The year 2024 has been one of profound challenges for humanity. From escalating conflicts to the intensifying impact of climate crises, the weight of this year has been felt across the globe. But one of the great privileges of being the CEO of the Global Partnership for Education is witnessing the progress being made by partner countries. Hearing the stories of people tirelessly working to provide a better future for their children always fills me with optimism.

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of witnessing these efforts firsthand during a visit to El Salvador on the International Day of Education. El Salvador has embarked on an ambitious journey to overhaul its education system. From 2020 to 2022 the country’s budget dedicated to education has grown from 16% to almost 21% of the total budget. With help from the GPE’s girls’ education accelerator grant, they, like many others, have taken strides to ensure more girls get the education they need.

The numbers reflect the attitudes of the politicians, CSO partners, teachers and community leaders I met during my visit. Everywhere, I was met with an unflinching commitment to transforming the education system in El Salvador.

Education underpins it all

Our mission at GPE is to secure quality learning for all. This mission is born out of the firm belief that education underpins almost all the objectives humanity is striving for.

Earlier this year, we partnered with the Institute for Economics & Peace to explore the connection between education and peace. With a record number of conflicts raging globally, the findings are more urgent than ever: In countries with low levels of peace, 34% of youth are disengaged, compared to just 8% in highly peaceful nations. Better education outcomes are also associated with shorter internal conflicts and lower societal violence.

Education is also a terrific investment in growth and prosperity. Each dollar spent on education by governments translates into $20 added to their gross domestic product. For the individual, each extra year spent in school results in a 10% increase in earnings. And if the world eliminated learning poverty, an extra $10 trillion would be added to the global GDP.

We know that education is also crucial in both the fight against climate change and as a tool to improve gender equality.

But the world is not on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 4 of providing quality education for all. More than a quarter billion children remain out of school. And attention to education is dwindling. The recent Education Finance Watch revealed that the proportion of official development assistance to education fell from 9.3% in 2019 to 7.6% in 2022.

GPE’s year in numbers

For GPE and its partners, 2024 has been a year of exceptional progress and impact.

This year, GPE approved grants exceeding $1 billion and disbursed a comparable amount. That is nearly triple the grant approvals and double the disbursements compared to last year. These results are a testament to stronger alignment with partner country systems, a growing pool of accredited grant agents, and ongoing simplification of our approach to support partner countries.

Since 2022, GPE grants have supported 253 million children—nearly 40% of the school-age population in 76 countries. Notably, 70% of these children live in partner countries affected by fragility and conflict, underlining GPE's commitment to reaching the most vulnerable.

GPE has surpassed expectations in mobilizing additional innovative financing. Through the GPE Multiplier, we have raised close to $4 billion for education since 2022—more than double the 2024 target. This funding comes from a growing and diverse range of cofinanciers, underscoring the increasing recognition of education's critical role in development.

As global attention on education wanes, GPE continues to advocate tirelessly to keep it at the forefront of the international agenda. This year, we were pleased to see the importance of education recognized in both the final declaration of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro and the statement from the G7 meeting in Caserta, Italy, and by the African Union making education the theme for the year.

Finally, we are proud that the GPE family has expanded. This year, we welcomed Jordan and Lebanon as new partner countries, strengthening our global network and commitment to ensuring every child has access to quality education.

Supporting children’s education even through crises

2024 has unfortunately been marked by widespread conflict around the globe. The impact on children and education systems is profound and far-reaching. At GPE, we work tirelessly to ensure that education can provide stability, opportunity and hope for children living through the chaos of crisis.

In Sudan, the ongoing civil war has created a humanitarian catastrophe. The conflict has left 18 million children out of school, depriving an entire generation of the chance to learn, grow and build a better future. Our efforts focus on providing emergency education grants and working with local and international partners to restore a sense of normalcy and hope amid the chaos.

In Gaza, the conflict has wreaked havoc on education infrastructure, with over 90% of schools destroyed or rendered unusable. Thousands of children face the risk of losing years of schooling as the fighting continues. With help from generous donors, we have mobilized $20 million to swiftly help children return to school as soon as conditions permit and to begin rebuilding Gaza’s education system.

Sudan and Gaza are just a glimpse of the many countries ravaged by war. Myanmar, Ukraine and Yemen face similar crises, leaving millions of children without access to education. At GPE, we will continue our work to ensure education remains a lifeline, even in the toughest conditions.

As I reflect on this year, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all our partners who contribute to GPE’s mission. The most critical part of our organization is the strong partnerships we have built with hundreds of people and organizations around the world. Our progress this year is a testimony to what every student learns in the classroom: great achievements are built on collaboration.