Washington, DC. November 7, 2019. Alice Albright is to be reappointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Global Partnership for Education. Following a global search and competitive selection process, Ms. Albright will be appointed for a further three-year term, through to February 2023.
“I am very grateful for the privilege and opportunity to lead the Secretariat through the coming period and humbled by the confidence demonstrated in me,” Ms. Albright said.
“We must tackle the deep-seated constraints to addressing the global learning crisis, which disproportionately affect girls and the poorest and most vulnerable children. It is simply unacceptable that close to 620 million children are being denied a quality education, either because they are not in a classroom or they are in school but not learning.”
“I pledge to roll up my sleeves and use the powerful set of levers that the Global Partnership for Education has developed to help government partners strengthen their education systems and drive equitable learning outcomes for the most vulnerable children.”
Under Ms. