The educational policy research projects implemented by the 15 SACMEQ ministries of education between 1995 and 2002 addressed priority concerns articulated by policy makers on the quality of education. The converging nature of the different countries’ policy concerns enabled the ministries to undertake a common research agenda. This paper is a meta-analysis of the independent but overlapping national policy agendas presented in different SACMEQ I and SACMEQ II reports. From this meta-analysis, it emerged that the national policy suggestions could be synthesized into a regional education policy agenda. This agenda revolves around (a) the mobilization of school communities and other partners for collective action; (b) review and revision of existing policies and planning procedures for greater effectiveness; (c) the collection of data on essential resources to schools to ensure their availability and equitable distribution; (d) conducting policy research; (e) the provision of educational infrastructure, materials and equipment; and (f) training and re-training teachers. This policy agenda can form the basis for collaborative action by subsets of countries or by all countries, with national contexts and priorities taken into account. This way, the two aspects that are central to EFA goals – quality and equity – should be achieved.