vocational education is poorly executed. career advice is outdated, Courses are not aligned with labor market needs, qualifications have little value, and employers are not integrated into the system as they should be. the outcomes of vocational training have a poor ROI and importantly a negative public It is surely time for governments, employers, and providers to reimagine how training is designed and delivered and how students are assessed,
As technology changes the way we work and what employers need from their employees it is time for the education sector to play an increasing role in workforce development and to become real partners with employers, to forge a new type of collaboration that is based on trust, depth, and interoperability.
Our Approach is based on creating a future facing integrated approcah to skill and personal growth
Our Team
We are a network of systems thinkers, behavioral scientists, AI specialists, policy experts, and frontline practitioners. We’ve helped lead reforms across national ministries, institutional turnarounds, and grassroots movements.
Hebah Foda
Cameron Mirza
Razan Elayan
Rula Al-Jundi
Our Work
How We Work
Effective change in education takes time, our way of working is typically over a longer time frame than usual, often between months, to ensure that we have accountability for our work and, importantly, to ensure that our work is not just of high quality but also sustainable over the long term. Instead, engagement is spread over a longer time to allow for robust feedback loops, iteration based on data captured, and additional time for building capacity and behavior change in beneficiaries and, to ensure that benefits to the work are realized.
Co-Creation Approach
We work with your team, not for you
Cpacity & Behavior Change
Focused on lasting behavior shifts and institutional capacity
Long-Term Engagements
12–24 month partnerships to build real change
Sustainable Systems
Local ownership, not dependency
Long-Term Engagements
12–24 month partnerships to build real change
Capacity & Behavior Change
Focused on lasting behavior shifts and institutional capacity
Co-Creation Approach
We work with your team, not for you
Sustainable Systems
Local ownership, not dependency
