Private sector

Many in the business community share GPE’s vision of transformed education systems delivering quality education to all children.

Business community support can help speed and deepen this transformation. Businesses bring not only financial resources but also know-how and tools to help resolve some of the most complex education challenges.

For those new to the education space, GPE offers corporate social responsibility (CSR) and philanthropic investment entry points. For businesses already working in education, joining forces with GPE can mean expanded reach and heightened return.

The private sector has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to work hand-in-hand with governments and transform their education systems so that every girl and boy can have hope, opportunity and agency.

The business community is an integral part of the GPE partnership, with longstanding representation on the Board of Directors. By working with GPE, the business community joins a range of partners focused on shared priorities and coordinated action, from ministries of education and local stakeholders to global development organizations such as UNICEF and the World Bank.

GPE works with Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, IBM, HP, Avanti Communications, Rotary International, PwC, Ecobank and Econet Wireless, among many others.

Apply strategic capabilities and other non-financial assets to pivotal education challenges

GPE coordinates two public-private partnerships, each focusing on areas of fundamental impact, reaching across entire national education systems. By joining these partnerships, the business community works with ministries of education, other companies, foundations and international development organizations to address two system-wide challenges in scores of countries: 

Girls Education Awareness Program (GEAP):

Leveraging the business community's marketing and outreach capabilities to get more girls in school and learning: In partnership with ministries of education, GPE works with partners to leverage marketing, advocacy and communications capabilities of private sector partners to help address issues that can prevent girls from going to school.

Learn more about the GEAP

Education Data Leadership Program (EDLP):

Applying business know-how to improving education management information systems. Through the EDLP, some of the world's most data-savvy organizations support ministries' efforts to increase their data management capacity, strengthen those systems and bring them up to date.

Find out more about EDLP

Compounding the size and impact of philanthropic investments in education

GPE offers two ways for the business and philanthropic communities to trigger matching funds for their investments in education. The mechanism, called GPE Match, applies only to the business community and private foundations—and is meant to incentivize and support work aligned with country priorities. There are two ways to trigger the Match: 

Trigger a 1-to-1 match for programs in partner countries

When business partners invest in new approved initiatives in partner countries, GPE makes available 1:1 matching grants to support their implementation—the GPE Match. GPE plays a coordinating role ensuring strong communications among all partners. In-kind as well as financial contributions can qualify for a match.

Trigger a 1-to-1 match for a contribution to girls' education

GPE has created a dedicated fund for girls' education initiatives across the partnership, focused on countries with the furthest to go on gender equity: the Girls' Education Accelerator. Business partners can have a direct impact on girls' education by contributing financially through this initiative, which triggers a 1:1 match from the GPE Fund.

Learn more about GPE Match and explore its operational guidelines.