Mogadishu, Somalia 29 October 2018 --- The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) is pleased to announce a US$17.9 million grant for the Federal Government of Somalia. The grant will be implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education to address crucial education needs and priorities identified in the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2018-2020. The grant will help more than 32,000 out-of–school children to go to primary school and get a quality education, strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Education Culture and Higher Education (MOECHE) at the federal level and in Member States and support monitoring, accountability and communication across the education system.
The European Union is the GPE coordinating agency for Somalia and CARE USA is the GPE grant agent for this grant.
“Undoubtedly, the sustained support from GPE is highly appreciated and will go a long way in providing the opportunities for much needed equitable access to education for the benefit of the Somali children,” said Somalia’s Minister for Education, Culture and Higher Education, Hon. Abdullahi Godah Bare. “It will also help us to create the conditions to improve the quality of education in Somalia’s education institutions,” he said.
“Education is essential to alleviate poverty, build peaceful societies and promote social inclusion,” said Alice Albright, Chief Executive Officer, Global Partnership for Education. “That’s the basis on which GPE continues to prioritize and support education in Somalia. The program we are launching today will be the foundation to improve and expand education and enhance the capacities of the Ministry and Member States. We look forward to further strengthening our partnership and implement the Education Sector Strategic Plan for the betterment of Somalia’s greatest resource – its children.”
CARE’s Acting Country Director, Abdullahi Iman stressed: “With this significant education support from GPE, key education infrastructure will be established, professional development of teachers supported, prescribed textbooks procured and distributed and the capacity of the Ministry of Education and member states improved.”
The program also includes measures for children with special needs, children from pastoralist communities and girls from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds.
Somalia has been a GPE partner country since 2012. In 2013, Somalia received its first GPE grant of US$14.5 million for the period 2013 to 2016. The current support of roughly US$33 million covers all regions, with US$5.6 for Puntland, US$9.6 for Somaliland and US$17.9 for the Federal Government of Somalia. In August 2018, GPE communicated that Somalia is eligible for an additional US$51.8 million. The Minister of Education, Culture and Higher Education of the Federal Government of Somalia received this “as a welcome move not only for the government but also for all education stakeholders in Somalia as it would synergize the efforts of other donors, such as the European Union, United Kingdom Department for International Development, USAID, UNICEF and the World Bank.”
About the Global Partnership for Education
The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) works with developing countries to ensure that every child receives a quality basic education, prioritizing the poorest, the most vulnerable and those living in countries affected by fragility or conflict. GPE mobilizes financing for education and supports developing countries to build effective education systems founded on evidence-based planning and policies. Its partners include developing countries, multilateral organizations, donors, the private sector, teachers, civil society/NGOs, and private foundations.
For more information visit www.globalpartnership.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Contact: Alexandra Humme
About the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education
The MOECHE is responsible for all matters pertaining to the development and delivery of education services. This includes policies on education, curriculum development, and national examinations at all levels of education, certification, supervision of schools and all educational institutions, monitoring and evaluation. This is in line with MOECHE national development plans, which the Education Sector Strategic Plan is aligned and contribute to.
For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact:
Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education (MOECHE)
Mr. Hasan Mohamed Ali, Director General, email: dg@moe.gov.so
About CARE in Somalia
CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere) is a major international humanitarian agency delivering emergency relief and long-term international development projects. Founded in 1945, CARE is nonsectarian, impartial, and non-governmental. It is one of the largest and oldest humanitarian aid organizations focused on fighting global poverty. In 2016, CARE reported working in 94 countries, supporting 962 poverty-fighting projects and humanitarian aid projects, and reaching over 80 million people and 256 million people indirectly.
Contact: Iman Abdullahi Iman.Adbullahi@care.org
