I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all of our partners as we approach the end of what has been an extremely busy and successful year. Without your commitment, support and time the Global Partnership for Education would be merely a shadow of its current self.

In May we held the first meeting of the newly-constituted Board in Kigali, Rwanda. The constituency arrangements are already proving very effective and we have also seen the new Financial Advisory Committee start to operate smoothly. The new Global Partnership for Education Fund is now up and running and just last week the Board allocated $168m to seven developing country partners. We have seen the old Education for All Fast Track Initiative pass on the baton to the Global Partnership for Education and the rebranding associated with this change has been universally positively received. The Global Partnership is now disbursing more funds annually than ever before, has adopted a strong policy platform with particular focus on girls’ education, fragile and conflict-affected states, and the need to improve the quality of education in partner countries. In November the Global Partnership held its first ever pledging conference with unprecedented financial and policy commitments to basic education.

As we all hopefully enjoy the holiday season with loved ones and friends it is important to remember that 67 million children remain out of school. Until that number reaches zero and until children in school can enjoy their right to a quality education our task, the task of us all in the Global Partnership is not done. I pledge my personal commitment and that of the Secretariat to strive tirelessly in 2012 to ensure that all children can soon go to school, for longer and for a better education.

Again, my thanks for all your support and wishing you a happy and peaceful New Year.