1 Recent Developments in Financing for Education in Low-Income Countries: Implications for Girls and Women Bob Prouty EFA FTI Secretariat CIES Gender Symposium March 18, 2008

Outline Trends for coordination of financial support to education sector plans –Gender implications Trends in domestic financing for education in low-income countries –Gender implications Trends in external financing for education in low- income countries World Bank trends as a precursor? –Gender implications Trends in girls’ enrollment

The FTI Compact Low-income countries: Prepare sound national education plans Allocate adequate share of the national budget to educationDonors: Mobilize additional resources Make aid more predictableGoal: Accelerated progress toward universal learning

Gender Implications of FTI Processes Opportunity to ensure gender lens applied to preparation of ed sector plans by national governments Opportunity to ensure consistent approach and support by donor partners Risk that non-primary sub-sectors will receive less

Domestic Financing Trends GMR 2008 reports a mixed picture Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia performing well 9 of 14 LICs with >1% increase in share of GNP for education are FTI-endorsed

FTI Countries pay most of the education bill themselves 70 to 80% financed domestically Typically, in FTI countries 70 to 80% of education costs are financed domestically

Relationship between Education Expenditure and Primary Completion in FTI Countries

Gender Implications of Domestic Financing Trends Sustainability –If it is to be sustainable over time, it will need to be included in government budgets and supported through domestic resources Effectiveness –Increased financing, coupled with solid policies, leads to more girls completing school

External Financing for Education in Low Income Countries

Education Aid Flows in Low Income Countries

Girls’ Education Lending, IDA

ODA to Basic Education in Low-Income Countries as a Percentage of GNI

Share of Education and Basic Education in ODA Disbursements from DAC Countries to Low-Income Countries in 2005

Leveraging policy change? increased hours of schoolingFTI countries show increased hours of schooling lower repetition ratesFTI countries lower repetition rates much faster than others, with high PCR gains abolished user feesFTI countries that have abolished user fees see faster PCR gains Source: FTI Annual Report 2007

A Shift in IDA Financing—Primary as % of Total Education Credits

Emerging Trends: IDA Credits Secondary vs. Primary % % % %

Gender Issues Linked to External Financing Trends How to ensure predictable financing How to protect financing for primary How to ensure shift toward secondary gives due attention to gender issues How to finance marginalized populations How to increase financing, and spread it more evenly among donors How to leverage positive change on gender issues

Girls’ Access Trends--Primary from 77% GER to 78% from 78% GER to 80% from 81% GER to 99%

Male and Female GER—Upper Secondary BeninBurkina Faso GuineaEthiopiaMozambiqueMauritaniaDjiboutiYemen Girls Boys