At the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), we never forget that “partnership” -- our middle name – is at the heart of the organization’s very existence and the source of its vitality and progress. GPE has proven over the last decade and a half that the partnership model can drive substantial, positive change in global development and help the reach the ambitious goal of educating all the world’s children by 2030.

That’s why it’s so meaningful when partners express confidence in GPE’s work, as the U.K. Parliament’s International Development Committee (IDC) did last week. The report, DfID’s work on education: Leaving no one behind?, recommends that DfID meets GPE’s replenishment request of US$500 million for 2018 to 2020.

Increase in global education funding through GPE

The IDC, which includes Members of Parliament from the government and opposition parties and oversees all Department for International Development’s (DfID) aid spending, went even further to recommend that donors worldwide increase their investments on global education through GPE. The Committee points out that education funding globally remains substantially below the target level that would be required to meet the ambition of the global goal for education (SDG 4).

The report also recognizes the important role that GPE plays in supporting governments to develop domestic education sector plans and in improving education systems around the world.

It says:

The Global Partnership for Education (GPE), in particular, works by creating incentives for developing country partners to: develop financially sustainable education sector plans; increase national budget allocations; and improve the quality of education expenditure outcomes. GPE’s results-based funding model, adopted in 2014, stipulates that in order to receive the first 70% of GPE grants, each developing country partner must meet several key requirements, including committing greater domestic resources to education. This partnership model was also recommended at a micro-level by education and training charity, Raise the Roof Kenya, who strongly advocated local cooperative arrangements to avoid “creating parallel systems which…are largely unsustainable”.

GPE financing Conference in February 2018

For all of us here at the GPE Secretariat, the IDC report is a tremendous validation of what we do and think about every day. It also sends a powerful and encouraging message to our developing country partners that we work with to help strengthen their education systems to allow their citizens and entire societies to thrive.

The IDC’s recommendations come at an especially opportune moment less than two months ahead of the Global Partnership for Education Financing Conference that will take place on February 1-2, 2018 in Dakar, Senegal.

The United Kingdom is a strong core supporter of GPE and a leader for global education in developing countries and we hope, this leadership will encourage other donors to follow.

Youth ambassadors and students point to the importance of education

Launching the report at Woodside High School in London, Committee Chair Stephen Twigg, MP, said that countries cannot progress out of poverty without education. Public health, skilled workforces, economic prosperity, civil society – all benefit from sustained investment in global education.

Patricia & Rayan join @StephenTwigg to launch the @CommonsIDC education report @sendmyfriend @OxfamEducation pic.twitter.com/r1AvdMuxzP

— Woodside High School (@WoodsideHigh) November 21, 2017

Oxfam youth ambassadors and students from the Send My Friend to School campaign joined Mr. Twigg to debate the elements of a good education – from trained teachers and textbooks to clean water, toilets, good nutrition and a safe environment.

It is heartwarming that thousands of students across the UK have been contacting their MPs through the Send My Friend to School campaign, asking them to support increased UK aid spending for education in developing countries.

The GPE Secretariat will continue to work hard to live up to the IDC’s endorsement. It reminds us that we need to continue to step up to ensure that every child in the world gets the education they deserve.