New board inclusive of the private sector, new donors and developing partners will build on and expand successes of the EFA – FTI to get millions of children into school
WASHINGTON, DC, July 1, 2009 – The Education for All – Fast Track Initiative (EFA – FTI) partnership will have a new Board of Directors effective today, July 1, 2009.
As part of the reformed governance structure of the EFA – FTI, an expanded Board of Directors, more inclusive of all the main constituencies working toward the Education for All goals, will govern the EFA – FTI partnership. It represents the partnership and provides overall policy guidance and coordination. The Board of Directors also monitors the utilization of the EFA – FTI Trust Funds and advises the Trust Fund committees as relevant.
The Education for All – Fast Track Initiative is an international partnership that connects donors with low-income countries on the basis of countries’ national education plans. The EFA – FTI manages, among others, a USD 1.5 billion trust fund to support countries in achieving their education goals. It currently endorses the education programs of 37 developing countries worldwide, and in the coming two years it hopes to help enroll 15 to 18 million more children who are still out of school today.
The EFA – FTI Board of Directors is an advocate for the partnership; it sets policies and strategies, it mobilizes resources and addresses important global and country specific policy or resource issues that are preventing progress toward the goal of universal primary completion.
In African EFA – FTI countries, 17 million more children were enrolled between 2000 and 2007. Globally, the number of children enrolled into primary school in FTI-endorsed countries went up 62% compared to a 23% increase in non-FTI countries. At present rates, 27 EFA – FTI countries will achieve a primary school completion rate (PCR) of 80% by 2015. This refers to the percentage of children entering the last grade of primary school. Worldwide, the PCR for low-income countries increased by 13 percent, compared to 18 percent in FTI countries.
The EFA – FTI countries have also made good progress in terms of getting more girls into school. In 2006, 15 FTI countries had an equal percentage of boys and girls enrolled in primary school. Another six countries – all in Sub-Saharan Africa – are very close to eliminating the gender gap in access to the first grade in the next few years. Among countries where girls are disadvantaged, the EFA – FTI countries are making faster progress to close the gender gap than non-FTI countries.
The new EFA – FTI Board of Directors is composed of representatives of partner countries, donor countries, multilateral agencies, civil society organizations and private sector foundations active in the education sector.
The members of the Board of Directors are:
- Four developing partner countries with endorsed Education Sector Plans: Burkina Faso, Moldova, Guyana, and Mozambique (the latter two will be replaced by two new developing partner countries in the beginning of 2010).
- Six donor countries providing support to the EFA – FTI: Australia, Denmark, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
- Four multilateral agencies representatives: UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Bank, and the European Commission.
- Three civil society organizations: two member organizations from the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) and the World Economic Forum Global Education Initiative.
An independent chairperson for the Board of Directors will be soon announced.