April 2009 - Partners of the Education for All - Fast Track Initiative (EFA FTI) launched in Copenhagen a resource mobilization effort to replenish FTI's trust funds which are confronted with a financing gap of US$ 1.2 billion for 2009 - 2010. At a well-attended high-level event at the World Bank Spring Meetings on April 25, donors and partner countries confirmed the goals of the EFA FTI replenishment process. The meeting was hosted by World Bank Managing Director Graeme Wheeler and the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, Ms. Ulla Tørnæ, currently co-chair of the EFA - FTI.

Other distinguished speakers offering their support were UK's Secretary of State for International Development, Minister Douglas Alexander, European Commissioner for Development Aid Louis Michel and the Ethiopian Minister of Finance, Ato Sufian Ahmed.

Over 100 people participated in the meeting, including high-level representatives of 18 donor countries, Ministers of Finance of 16 FTI developing partner countries and members of the Global Campaign for Education.

To download the transcript of the high-level event of 25 April 2009, please click here. An article on the meeting is also available on the World Bank website at: http://go.worldbank.org/E3ND3266K0.