The Coalition was initiated by Digital Learning for Development (DL4D), a global research network that aims to improve educational systems in developing countries through expanding understanding about digital learning, fostering collaboration on research, testing digital learning innovations, and scaling proven ones. DL4D is jointly funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada and the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom, and administered by the Foundation for Information Technology Education and Development (FIT-ED) of the Philippines.
The idea of forming a coalition was informed by work commissioned by DL4D, Learning at Scale for the Global South, which examines the potential of online learning to broaden access to quality education and training, considers the barriers that still exist in the Global South to realizing this potential, and proposes an action agenda for, among others, TPD@Scale.
In January 2018, the Coalition held an inception meeting at The Education University of Hong Kong attended by 31 international, regional, and national organizations: