How 5in5 works
We use philanthropic capital to prove and scale programs that work, then hand them to the governments that will run them for the long term.
Why reading by age 10 matters
Learning poverty means being unable to read and understand a simple text by age 10. Reading is the foundation for every other subject, so children who can't read by then fall further behind each year.
The effects compound. Differences in cognitive skills explain about 73% of the differences in economic growth between countries.
Source: Hanushek and Woessmann, The Knowledge Capital of Nations
Four steps from proof to public budgets
- 01
Philanthropic risk capital
Early funding to de-risk proven programs before governments adopt them.
- 02
De-risking
Piloting at scale and independently checking learning gains and unit costs.
- 03
Government co-investment
Governments adopt the program and fund it through public budgets.
- 04
Systemic scale
Government-owned, publicly financed, and sustainable.
What the current pipeline unlocks
- $198M
- philanthropic ask
- $1.08B
- from governments and other donors
- 6.7M
- additional students
Every philanthropic dollar in the current pipeline is matched by about $5.40 from governments and other donors.
| Program | Stage |
|---|---|
| Liberia | Gap funding |
| Central African Republic | Gap funding |
| Rwanda | Scale-up |
| Kwara State, Nigeria | Scale-up |
| Bayelsa State, Nigeria | Scale-up |
| Lagos State, Nigeria | Scale-up |
| Kano State, Nigeria | Start-up |
| Punjab, Pakistan | Start-up |
Source: 5in5 Impact Alliance, Priority Pipeline, March 2026
Sources
- Hanushek and Woessmann, The Knowledge Capital of Nations
- 5in5 Impact Alliance, Priority Pipeline, March 2026