Maximizing Momentum Points Before eLearning Africa 2026
This document is a companion to the Momentum Points Framework (in this folder). It defines what each Stakeholder Category Aligner should be doing between now (late February 2026) and eLearning Africa (June 3–5, 2026, Accra, Ghana) to generate the highest number of Momentum Points within that limited window
Time available: approximately 14 weeks.
| Category | Current State | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Ministries of Education | 5 at State 4 (MoU signed) | Pilots were planned for late 2025 but RESPECT v1 was not ready; now it is. A single pre-pilot is underway in Kenya. Mid-school-year pilots are possible in the MoU'd countries but not certain. |
| Development Partners | Early stages | Donor materials exist (essays, 4D docs). No public commitments yet. The Convenor process has not formally started. |
| Mobile Network Operators | State 3 (briefed) | MNOs have been briefed on RESPECT. They are waiting for RESPECT-ified apps — the apps they care about are now entering the AppWave programme. |
| Non-MoE School Networks | Pre-engagement | No formal engagement yet. |
| App Developers | ~12 entering State 5 | The AppWave programme has just started, aiming to RESPECT-ify approximately a dozen apps for demonstration at eLearning Africa. |
| RESPECT Certified Partners | Pre-engagement | The certification programme is not yet operational. |
| Amplifiers — XPRIZE | State 3 (briefed) | XPRIZE has been briefed. No commitments yet. Their Accelerate Learning Challenge launched November 2025. |
| Amplifiers — Others | State 1–2 | Most amplifier organizations have not yet been formally engaged. |
Five MoEs at State 4 (5 × 5 = 25 MPs). Kenya pre-pilot is approaching State 5–6. All others at State 0.
| Action | Target State | MPs Added | Feasibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya: Finalise Pilot Plan | State 5 | +8 | High — pre-pilot already underway; formalising it as a signed Pilot Plan is administrative |
| Kenya: Pre-pilot declared active | State 6 | +15 | High — if learners and teachers are already using RESPECT in schools, publishing a launch announcement is the transition evidence |
| 4 remaining MoU'd countries: Sign Pilot Plans | State 5 (×4) | +32 | Medium — v1 is now ready; these MoEs wanted to pilot in 2025. Re-engage with concrete Pilot Plan proposals. School-year timing is the constraint. |
| 1–2 MoU'd countries: Launch mid-year pilot | State 6 (×1–2) | +15–30 | Low-Medium — requires alignment with school calendar and local readiness. Even one pilot launch before eLA is a major win. |
| 3–5 new MoEs: Formal briefings | State 2 (×3–5) | +6–10 | High — eLA itself is an opportunity, but briefings before eLA are better (allows follow-up at eLA). Target MoEs attending eLA. |
| 1–2 new MoEs: Senior champion | State 3 (×1–2) | +3–6 | Medium — requires identifying and cultivating a named champion |
Kenya to State 6. The single most valuable near-term action. If learners are already using RESPECT in Kenyan schools, get the MoE or implementing partner to publish a pilot launch announcement specifying schools, start date, and scope. This is a Tier 1, publicly verifiable event worth 15 MPs — and it is the project's first operational proof point.
Pilot Plans for the four remaining MoU'd MoEs. RESPECT v1 is now ready. These Ministries committed in 2025 and were waiting. Re-approach each with a draft Pilot Plan specifying schools, subjects, grades, timeline, success criteria, and EMIS integration points. Each signed Pilot Plan is worth 8 MPs and, critically, is the precondition for a pilot launch.
Identify and brief MoEs attending eLearning Africa. Ghana (the host country) is a priority — a briefing before eLA, followed by visible engagement at the conference, builds momentum. Target 3–5 new MoEs for State 2 (formal briefing received) before or during eLA.
Secure at least one new senior champion (State 3). A named Director-level official publicly advocating for RESPECT exploration — ideally at eLearning Africa itself — is worth 3 MPs and generates social proof for other MoEs in attendance.
Zero confirmed MPs. Materials exist but the formal engagement process has not started.
| Action | Target State | MPs Added | Feasibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–8 DPs: Introductory materials delivered | State 1 (×5–8) | +5–8 | High — materials already exist |
| 3–5 DPs: Senior decision-maker briefed | State 2 (×3–5) | +6–10 | High — use eLA as the venue for structured briefings |
| 1–2 DPs: Convenor process participation | State 3 (×1–2) | +4–8 | Medium — requires at least one structured multi-donor coordination meeting before eLA |
Build a target list of 10–15 DPs likely to attend eLearning Africa. Bilateral agencies with African education mandates (USAID, DFID/FCDO, GIZ, AFD, JICA, Sida, NORAD), multilaterals (World Bank, GPE, AfDB), and foundations (Gates, Mastercard, LEGO). Cross-reference with known eLA attendee lists.
