Global 2Gen Education Working Group Launches the Jamaica 2Gen Alliance

Worldwide, approximately 70% of children born into poverty will likely remain in poverty throughout their lifetimes (UNICEF, 2023). One promising route to increase intergenerational mobility are two-generation interventions designed to advance the education of parents and children together. Through cross-sector partnerships and evidence-based approaches, the Roberta Buffett Institute’s Global 2Gen Education Working Group is researching how these approaches can reduce poverty and improve human development worldwide.

The group’s initial focus is Jamaica, where it is advising and studying the nationwide, government-led initiative Jamaica 2Gen. In the United States, coordinated services that address the needs of both parents and children have been shown to enhance mobility, streamline service delivery, and deliver meaningful gains for families. Yet such models remain uncommon beyond the US context.

The Global 2Gen Education Working Group is working to expand the evidence base for two-generation programming in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with an emphasis on children’s development, caregivers’ economic stability, and family wellbeing. In partnership with Jamaican officials and Reach Up, an early childhood parenting program that strengthens child development through structured home visits and caregiver engagement, the group is helping refine and scale the Jamaica 2Gen model while sharing lessons with stakeholders at home and abroad.

In addition to its advisory role, the group will publish a policy brief and open-access academic articles outlining effective two-generation strategies tailored to LMIC settings. Learn more about the Roberta Buffett Institute's Global 2Gen Education Working Group >>