Washington, DC, June 16, 2020. The Global Partnership for Education has approved over US$130 million in new grants to Guinea, Niger and Somalia. The funding will ensure that millions of children in these countries are able to access quality learning, whether in school when these reopen or through distance education.

“As the world experiences an unprecedented emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic, GPE’s support to bolster education systems in partner countries is more critical than ever,” said Alice Albright, GPE Chief Executive Officer. “With financing for education under threat from the economic impacts of the pandemic, GPE will continue to do its part so that millions of girls and boys, especially the most vulnerable, can keep learning.”

The grants to Guinea (US$37.3 million) and Niger (US$84.6 million) will contribute directly to the countries’ respective education budgets, supporting the priorities set out in their sector plans. This will also ensure alignment with funding from other external partners, leading to strengthened dialogue and coordination, more capacity and transparency, less duplication and better alignment of reporting. The grant agent in both Guinea and Niger is the Agence française de développement (AFD).

The Federal Government of Somalia will receive US$9.2 million to increase access to quality preschool education, including in existing Quranic schools, build or renovate 700 classrooms to welcome out-of-school children, including those with disabilities, train head teachers, review the curriculum to improve learning outcomes, and conduct annual exams for Grade 8 students. Save the Children USA is the grant agent for the Federal Government of Somalia.

The governments of Guinea and Somalia recently received COVID-19 emergency grants from GPE. Niger is also eligible. GPE recently increased its COVID-19 fund to US$500 million to help up to 67 developing countries respond to the pandemic’s impact on education and sustain learning for up to 355 million children. As of June 12th, GPE has provided nearly US$220 million to 22 countries from this emergency funding window.

About the Global Partnership for Education

The Global Partnership for Education supports close to 70 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.

Media contact

Breanna Ridsdel – bridsdel@globalpartnership.org +1 202 458 2842