Send introductory packages to the target list immediately. Each acknowledged receipt is State 1 (1 MP). Use the Donor Deck (once completed) and the 4D folder documents.
Schedule structured briefings at eLearning Africa. A 45-minute dedicated session with a named decision-maker, followed by a written request for follow-up, achieves State 2 (2 MPs). Book these now — eLA schedules fill early.
Convene at least one multi-donor coordination meeting before eLA. Even a small, informal gathering of 3–4 interested DPs, with attendance records, achieves State 3 (4 MPs) for each attendee. This can be virtual.
MNOs have been briefed (State 3). If, say, 3 MNOs have been briefed, that is 3 × 3 = 9 MPs.
| Action | Target State | MPs Added per MNO | Feasibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Briefed MNOs: Formal engagement | State 4 | +5 | Medium — requires MNO to assign named staff. Contingent on AppWave delivering demonstrable apps. |
| 1 MNO: Technical integration pilot | State 5 | +10 | Low — 14 weeks is tight for a technical trial, but a bounded test (e.g., E-Rate traffic classification for a single app in a single market) is conceivable if an MNO is motivated. |
Coordinate tightly with the AppWave programme. The MNO Aligner's ability to advance MNO states depends entirely on having demonstrable RESPECT Compatible Apps to show. Identify which apps the briefed MNOs care about, and ensure those apps are prioritised within AppWave.
Re-engage briefed MNOs as soon as AppWave delivers demo-ready apps. The pitch: "The apps you asked about are now RESPECT Compatible. Here is what they look like. Here is what E-Rate integration looks like. Assign a named lead and let us begin structured exploration." Each MNO that assigns a named staff member and confirms in writing is at State 4 (5 MPs).
Target MNOs attending eLearning Africa for new briefings. African MNOs with education CSR mandates (Safaricom, MTN, Orange, Airtel) may attend or can be invited to side meetings.
~12 apps entering State 5 (active engineering). 12 × 10 = 120 MPs at State 5 once engineering is confirmed with named leads and timelines.
| Action | Target State | MPs Added per App | Feasibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirm engineering for all ~12 | State 5 (formalize) | 10 each | High — AppWave's core function |
| 4–6 apps: Submit for certification | State 6 | +18 each | Medium — depends on engineering speed and test suite readiness |
| 2–3 apps: Achieve certification | State 7 | +30 each | Medium-Low — 14 weeks from start to certified is aggressive but possible for apps that were already close to compliance |
Formalise every AppWave participant at State 4–5. Each needs a signed written commitment (State 4, 6 MPs) and confirmed engineering lead + timeline (State 5, 10 MPs). This is administrative overhead that pays immediate MP dividends.
Prioritise the 3–4 apps closest to compliance. Identify which apps need the least engineering to pass the RESPECT Compatible test suite. These are the fast wins — getting even 2–3 apps to State 7 (certified) by eLA gives the project its most powerful demonstration asset: certified RESPECT Compatible Apps that DPs, MoEs, and MNOs can see, touch, and try.
Ensure the RESPECT Compatible test suite is operational. Apps cannot be submitted (State 6) or certified (State 7) if the test suite is not ready. This is a critical dependency — the AppWave programme and the test suite development must be synchronised.
Plan the eLA demonstration. The apps that achieve certification by eLA should be the centerpiece of RESPECT's presence at the conference. Live demonstrations on LearnTabs, with real content in African languages, are the single most persuasive artifact for every other stakeholder category.
Zero. No formal engagement yet.
| Action | Target State | MPs Added | Feasibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–3 networks: Initial contact | State 1 (×2–3) | +2–3 | High — the Catholic system alone (43,000 schools, 24M students across Africa) is a single contact point through SECAM or the Vatican's Dicastery for Catholic Education |
| 1–2 networks: Structured briefing | State 2 (×1–2) | +2–4 | Medium — requires identifying the right decision-maker within the network hierarchy |
| 1 network: Named champion | State 3 (×1) | +3 | Low-Medium — ambitious for 14 weeks but a named champion at eLA is powerful |
Identify the 5–10 largest Non-MoE school networks operating in the MoU'd countries. Catholic, Anglican, Islamic, and large private chains. For each, identify the continental or regional decision-maker.
