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How we work

About us
GPE helps developing countries strengthen their education systems to significantly increase the number of children who are in school and learning.

Building stronger, more equitable and more efficient education systems is at the heart of GPE. Strong education systems can ensure that all children have access to quality education and can serve future generations of children.

How we work in partner countries

GPE's goal at the country level is to strengthen education sector planning and policy implementation. GPE brings together all education partners in local education groups (LEGs), which enable them to contribute at all stages of the education planning cycle, from sector analysis to evaluation.




Composition of local education groups

  • LEG: The LEGs foster an inclusive and transparent dialogue on a country’s education policies, and support governments in developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating national education plans.
  • Developing country government: Commit to working toward achieving SDG 4, agree to GPE’s objectives, and lead the LEG.
  • Grant agent: Supports the government in the development, implementation and monitoring of the GPE-funded program and also provides fiduciary oversight of the grant funding.
  • Coordinating agency: Supports the government in bringing partners together, and leads or assists the LEG in supporting and monitoring all stages of education sector plans.
  • Private sector partners: Help support the country’s education system and align corporate giving with the education plan priorities.
  • Civil society organizations: Raise awareness and promote advocacy and dialogue on the development, implementation and monitoring of education sector plans. They also help improve accountability in education.
  • Development partners: Appraise and endorse the education plan and mobilize financing. Promote alignment, transparency and mutual accountability

The planning cycle

  • Education sector analysis: Examines current policies and causes of sector weaknesses. Reviews sector financing and system capacity.
  • Education sector planning: Reviews strategies for improving access to and the quality of education.
  • Education sector appraisal: Development partners commission an independent appraisal to establish the soundness of the plan.
  • Government adopts ESP: Once follow-up recommendations are addressed, the government adopts the plan
  • ESP implementation: A multiyear plan details the implementation, with activities, targets, budgets and responsibilities.
  • ESP monitoring and sector reviews: Regular monitoring by the ministry of education under the plan’s monitoring framework and periodic joint sector reviews take stock of progress and discuss solutions to issues.
  • ESP endorsement: Development partners endorse the education plan.
  • Evaluation: Takes place at midterm and the end of an education sector plan period to assess impact and outcomes, relevance, cost-effectiveness and sustainability of strategies.
  • Education sector plan development grant: Funds education sector analysis and the development or revision of an education sector plan or, in fragile and conflict-affected situations, a transitional education sector plan.
  • Program development grant: Supports the development of a program proposal to access a GPE implementation grant.
  • Education sector program implementation grant: Supports the implementation of a national education sector plan.
  • Initiate GPE dialogue around funding model requirements: GPE grants incentivize countries to focus efforts to improve equity, learning, and efficiency, by linking 30% of funding to results.
  • Grant implementation and monitoring: Grants are implemented by the government with support of the grant agent and other partners. In addition, sector monitoring by the LEG is organized through an annual or biannual joint sector review, led by the government. Grant agents must also provide an annual report on the progress of the grant implementation to the Secretariat.
  • Development, quality review and approval of grant program: The ESPIG application process includes a three-phase quality assurance review, conducted by the GPE Secretariat.

The global level

At the global level, the governance mechanisms include:

  • Board of Directors: reviews annual objectives of the Partnership, mobilizes resources, monitors financial resources and funding, advocates for the partnership, and oversees the secretariat budget and work plan.
  • Board Committees: support the Board in fulfilling its functions in a strategic, transparent, and efficient manner. They include: Coordinating Committee, Finance and Risk Committee, Governance and Ethics Committee, Grants and Performance Committee, and Strategy and Impact Committee.
  • Secretariat: provides day-to-day administrative and operational support to the partnership.