This article is based on a broad study commissioned by Sida (Swedish International Development Agency) on the status and current trends in adult basic education in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The study included a review of relevant documentation in several languages, an electronic survey with key respondents throughout the world, personal interviews, and a few field visits. The process also included a five-week trilingual online forum on the topic, with over 300 subscribers from all over the world. The article includes a selection of "inspiring experiences", most of them mentioned by survey respondents and a few of them described with more detail. The decision to cover a wide range of sources and to go beyond a literature review was justified in this case since: (a) much of what is done in relation to adult basic learning and education (ABLE) in the South is "invisible", takes place outside institutions, and is not documented; (b) much of what is documented has very limited circulation; and (c) ABLE is ubiquitous--policies, programmes and experiences are varied and spread across government bodies and social organisations, and only a small portion is explicitly acknowledged as "adult education" and as "adult learning". (Contains 1 note.)