A GLOBAL COALITION FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION OUTCOMES
Adolescence is the highest-return mile in a child’s life.
Secondary education shapes identity, aspirations, agency, and life trajectories — with returns that compound across health, economy, and society for generations. Yet for 1.3 billion adolescents, this is an under-resourced stretch of their education.
45%
reduction in under-3 child mortality when mothers complete secondary school
(Duflo et al., 2024)
11%
higher GDP achievable by closing gender gaps in education
(IMF, 2023)
50%
potential drop in global poverty if all adults completed secondary school
(UNESCO, 2017)
10%
return on every $1 invested in schooling in low- and middle-income countries
UNESCO, 2015)
The PROBLEM
Yet, we are underinvesting in the education of 1.3 billion adolescents.
WHERE THE SYSTEM BREAKS DOWN
Rigid curricula
One-size-fits-all systems disconnected from adolescent realities and the future of work.
Weak transitions
63 million adolescents of lower-secondary age and 132 million of upper-secondary age are out of school.
Equity gaps
Created by a proven, top-selling designer for a polished look and professional attention to detail.
Financing gap
Progress on out-of-school rates has slowed since 2015 — aid is contracting, not growing.
Too broad, or too narrow
Existing coalitions aren’t built specifically around secondary education.
Fragmented advocacy
Both the advocates and the narrative for secondary education remain scattered across actors and agendas.
OUR STORY
SOSE emerged from a growing global call to reimagine secondary education.
SOSE’s mission is to drive research, dialogue, action, and funding to transform secondary education in low- and middle-income countries.
WHAT WE ARE
A global systems orchestrator for secondary education.
Every adolescent, regardless of geography, gender, or economic status, can access inclusive, future-ready education delivering life-changing outcomes:
Civic Identity and Agency
Foundational and Future-Ready Learning
Values and Life Skills
Health and Developmental Readiness
Psychosocial Development and Belonging
HOW WE WORK
Four levers. One shared agenda.
SOSE’s mission is to drive research, dialogue, action, and funding to transform secondary education in low- and middle-income countries.
01 — RESEARCH
Build the evidence base
Evidence and data are embedded in education planning, policy, and implementation, improving decision-making, accountability, and equity across partner countries
02 — DIALOGUE
Convene the fragmented field
Thematic working groups, coalitions, and multi-stakeholder alliances drive coordinated action to advocate for strengthening secondary education
03 — ACTION
Scale What Works
Piloting and scaling context-responsive models that governments and systems can adopt.
04 — FUNDING
Close the financing gap
Global financing shifts towards long-term systemic investments taking into account true ROI of secondary education outcomes
WHY SOSE EXISTS
No adolescent’s future should depend on where they were born.
The tools, evidence, and will to change are already shaping lives. The work is already happening — SOSE accelerates it, amplifies it, and makes it count.
