New Delhi, Feb 13 : LiftEd, an $18 million outcomes-based initiative, has empowered 3.3 million children across 15+ states in India with strong foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) skills. This initiative supports the Government of India’s NIPUN Bharat Mission, which aims to ensure basic reading and math proficiency for every child by 2026-27.
As the NIPUN Bharat Mission celebrates its fourth anniversary, LiftEd showcased its remarkable progress at the ‘LiftEd: Making India NIPUN’ event in New Delhi. The event gathered 175 education experts, policymakers, and private sector leaders to discuss strategies for enhancing foundational learning in India. Renowned economist and professor Karthik Muralidharan participated in a fireside chat, while experts shared impactful solutions to strengthen India’s education system.
LiftEd is backed by a powerful consortium, including the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Reliance Foundation, Bridges Outcomes Partnerships, Maitri Trust, Atlassian, Standard Chartered Bank, and UBS Optimus Foundation. The British Asian Trust leads the initiative, with Central Square Foundation and Dalberg Advisors providing design and technical support.
Nita M Ambani, Founder Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, expressed her pride in being a founding member of LiftEd, stating, “In two and a half years, LiftEd has reached 3.3 million children across the country. It is a first-of-its-kind initiative aligned with the Government’s NIPUN Bharat Mission to achieve foundational literacy and numeracy for all primary school children by 2026-27. Our joint mission, alongside consortium partners, is to make this dream a reality.”
Key Interventions Driving Impact:
LiftEd strengthens India’s education system through three key interventions:
1. Development Impact Bond (DIB): Collaborating with state governments in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, this program focuses on training school administrators, enhancing teaching methods, and leveraging data-driven learning assessments. Key partners include Kaivalya Education Foundation, Language and Learning Foundation, Peepul, and Pratham Education Foundation.
2. EdTech Accelerator: This initiative supports the creation of tech-based learning solutions for children from low-income families. Partner organizations include Chimple, Ei Mindspark, Rocket Learning, Sesame Workshop India, ThinkZone, and Top Parent.
3. District Innovation Challenge: A state-level competition rewarding districts for enhancing foundational learning outcomes. LiftEd’s data-driven approach has already influenced government decision-making, with 60% of block-level government meetings discussing FLN progress in the first year of the DIB program.
