What PAL Network does

PAL Network (People's Action for Learning), founded in 2015 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, is a non-profit south-south partnership of 17 member organizations that promotes children's foundational learning across Africa, Asia, and America. The network's core product is the Citizen-Led Assessment (CLA) methodology - a low-cost, household-based assessment administered by community volunteers in multiple languages to generate nationally representative data on children's reading and arithmetic. Building on the 2005 ASER innovation, the network's flagship cross-country instrument is ICAN-ICAR (International Common Assessment of Numeracy and Reading), launched in 2019 as ICAN and expanded to include reading in 2025, with the 2025 cycle targeting 89,870 children aged 5-16 across 12 countries (Senegal, Mali, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Botswana, Nicaragua, Mexico, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal).

The business model is non-commercial. The organization is supported by foundation grants from Hewlett, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Open Society Foundations, IDRC, Echidna Giving, UK Aid Direct, Wellspring Foundation, Hempel Foundation, and Include Platform, with smaller sums via donations processed through Interswitch Payment Gateway and membership contributions from member organizations. Member selection follows a four-step process (application, nomination, board approval, AGM ratification). Beyond assessment, PAL Network runs the biennial Evidence for Action Forum in Nairobi, a Research Fellowship Programme, the My Village intervention programme (active in Nepal and Tanzania), and a publications catalogue spanning member and external outputs. The central secretariat operates with approximately 22 employees in a lean, volunteer-governed structure under Chairperson Virginia Ngindiru and Coordinator Amos Kaburu.

Cumulatively, the network has conducted 60+ assessments in 15+ countries, reaching more than 9 million children. Strategic partners for technical and advocacy work include ACER, Pratham, RELI Africa, the Global Partnership for Education, and ASCL Leiden. No public revenue figures are disclosed, and the network holds no patents, regulatory approvals, or commercial certifications.

Name

PAL Network

Legal name

PAL Network (People's Action for Learning)

Website

https://palnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PAL Network is a non-profit south-south partnership of 17 member organizations that conducts low-cost, household-based Citizen-Led Assessments and the cross-country ICAN-ICAR literacy/numeracy instrument to measure foundational learning for children aged 5-16 across Africa, Asia, and America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: PAL Network operates as a non-profit organization funded by foundation grants from international donors including Hewlett Foundation, Gates Foundation, Open Society Foundations, IDRC, and others.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations through its website, with options for various donation amounts in Kenyan Shillings, supporting programs like My Village initiative in Nepal and Tanzania.
3. Membership Contributions: Member organizations contribute to the network, with selection requiring legal registration in the Global South, foundational learning programs, evidence-based practice, and willingness to collaborate.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PAL Network conducts citizen-led assessments (CLAs) and learning intervention programmes through a south-south partnership of 17 member organizations to measure and improve children's foundational literacy and numeracy across Africa, Asia, and America. Its flagship initiative is ICAN-ICAR, a standardized cross-country assessment framework that has reached over 9 million children in 15+ countries. The network also facilitates the Evidence for Action Forum, research fellowships, and direct intervention programs such as My Village.

Product overview

PAL Network is a south-south partnership of 17 member organizations conducting citizen-led assessments and learning interventions to promote children's foundational learning across Africa, Asia, and America. The core product is the ICAN-ICAR assessment initiative, which provides standardized measurement of numeracy and literacy across multiple countries. Supporting products include the Evidence for Action Forum (biennial knowledge-sharing platform), the Research Fellowship Programme (capacity building), and the My Village Programme (direct learning intervention). The network also provides access to member and external publications as knowledge resources for the education sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ICAN-ICAR: International Common Assessment of Numeracy and Reading - a joint initiative measuring learning levels of children across PAL Network member countries

