Global Partnership for Education Enhancing Education Financing

WHY EDUCATION FINANCING? Over the past few days, and at the AU Summit in July we have seen there is an unflinching desire to empower Africa’s youth – invest in them, provide them with education, skills and jobs – and transform communities, nations and the continent. And we’ve heard from the youth here yesterday and in Addis that they are looking for tangible actions that signify change – a shift from the status quo that can unleash their potential. And their priority is education.

WHY DOMESTIC FINANCING Unleashing the potential of the African youth requires investment in systems. Domestic financing is the most sustainable source of investment in education. Giving them a good education can only happen with a strong systems focus. Building stronger education systems will require, in part, more and better financing – domestic and external. Countries which have taken a systems approach by increasing their domestic financing and prioritizing equity and efficiency have reaped dividends in terms of providing access to quality education. Eg: Niger - Between 2002 and 2014 the government of Niger increased education expenditure from 16.7 percent of total public expenditure to 21.7 percent. A GPE education sector plan development grant supported all ministries with education sector activities to jointly develop the first sector-wide education plan (2014-2024. With increased financing, Niger lifted primary enrollment rates from 32.9 percent in 2000 to 70.1 percent by 2014, meaning that more than 1 million children had taken the first step on the path to a full education. Domestic financing is the most sustainable source of financing for education. Agenda 2063 and CESA 16-26 both include a focus on the imperative of domestic financing and domestic resource mobilization for Africa’s development. When governments invest in their citizens, they demonstrate a belief in the capabilities and potential of their young people. Citizens and young people are able to also own the investments their governments make. And GPE supports systems building as key to delivering socio-economic transformations.

EDUCATION HAS SIGNIFICANT RETURNS WHY DOMESTIC FINANCING EDUCATION HAS SIGNIFICANT RETURNS Reading skills for all students in LICs can lift171 million people out of poverty $1 invested in education in LICs leads to $5 in additional gross earnings $1 invested in girls education in LICs leads to $10 in additional gross earnings and health benefits Global women’s education has prevented over 4 million child deaths However, for education to attract the domestic investments it needs, it must be seen as a sector that generates significant returns. The results are long term and bring transformational benefits that impact a multiplicity of other sectors. As we know, education is central to all the SDGs. We also know, it is a foundation for economic prosperity, improves stability, peace, security and health outcomes. 171 million people could be lifted out of poverty if all students in low-income countries left school with basic reading skills. One extra year of schooling can increase a person’s earnings by up to 10%, women’s earnings by 20%, and annual gross domestic product by 0.37%. Some countries lose more than $1 billion a year by failing to educate girls at the same level as boys. Educated girls and young women are usually healthier, have healthier children, who live past the age of 5.

WHY DOMESTIC FINANCING THE LEARNING & FINANCING CRISIS WHY DOMESTIC FINANCING 263 MILLION girls and boys not going to school; many more not learning 24 million adolescents are out of school in sub-Saharan Africa Source – Global Education Monitoring Report 2016 (Pg 182) Children – 31 million (52% of total) Adolescents – 24 million (39% of total) We know this, and yet: 263 million children globally are out of school 24 million adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa are out of school At present, there is a crisis in education funding that must be addressed urgently if all children globally, and particularly in Africa, are to be able to access their right to a quality education, and for all countries to have the opportunity to transform and grow. Transformational changes, and many more, are only possible if education is funded properly.

HOW GPE ADDRESSES THE FUNDING GAP Global level Country level MOBILIZE FINANCING ADVOCACY Improved policy dialogue and mutual accountability Better sector planning At the country level, GPE incentivizes countries to prioritize systems, financing and equity, including gender equality and girls’ education. We also drive increased investments through global advocacy for political will and commitments at the highest national, regional and global levels. Results-focused financing INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION BROKER KNOWLEDGE

HOW GPE ADDRESSES THE FUNDING GAP GPE Replenishment 2020 Countries to step up domestic investments on education to 20% of total public expenditure and Donors to increase external funding to education One of those avenues is the GPE Replenishment, which brings together the country and global level focus on financing and advocacy. The replenishment aims to reverse the trend of declining external assistance to education as well as to secure commitments from partner countries to increase their education expenditure up to 20% or more of the GDP, in accordance with the Incheon declaration. The Global Partnership for Education is working with all of its partners in Africa and around the world to call on governments – Heads of State, Ministries of Finance and Education to make strong commitments to finance education from domestic investments. The Global Partnership welcomes coordinated national, regional and global advocacy and rallying around a campaign for these urgently needed financing increases in Africa and in other regions where GPE supports countries. GPE is already seeing youth, CSOs and partners taking this opportunity to encourage Heads of State, Ministries of Education and Finance to take make pledges at the replenishment. We welcome the efforts of using their voice to advocate for and champion increases to education financing at national, regional and global level. We encourage you here to do the same. And I ask you today to join me in doing all we can to see domestic investments to education increase in Africa and governments to pledge increases in funding at the GPE Replenishment conference, so that their countries, and all of us, can benefit from the transformational impact of well-funded, quality education for all.

GIRLS EDUCATION IN AFRICA We cannot fail the next generation and the 28 million girls in Africa between the ages of 6 and 15 that are out of school. 28 million girls out of school in Africa

GPE promotes Domestic Financing and Gender Equality GIRLS EDUCATION IN AFRICA GPE’s results-based funding model 70% 30% GPE promotes Domestic Financing and Gender Equality Pre-requisite for support: Performance tranche linked to results in: quality sector plan domestic finance commitment data system equity efficiency learning outcomes By making 30% of its grant contingent on equity indicators including gender equality, GPE also incentivizes countries to add gender responsive policies in their education sector plans. In this way, GPE leverages changes in country for greater development effectiveness. As we know, the barriers to girls education are a combination of demand and supply-side factors. Ensuring financially sound Education Sector Plans

GIRLS EDUCATION IN AFRICA Provision of girls education hinges on gender-responsive education sector planning To support partners with gender responsive sector planning, GPE and UNGEI have produced Guidance for Developing Gender Responsive Education Sector Plans. It provides guidance and support for analyses of barriers to gender equality and school-based violence, which includes a chapter on financing. The Guidance highlights that the tools for making financing decisions are often not equipped for integrating gender. Recently, 6 GPE countries were invited to participate in the first Gender Responsive Sector Planning workshop in Tanzania (Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zanzibar, Tanzania and Uganda). Video available on GPE website. As the Gender Responsive Section Planning Guideance are being rolled out, the next workshop will be held in South Asia in October, and will include a look at equity and financing together GPE also recently released a stocktake on gender in Education Sector Plans in its partner countries. 29 of the 42 countries analyzed were in Africa. The report found that only 25 of the 42 countries’ education sector plans were gender sensitive. Most did not contain intersecting analyses on gender and region / wealth and poverty, etc. Without gender-sensitive education sector plans and the financing to back them, African girls will not be able to access their right to a quality education.

#FundEducation #ShapeTheFuture for the Africa we want All this points to the need to increase investments in education, including focus on equity and gender equality. From now, to UNGA in Sept, the AU Summit and the GPE Replenishment in early 2018, we can all ensure that education financing, particularly domestic financing is high on the agenda of Africa’s political leaders, while calling upon donors to step up their own commitments. Fund Education Shape the Future For the Africa we Want