The Consortium for Research on Educational Access, Transitions and Equity (CREATE) was established in January 2006 to develop and encourage the application of knowledge to improve access to basic education. Over 100 million children in the developing world remain excluded from primary school and over 250 million fail to access secondary schooling through to grade 9. CREATE is developing a programme of research focused on countries in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa to analyse policy and practice designed to reduce exclusion. Its aim is to increase access to knowledge and capabilities that can reduce poverty and enhance progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.