The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Board of Directors met in Dublin, Ireland, on December 6-7, 2018.
I was delighted to welcome Ciarán Cannon, Ireland’s Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, and thanked him for his unwavering support. I also welcomed announcements from Denmark and Germany of additional financing for GPE, bringing total new donor commitments since our Dakar Financing Conference to almost US$250 million.
A major focus of the meeting was securing the foundation for GPE’s future growth and delivery. The Board decided on a major reset of GPE’s organization and governance. This will enable the partnership to better unite new global education initiatives and to continue to harness the political momentum needed to address the education crisis.
In addition, the Board approved recommendations that will drive improvements in the partnership’s country level operations in response to the Effective Partnership Review. The recommendations are built on an assessment of the roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities of the key country level actors that make up the partnership.
The Board also approved new safeguards to prevent sexual harrassment, abuse and exploitation including a Code of Ethical Conduct and Minimum Standards for GPE Grant Agents. This reinforces GPE’s zero tolerance for sexual misconduct of any kind and our commitment to ensure a culture of respect and high standards of ethical behavior.
Other decisions included the adoption of principles for engagement in complex emergencies as part of GPE’s Operational Framework for Effective Support in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States. These principles will be immediately applied to the development of a grant for Yemen and other countries affected by conflict, and ensure GPE support continues to complement key actors, including Education Cannot Wait.
The meeting was also an opportunity to review the 2018 Portfolio Review and progress on the design of two new funding mechanisms: the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange and Advocacy and Social Accountability mechanism.
We warmly thank our host, the Government of Ireland, for their hospitality and generous support to GPE.