Send introductory materials to 2–3 networks immediately. The Catholic school system is the highest-leverage target: one relationship with SECAM's Education Commission could reach 43,000 schools across the continent.
Invite network leaders to eLearning Africa. A side meeting with 2–3 network education directors, with a live app demonstration, could accelerate multiple networks to State 2 simultaneously.
Zero. The certification programme is not yet operational.
The Partner ladder depends on the certification infrastructure being in place. In 14 weeks, the priority is to lay groundwork rather than generate high MP counts.
Define the RESPECT Certified Partner application process and requirements. This is a prerequisite for any progress on this ladder — no one can apply (State 2) until the application process exists.
Identify 5–10 potential partners in the MoU'd countries. Local IT training firms, education consultancies, and NGOs with school-level implementation experience. These are the firms that will eventually deliver RESPECT at school level.
Brief 2–3 firms and invite them to express interest (State 1). Each written acknowledgment of interest is 1 MP. Small, but it establishes the pipeline.
Current: State 3 (briefed). Their Accelerate Learning Challenge launched November 2025.
Priority: Move to State 4 (formal partnership signed). The pitch: RESPECT is the natural destination for XPRIZE's FLN app finalists. A signed agreement to collaborate — specifying that XPRIZE finalists will be guided toward RESPECT Compatible certification and mapped by RESPECT Certified Mappers — is worth 6 MPs and establishes a multi-year pipeline.
Action: Draft and propose a partnership MoU to XPRIZE before eLearning Africa. If signed, announce it at eLA.
Current: State 1–2 (not yet formally engaged).
Priority: Secure a briefing with the Google DevRel Africa lead (State 3, 3 MPs). If AppWave apps include any that use Google technologies (Flutter, Firebase, Android), Google has a natural interest.
Action: Approach via Google for Startups Africa or through a GDG organiser in a pilot country. A co-hosted hackathon at eLearning Africa would be a powerful signal.
Current: Pre-engagement.
Priority: Initial contact and introductory materials (State 2, 1 MP each). AfriLabs' network of 500 hubs is a distribution channel for AppWave recruitment.
Action: Send introductory materials to AfriLabs and Andela leadership. A co-branded session at eLearning Africa (even a lightning talk) would be a visible entry point.
Current: Pre-engagement.
Priority: Identify which RECs have member states among the 5 MoU'd MoEs. Those RECs are natural first targets — they can cite existing MoU momentum when engaging their other member states.
Action: Send introductory materials to the education divisions of 2–3 RECs (State 2, 1 MP each). If a REC education director attends eLearning Africa, a structured briefing (State 3, 3 MPs) is achievable.
Current: Pre-engagement for most.
Priority: These are longer-cycle categories. In 14 weeks, the realistic target is to identify and make initial contact (State 1–2) with 2–3 strategically important amplifiers in each sub-category. The most time-sensitive: teacher training colleges in the pilot countries (Educator amplifiers) and ADEA (Researcher amplifier — their endorsement carries continental weight).
Action: Send introductory materials. Invite to eLearning Africa side meetings.
Strategic Signals (Framework Section 3.7) are one-time, high-weight, cross-cutting credibility events. They are uncapped and not subject to the 40% category cap. Three Strategic Signals are achievable before eLearning Africa:
Current: Education Above All (EAA) has been approached. A draft letter from AUDA-NEPAD to EAA has been prepared.
Action: Secure EAA's formal commitment and announce it publicly before eLearning Africa. A published announcement confirming the Convenor role is the transition evidence. This is worth 40 MPs and is the single highest-value action available — it signals to every DP that a credible, independent institution is managing the coordination process.
Current: A draft letter from AUDA-NEPAD to mEA (proposing TAC formation and administration) has been prepared. TAC membership has not yet been finalised.
Action: Constitute the TAC with internationally recognized experts and publish the membership list before eLearning Africa. The announcement itself — with names and institutional affiliations — is the transition evidence. This is worth 30 MPs and validates the project's technical credibility to every stakeholder category.
Note: The XPRIZE MoU is tracked on the Amplifier Ladder (State 4, 6 MPs), not as a Strategic Signal. However, a public announcement of the XPRIZE partnership at eLearning Africa serves a strategic-signal-like function: it demonstrates that the world's most prominent learning technology prize views RESPECT as the platform for its African outcomes. If XPRIZE's stature warrants it, this could alternatively be scored under "Major global foundation joins Convenor process" (30 MPs) — but only if XPRIZE formally joins the multi-donor coordination process, not merely signs a programme partnership.
