Report on a Workshop on Open Licensing and Digital Disruption in Early Literacy in the Developing World

In 2015, NBA received a grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to explore the potential for open licensing in enhancing the availability of mother-tongue early-literacy reading resources in the developing world. This research covered the impact of open licensing on the early reader ecosystem, emerging innovations, and the implications for the supply and use of early literacy reading materials in low income countries. In late 2016, NBA received a follow-on grant to continue this work and carry out both desk case studies and action research in a few countries. The work being carried out by NBA complements the Global Book Alliance (GBA), which is led by the US Agency for International Development and other donors. The GBA is a multi-stakeholder, international effort to transform book development, procurement, distribution and usage to get books for more children, through new solutions and innovations.

As part of the NBA grant, this workshop brought together key players in the field as part of the process, to create a forum for key players in early literacy from the global South to exchange ideas and develop a shared action research agenda for open licensing in early literacy.