With ongoing pandemic concerns worldwide, there have been significant challenges for learning across the world. The Global Book Alliance, however, continues to support ways to ensure children have access to quality reading materials in languages that they understand.
In 2021, the Global Book Alliance:
Welcomed New Chair, Dr. Henry Chakava
The Global Book Alliance (GBA) was thrilled to welcome Dr. Henry Chakava as the newest chair of the GBA Steering Committee. Dr. Chakava is a dedicated and renowned publisher who is considered “the father of Kenyan publishing.” With nearly 50 years of experience in the publishing industry, Dr. Chakava has vast experience editing and publishing educational books for both public and private schools and universities in Eastern Africa and beyond. As chair of the Global Book Alliance’s Steering Committee, Dr. Chakava works closely with GBA partners to align strategies to promote literacy and ensure that children have access to the right books at the right levels in the right languages. Read this profile of Dr. Henry Chakava to learn more.
Approved a New Strategic Plan
The GBA’s second strategic plan aims to accelerate our vision to make quality books available and accessible to be easily used at home, online, and in the classroom. We have a renewed focus to ensure that our work provides strong evidence and workable best practices to our stakeholders and the literacy community at large. We thank the GBA Steering Committee for their support and work on our new plan throughout 2021.
Developed Materials for the Global Digital Library
The Global Digital Library (GDL) continued to expand the number of books and languages offered. Funded by GBA partner Norad, the Global Digital Library now has over 6000 titles in 90 languages. In 2021 the GBA provided the GDL with books in 12 languages, including one sign language. New languages include Ilokano, Rwandan Sign Language, Senuofo (Mamara), Sinugbuanong Binisaya, and Sonike.
The GBA also supported the translations of existing GDL materials into additional languages. In Guatemala and Nicaragua, GBA-trained volunteers have begun translating early reading material from Spanish into indigenous languages, including Kaqchikel and Miskito, through the GBA’s Translate a Story initiative. The Translate a Story initiative offers an opportunity for Ministries of Education, higher education institutions, youth-led or youth-serving organizations, NGOs, and individuals to create high-quality reading materials in local languages at low cost. The translated materials are then uploaded to the Global Digital Library and are accessible for anyone to access and download.
Next year will bring additional changes to the GDL, including the availability of training materials to improve understanding of how the platform works and the benefits it brings, as well as new materials including resources for math.
Facilitated a Workshop for Publishers in Mali
The Global Book Alliance held a workshop in September 2021 for Malian publishers and others within the book supply chain to improve knowledge around essential reading materials.
Under the theme “Development of decodable and leveled reading books in Bamanankan,” the five-day event brought together ninety book professionals (authors, illustrators, graphic designers, and publishers) from 27 publishing houses, representatives of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, the Malian Organization of Publishers, and representatives from USAID Mali. Following the workshop, publishers selected from amongst the participants are being coached in the creation of leveled readers. The finalized books will be printed and distributed to schools in 2022. Read more about how the GBA supports publishers.
Created Capacity Building Materials
Eight training modules for future workshops on the book supply chain have been developed and will be published in 2022.
In Malawi, we have developed a work plan and activities are underway to build the capacity of publishers, authors, and illustrators in developing children’s books. This activity will be accompanied by a campaign to increase parent and caregiver demand for high-quality, entertaining books for their children and the distribution of 500,000 books.
In Tanzania, the GBAIA team worked with USAID Tanzania to develop a capacity building and materials development activity. Planning began on a five-day training for publishers and staff from both the Tanzanian and Zanzibari Institutes of Education on developing children’s books. This will be followed by intensive coaching of selected publishers in developing children’s books.
Published Supply Chain Analyses of Malawi and Zambia
This year, after interviews with more than 100 key actors, the GBA published supply chain analyses in Malawi and Zambia. The GBA has been working with the Ministries of Education and the USAID Missions to carry out the most critical recommendations of the supply chain analyses, to improve the quantity and quality of materials that are available for children.
In Malawi, we have developed a work plan and activities are underway to build the capacity of publishers, authors, and illustrators in developing children’s books. This activity will be accompanied by a campaign to increase parent and caregiver demand for high-quality, entertaining books for their children.
Building on the work of GBA partner ADEA, the GBA has held meetings with stakeholders across the book supply chain in Malawi to discuss the creation of a National Book Council, which will work on a national Book Policy. Similarly in Zambia, work is underway to jumpstart conversations around National Book Policies.
Presented Supply Chain Analyses to Ministries of Education in Jordan and Cambodia
Supply chain analyses for Cambodia and Jordan have been written and presented to the Ministries of Education in each country, and we are currently finalizing the reports, as well as wrapping up SCA research in Tanzania and Nigeria. The new supply chain analyses will be published in 2022.
Produced Four Webinars
Our Open Book webinar series started the year with a focus on girls and literacy aligned with the G7 meetings chaired by the UK and in support of their ambitious goal towards girls’ education. Our first event focused on the policy and funding to support this goal with a keynote address from the UK Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Girls’ Education - Helen Grant MP. We also were delighted to hear from the Minister of Education in Rwanda, Dr. Valentine Uwamariya, and Jaime Saavedra, the Global Director of the Education Practice at the World Bank Group as well as colleagues from USAID and FCDO. A review of that event can be found here.
A further webinar was held post the G7 meetings to bring together implementers to build on commitments made by the international community. We were honored to hear from representatives of the International Publishers Association, the Association for the Development of Education in Africa, Sub-Saharan Publishing House, and two implementing agencies - Room to Read and World Vision. To celebrate International Literacy Day in early September, we highlighted our work over the past year with a focus on our key initiatives including the Supply Chain Analysis programs being undertaken in eight countries, the Global Digital Library, publishers trainings, and All-Children Reading-Begin with Books. To watch any of our webinars again, please visit the Global Book Alliance’s YouTube Channel.
Strengthened Partnerships
Building from our engagement with new connections and new networks through the Open Book Series, we have started to create strategic partnerships with several organizations including those in the private sector, the publishing industry, and academia. Stay tuned to hear more when we look forward to launching new initiatives with new partners in the new year.
Thank You to Our GBA Partners
Thank you to all of our GBA partners for your important contributions this year. We're looking forward to another year of collaboration as we continue working towards a future where all children have access to the right books at the right levels and in the right languages.