Today, we celebrate Africa Day. On May 25, 1963, Africa made history with the foundation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Since then, May 25 is celebrated around the world to signify Africa’s identity and unity.

Here are 5 things to know about GPE’s work with Africa:

1. 40 GPE partner countries out of 67 are African countries. That’s 60%, the largest group of countries from the same continent.
2. More than US$3.6 billion in grants have been allocated by GPE to African partner countries since 2002 to support their education systems and ensure that children can go to school and learn.
3. 32% of out-of-school children: Africa has the largest rate of out-of-school children and youth, representing close to 100 million children, adolescents and young people who don’t have the opportunity to go to school and learn. Girls in Africa are out-of-school more than in any other place in the world, with an out-of-school rate of 35% (source).
4. Support during crises: US$14 million in accelerated financing have been allocated to the Central African Republic, Chad and Somalia to support recovery and ensure children refugees, displaced and from host communities– can return to school quickly.
5. Senegal is the first developing country to become a donor to the GPE fund, with a pledge of US$2 million announced at the GPE Financing Conference last February. The event held in Dakar was the largest ever education financing conference, and the first co-hosted by a developing country and a G7 country (France).