The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) is hosting their first-ever replenishment conference in Copenhagen. Carol Bellamy, chair of the GPE, talks to ONE about the importance of this event and its effect on quality education for the world’s poorest children.

You’ve been an education advocate throughout your career. You’ve worked at UNICEF, World Learning, and now you’re leading the Global Partnership for Education. What was it that drew you to education?

Simply put, nothing has greater impact on reducing poverty than education — and especially girls’ education. Education saves lives as surely as vaccinations and clean water do. Children who receive an education earn more as adults and are able to provide a higher quality of life for their families and communities; the GDP of a developing country increases steadily when all children are educated. And children in fragile states are less likely to engage in violent conflict if they receive an education. The facts are very clear –- we cannot break the cycle of poverty without education.

The Global Partnership has some lofty goals following its replenishment. Why makes the Partnership so effective?

Global Partnership for Education brings together donors, developing countries, civil society and the private sector to support a country-owned education plan. This is a truly sustainable approach that has helped us put 19 million children in school so far.

How much easier is it to improve education, working in countries that have committed to national education plans?

Working in support of country-driven interests has proven to work much better than parachuting in from the West with our own plans. At the Replenishment Conference in Copenhagen on November 8, we will see developing countries coming to the table with pledges to dramatically increase their domestic spending on education. It is clear that education is their priority and that commitment needs to be matched by donors.

This was a big year for the Global Partnership (formerly known as the Fast-Track Initiative). What are you most excited for in the years ahead?

With our first ever pledging event in Copenhagen, Global Partnership is stepping out of the shadows and going bold! We have proven that we can help make access to education a reality for all children around the world. I am excited for us to take on the challenge of helping children in fragile states, as well as looking ahead to greater advances in secondary education.

With so many important issues on development agendas, what do you think is the most effective argument for continued focus on education?

Education is a poverty-buster! We know for sure that education multiplies the effects of other development efforts. In fact, we can’t see the full impacts of other development investments without education.

The Global Partnership’s three themes over the next few years are: fragile- and conflict-affected states, education quality and girls’ education. Why is it important that we focus on these three things?

Forty percent of kids out of school live in fragile states, so we won’t reach access to education for all children without addressing these needs. The task is certainly harder in these countries, but the payoff is great. Each year of schooling reduces a boy’s chance of engaging in violent conflict by 20 percent.

Nothing that I have seen has greater impact on reducing poverty than girls’ education, especially when girls reach secondary education. An estimated 1.8 million children’s lives in sub-Saharan Africa could be saved this year if their mothers had at least a secondary education.

Finally, many children who are in school today are not receiving the quality of education that can truly change their lives. Class sizes are too big and some teachers do not have the training they need to be effective. We must close the gaps for kids who are in school but not learning all they should.

A lot of our members draw on personal stories to stay motivated to fight poverty around the world. Who/what is your inspiration?

My inspiration is a little girl I met in a displaced persons camp. She was sitting in makeshift “school” under a tree. In the midst of terrible conditions, she was enthusiastically raising her hand to respond to questions from the teacher. I knew she would not only survive but prevail! And we must do our part to support her and all
the children like her.

Global Partnership for Education’s Replenishment Conference is the next step in getting all kids into school. We’re hoping for a transformative outcome in Copenhagen.

Help Carol and the Global Partnership for Education get the funding they need by sending a message to USAID Administrator Raj Shah now.

Thank you to Lauren Pfeifer at ONE for conducting this interview and allow us to re-post it.