A book written by Irene Pritzker
The inspiring story of the creation of what is proving to be one of the world’s most innovative financing programs, which has helped thousands of underserved African communities take control of their own futures through sustainable and localized low-fee private schools.
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When Irene Pritzker walked into the Agbogbloshie Market in Ghana’s capital city of Accra in 2008, her heart ached.
Inside the market was a small but growing school—Paulina’s Queensland School, run by entrepreneur Paulina Nlando—with between 100-150 students. It was in a desperate state of physical disrepair, with dirt floors, poor lighting, and dangerous exposed wiring. But Paulina and thousands of school owners like her were unable to obtain business loans to improve their schools.
Upon returning to the U.S., Irene made herself a promise that she would do everything in her power to give schools like Paulina’s a fighting chance.
Through the creation of the IDP Foundation and its Rising Schools Program, she set out to challenge the top-down model and foreign aid that had been in place for decades and left millions of children underserved and schools financially dependent.
Instead, the program focused on treating low-fee private schools as businesses, giving the owners what they needed—access to sustainable microloans from local financial institutions—and empowering them to grow and deliver life-changing opportunities for their students.
The results were amazing. By 2025, the Rising Schools Program had improved more than 2,300 schools like Queensland and affected the lives of more than 500,000 children while spearheading a movement of sustainable localization that has spread to Kenya and is gaining global traction.
The School in the Market is both a compelling journey of determination for anyone passionate about making a difference and a handbook for the future of global philanthropy.
Early Praise for The School in the Market
“The School in the Market is a story that demonstrates the power of true empathy in philanthropy. It is the remarkable story of the IDP Foundation’s approach of partnering with the people and organizations it seeks to serve, to build a scalable, sustainable and evolving solution to the important problem of improving education for all. It is a story about people creating a better future for themselves with the assistance of effective philanthropy. It is a story that I recommend to anyone engaged in social and economic development.
When I first visited Agbogbloshi, an informal settlement in Ghana’s capital city of Accra, I saw a striving class, not mere poverty. This is what Irene Pritzker saw too, when she visited Paulina’s Queensland School in Agbogbloshi. She saw people striving to create a better life for themselves and their children, and she saw a social entrepreneur providing foundational education to children in the community.
Private low-cost schools like the Queensland School can be found across the length and breadth of Ghana, serving families desperate to provide an education for their children. If these schools did not exist, the burden on public schools, which are already operating beyond their capacity, would be even greater, and quality would decline for everyone. They are a local answer to a local need, and they do their work in the face of enormous difficulties. They operate not only in Ghana, but across Africa. The IDP Foundation recognized four critical issues: financial constraints, poor teaching methods, antipathy from teacher unions, and apathy from government agencies. And the foundation set about working with local actors to find sustainable solutions to these problems. It is inspiring to see how much they have accomplished by acting with empathy, humility, and neighborliness with all stakeholders.
Here truly is a story about what we may yet accomplish together.”
—Patrick Awuah, founder and president, Ashesi University, Ghana
“Readable and engaging, The School in the Market tells the inspiring story of how Irene Pritzker brought both passion and financial acumen to one of education’s toughest challenges. By creating a local solution with smart support—a financial model that enabled low-fee private schools in Ghana to thrive—she and her organization have become true pioneers of impact investing in education.”
—Harry Anthony Patrinos, former senior advisor for education, World Bank; professor of education policy, University of Arkansas
“As described in this book, the IDP Foundation’s commitment to uplifting Ghanaians by partnering with us while deeply respecting our culture and traditions and never imposing their own beliefs or identity made them true trailblazers in the world of international development. They are still blazing trails, and the world is paying attention.”
—Tony Fosu, CEO, Sinapi Aba Savings & Loans
“In this powerful narrative, we see what happens when capital meets community and respect meets resolve. The work chronicled in The School in the Market isn’t just transforming schools—it’s transforming how we think about the future of education in emerging economies.”
—Asheesh Advani, CEO, JA (Junior Achievement) Worldwide
“By centering local actors, Irene Pritzker and the IDP Foundation are leading a movement to challenge conventional thinking about philanthropy and development. The School in the Market is not only a compelling read—it is a powerful call to adopt inclusive, collaborative models that align with the interconnected goals of the SDGs. This is investing for impact in action!”
—Amir Dossal, former executive director of the United Nations Office for Partnerships, founder and president Partnerships Forum
“Irene Pritzker’s approach to philanthropy is a masterclass in transformative partnerships. She invests in a way that allows organizations to adapt, evolve, and thrive in response to the shifting needs of the communities they serve. This book is vital for anyone seeking to understand how strategic funding aligned with the SDGs can drive systemic change.”
—Aashti Zaidi Hai, CEO, Global Schools Forum
“Irene Pritzker perceived what the creators of Sesame Street knew: that high-quality early education can change children’s lives. The School in the Market reveals how her Pritzker’s inspiration led to an innovative education program with transformative results. Sesame Workshop was proud to be a part of this work, creating teacher-training resources featuring Sesame’s beloved characters that model play-based, child-centered techniques, leading to more engaged classrooms and inspiring teachers and students alike.”
—Sherrie Westin, president and CEO, Sesame Workshop
About the Author
Irene Pritzker is the chair and cofounder of the IDP Foundation, Inc. (IDPF), an award-winning global philanthropic organization focused on innovation, development, and progress by supporting local actors to deliver sustainable, market-based solutions to improve education in underserved communities and break the intergenerational cycle of poverty.
Since the creation of IDPF’s Rising Schools Program in Ghana in 2008, it has become one of the most innovative and fast-growing in the region, reaching more than 2,300 schools and affecting the lives of more than 500,000 children. The model is replicable and moves away from aid-based solutions.
She is regularly invited to international forums to share her expertise in sustainable solutions, microfinance, smart philanthropy, and impact investing with global decision-makers. In addition to the numerous awards, the IDPF was granted special consultative status to the United Nations.