initiatives designed to close the global book gap
Around the world, millions of children have little to no books in languages they use and understand, thereby limiting their right to literacy and quality education. For the more than 93 million children with disabilities, the shortage of books is even more severe, as resources, if available at all, often lack accessible formats.
Literacy is a cornerstone of development, placing children on a path for future success in school, employment, health and society. Flagship initiatives are intended to address the global book gap with proven practices that deliver substantial results and are only possible through collaboration.
Global Digital Library
An open-source library with interactive books, reading materials, and math activities for schools and school systems, parents, and children in 100+ languages.
Early learning Resource Network
A collection of print-ready and digital resources for foundational literacy and numeracy, including textbooks, teachers’ guides, reading books, as well as open-source tools for procurement, Track & Trace, and more.
Begin With Books
This competition under the All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development challenged global innovators to assemble cost-effective packages of high quality, accessible titles in underserved spoken and signed languages.
Support for Publishers
The GBA’s support for publishers and publishing associations encourages the development of storybooks in underserved languages and improves both the quantity and quality of supplementary reading materials.
Country-Level Book Chain Projects
The Book Alliance has committed to implementing a set of pilot activities focused on the interconnected challenges in book development and provision at a country level and to carry out a comprehensive analysis of a country's book supply chain, using the findings to inform concrete actions to improve the system.
REACH Trust Fund
The Results for All Children (REACH) Trust Fund supports efforts toward more and better education services by helping country systems focus more sharply on results, an approach called results-based financing.