In East Africa, illiteracy remains a major challenge, especially in rural areas and among women. The region’s average literacy rate varies widely across countries, but estimates from UNESCO and other sources suggest that up to 60–70% of the adult population in some areas may be illiterate. Efforts to improve literacy have intensified, including education in local languages and special programmes for women who are most vulnerable due to socio-economic factors. Challenges such as poverty, lack of resources and cultural barriers contribute to the problem. At the same time, the security situation and climate change play a role, making it difficult for children to receive continuous schooling in several countries such as Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. International organisations such as UNICEF and local initiatives are working to promote literacy through basic education programmes