Products and services

• ICAN-ICAR (International Common Assessment of Numeracy and Reading) A standardized citizen-led assessment measuring foundational literacy and numeracy in children aged 5-16 across multiple Global South countries, enabling cross-country comparisons of learning outcomes. Used by governments and member organizations to inform foundational learning policy.
• Citizen-Led Assessments (CLAs) Low-cost, household-based assessments that collect nationally representative data on children's learning abilities, including reading and basic arithmetic. Pioneered by ASER in India and deployed across the PAL Network's 17 member organizations.
• PAL Evidence for Action Forum Biennial forum bringing together policymakers, education leaders, and civil society to reflect on foundational learning and co-create evidence-driven strategies. Held in Nairobi, Kenya.
• Research Fellowship Programme Fellowship program supporting researchers in conducting studies related to foundational learning and education assessment in the Global South. Designed to build capacity for evidence generation on children's learning outcomes.
• My Village Programme Community-based learning intervention program currently running in Nepal and Tanzania, aimed at improving children's foundational learning outcomes through direct community engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9+ million children assessed through citizen-led household assessments
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch organization providing technical support for assessment validation, including comparisons with Reading Fluency Measures and Read India Measures.
• PrathamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndia-based education organization and founding member of PAL Network, pioneering ASER assessments and Read India program.
• RELI AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional educational research and learning initiative supporting evidence-based education in Africa.
• Global Partnership for EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership organization supporting education system strengthening and learning measurement.
• ASER Centre (India)coreOthersMember organization conducting Annual Status of Education Report assessments in India.
• ASER PakistancoreOthersMember organization conducting citizen-led education assessments in Pakistan.
• ASER NepalcoreOthersMember organization conducting citizen-led assessments in Nepal, including My Village program.
• BEEKUNKO (Mali)coreOthersMember organization conducting citizen-led assessments in Mali.
• JANGANDOO (Senegal)coreOthersMember organization conducting citizen-led assessments in Senegal.
• MIA (Mexico)coreOthersMember organization (Movimiento de Innovación para la Asistencia Técnica) conducting assessments in Mexico.
• TPC (Mozambique)coreOthersMember organization conducting citizen-led assessments in Mozambique.
• Uwezo TanzaniacoreOthersMember organization conducting 'Are Our Children Learning?' assessments in Tanzania.
• Uwezo UgandacoreOthersMember organization conducting citizen-led learning assessments in Uganda.
• USAWA Agenda (Kenya)coreOthersMember organization conducting 'Are Our Children Learning?' assessments in Kenya.
• GLOT (Colombia)coreOthersMember organization conducting assessments in Colombia.
• IFAN (Ivory Coast)coreOthersMember organization conducting assessments in Ivory Coast.
• IID (Pakistan)coreOthersMember organization conducting impact evaluations and assessments in Pakistan.
• Youth Impact (Multiple countries)coreOthersMember organization implementing youth-focused education interventions.
• ZizAfrik (Multiple countries)coreOthersMember organization conducting assessments across African countries.
• TEP Education Partnership (Multiple countries)coreOthersMember organization supporting education partnerships and interventions.
• Medición (Latin America)coreOthersMember organization conducting educational measurements in Latin America.
• Movilizar (Latin America)coreOthersMember organization focused on mobilizing educational assessments in Latin America.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pratham: India-based founding member of PAL Network and creator of the original ASER citizen-led household assessment. Pratham runs the ASER Centre and is the methodological progenitor of the CLA approach PAL Network now coordinates globally.
• ASER Centre: India-based organization that produces the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), the originator of citizen-led household assessments. ASER Centre is a PAL Network member and direct peer in foundational learning measurement.
• Pratham Education Foundation: Note: Pratham and ASER Centre are listed separately due to their distinct roles (program delivery vs. assessment research) — both are direct operational peers in citizen-led foundational learning work across the Global South.
• UWEZO: East Africa network conducting 'Are Our Children Learning?' citizen-led assessments in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. UWEZO is a PAL Network member and a direct operational peer in CLA implementation.

Others

• ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research): Global educational assessment research organization and PAL Network technical partner providing validation support for CLA instruments (e.g., comparisons with Reading Fluency Measures). ACER is an adjacent enabling partner rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• World Bank Education: Largest single funder of education in developing countries, including learning assessment initiatives (e.g., LAYS, SABER). Competes with PAL Network for government mindshare on foundational learning measurement frameworks.
• UNESCO Institute for Statistics: UN-mandated global repository of cross-national education statistics. Operates at much larger scale than PAL Network and competes for policy influence on global learning measurement standards, including foundational literacy and numeracy benchmarks.
• Global Partnership for Education: Multi-stakeholder partnership and major education funder for low-income countries. PAL Network partner, but GPE also shapes global measurement and policy agendas that compete with or absorb PAL Network's evidence role.
• UNICEF Education: UN agency with a global education portfolio that includes learning assessment, foundational literacy/numeracy programs (e.g., Learning Passport), and government partnerships. Overlaps with PAL Network's evidence-to-policy mission at much greater scale.

Regional players

• RELI Africa: Regional education learning initiative covering multiple African countries and a PAL Network strategic partner. RELI Africa convenes evidence and advocates for foundational learning in Africa, overlapping significantly with PAL Network's regional agenda.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/palnetworkhq
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfUeF8be3vAfl3t8nc8LcqA/featured?app=desktop
• Facebookfacebook.com/palnetworkHQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paln
• Instagraminstagram.com/palnetwork/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about PAL Network