Thirteen Countries, One Shared Mission

Earlier this month, representatives from EFI’s partner organizations across Central Asia, the South Caucasus, the Western Balkans, and Ukraine gathered in Prague for EFI’s annual Partner Meeting. Bringing together leaders from 13 countries, the meeting provided an opportunity to review progress, share experiences, and align around priorities for the year ahead.

A key focus of the meeting was EFI’s broader approach to creating long-term impact through three interconnected areas: teacher development, student opportunity, and public economic engagement. Discussions explored how partners can strengthen existing programs while building pathways that support educators, students, and communities over time.

The Economics Olympiad was a major topic of discussion. With the program now reaching nearly 60,000 students annually, partners explored how to build on that success by creating opportunities that extend beyond the competition itself. Conversations focused on mentorship, alumni engagement, and ways to help students continue developing their knowledge, skills, and professional networks after participating in the Olympiad.

Partners also shared experiences from EFI’s Teacher Training Program, which has trained more than 600 educators since 2023 and is on track to surpass 1,000 teachers by the end of this summer. Discussions focused on scaling the program sustainably, sharing implementation lessons across countries, and maintaining quality as the program expands. To date, 92% of participating teachers have said they would recommend the program to their peers.

The meeting also highlighted achievements from across the network, including growth in student participation, expansion of teacher training initiatives, publication of localized educational resources, and the development of partnerships with schools, universities, businesses, and public institutions. Partners recognized several standout achievements in areas such as institutional partnerships, regional leadership, and innovative fundraising approaches.

One of the greatest strengths of EFI’s network is the ability to share successful ideas across countries. Approaches that prove effective in one context can often be adapted and implemented elsewhere, helping partners accelerate progress, avoid common challenges, and increase the impact of their work. As EFI continues to grow, the annual Partner Meeting remains an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration, share practical solutions, and expand access to economic education and opportunity across the countries we serve.

Thank you to all of our core staff and country partners, who continue to innovate and turn ideas into action on the ground.

*Photo credit to our country partners from Albania, Bosnia, and Kosovo.