Several Aligner plans depend on shared deliverables. The critical path runs through the AppWave programme:
AppWave delivers demo-ready apps → unlocks MNO re-engagement (State 4), eLA demonstration (DPs, MoEs), and XPRIZE partnership rationale.
RESPECT Compatible test suite operational → unlocks app submissions (State 6) and certifications (State 7). Without a functioning test suite, no app can advance past State 5.
Kenya pilot formalised → unlocks the project's first Tier 1, publicly verifiable proof point (State 6, 15 MPs). This is the single most important social-proof event before eLearning Africa.
Donor Deck completed → unlocks DP engagement at scale. Every DP briefing (State 2) and coordination meeting (State 3) depends on having a compelling, professionally produced deck.
eLearning Africa logistics → booth/session secured, side meetings scheduled, demonstration hardware ready. This is not an MP event itself, but it is the force multiplier for every Aligner's June 3–5 activities.
| Week | Priority |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 (late Feb) | Formalise AppWave participants at States 4–5. Kenya pilot formalisation push. DP target list and introductory package distribution. |
| Weeks 3–6 (March) | AppWave engineering sprints. Pilot Plan drafting for 4 MoU'd MoEs. MNO re-engagement once apps are demo-ready. First DP coordination meeting (virtual). |
| Weeks 7–10 (April) | First app submissions for certification. Pilot Plans signed by MoU'd MoEs. XPRIZE partnership MoU drafted. Non-MoE school network introductory outreach. TAC membership finalised. |
| Weeks 11–13 (May) | First certifications achieved. Mid-year pilot launches if achievable. eLA demonstration preparation. Final round of DP/MoE/MNO briefing invitations. Convenor and TAC announcements published. |
| Week 14 (June 1–5) | eLearning Africa. Live demonstrations. Structured DP briefings. MoE side meetings. XPRIZE partnership announcement (if signed). Strategic Signals on display. |
The Momentum Points Framework (Section 1.7) caps each direct stakeholder category at 40% of the threshold. For the High Threshold (300), that cap is 120 per category. Strategic Signals and Amplifiers are uncapped
| Category | Current MPs | Best-Case by eLA (uncapped) |
|---|---|---|
| Ministries of Education | 25 | 50 |
| Development Partners | 0 | 22 |
| Mobile Network Operators | ~9 | 23 |
| App Developers | ~0 formal | 172 |
| Non-MoE School Networks | 0 | 5 |
| RESPECT Certified Partners | 0 | 3 |
| Amplifiers | ~3 | 14 |
| Strategic Signals | 0 | 70 |
| Category | Uncapped | Capped at 120 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ministries of Education | 50 | 50 | Under cap |
| Development Partners | 22 | 22 | Under cap |
| Mobile Network Operators | 23 | 23 | Under cap |
| App Developers | 172 | 120 | Cap binds; 52 points wasted |
| Non-MoE School Networks | 5 | 5 | Under cap |
| RESPECT Certified Partners | 3 | 3 | Under cap |
| Direct categories subtotal | 275 | 223 | 5 of 6 categories contributing |
| Amplifiers (uncapped) | 14 | 14 | |
| Strategic Signals (uncapped) | 70 | 70 | Convenor (40) + TAC (30) |
| Threshold-eligible total | 307 | Exceeds High Threshold (300) |
The path to 300 depends on every Aligner delivering, not just AppWave. Remove any one of the following and the total drops below 300:
| Additional action | Points added |
|---|---|
| 1 more MoU'd country launches mid-year pilot (State 6) | +15 |
| 1 DP initiates formal due diligence (State 4) | +7 |
| 1 MNO runs bounded technical pilot (State 5) | +10 |
| AU-level political endorsement (Strategic Signal) | +50 |
The AU endorsement — if the African EdTech 2030: Vision & Plan adoption at the February 2026 Summit can be confirmed with published decision text — would add 50 MPs and put the total firmly at ~357, well above the High Threshold.
This document operationalizes the Momentum Points Framework for the specific period February–June 2026. State numbers, transition evidence requirements, weight values, the Breadth Rule (Section 1.7), and Strategic Signals (Section 3.7) are defined in the Framework. Aligner Plans should be updated quarterly as the project progresses and new opportunities emerge