TaRL Africa (Teaching at the Right Level)

What TaRL Africa does

TaRL Africa helps governments and partner organizations across sub-Saharan Africa make sure children master basic reading and math by the end of primary school. It uses Teaching at the Right Level, an approach developed by the Indian nonprofit Pratham: instead of pushing ahead with the grade curriculum when many children have fallen behind, teachers assess what children can actually do and teach to that level.

TaRL Africa was formally founded in 2019 as a joint initiative of Pratham and the research center J-PAL, with early support from Co-Impact, and it has been based in Nairobi since 2020, with teams in Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Zambia. Rather than running its own schools, it works through education systems — training and supporting teachers in government schools. It reports that more than 7 million children in 17+ countries have benefited, across 25,157 schools and 154,033 teachers.

The Life You Can Save lists TaRL Africa as a recommended charity and estimates 3.57 learning-adjusted years of schooling per $100 spent. TaRL Africa notes that the Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel has identified the approach as one of the most cost-effective ways to improve learning in low- and middle-income countries. US donors can give to its own 501(c)(3), Empower Learning Africa USA Inc (EIN 92-2014591).

Key facts

• 7 million+ children have benefited from Teaching at the Right Level programmes across 17+ African countries, with 25,157 schools and 154,033 teachers reached (teachingattherightlevel.org)
• Formally founded in 2019 as a joint initiative of Pratham and J-PAL, with catalytic support from Co-Impact; headquartered in Nairobi since 2020 (teachingattherightlevel.org)
• The Life You Can Save estimates 3.57 Learning-Adjusted Years of Schooling per $100 spent (TLYCS)
• Its US 501(c)(3) reported $950,681 revenue in FY2025 (ProPublica)

Before you give

• TaRL Africa's own donate page routes gifts through The Life You Can Save (tax-deductible in the US, UK, and Australia) or Giving What We Can.
• Every.org (every.org/tarl) accepts gifts directly for the US 501(c)(3), Empower Learning Africa USA Inc (EIN 92-2014591).
• Giving What We Can still processes gifts to TaRL Africa but no longer lists it as one of its recommended programs.
• Reach figures differ by source: TaRL Africa's site says 7 million+ children in 17+ countries; TLYCS cites 13.4 million children across 20 countries 'together with partners'.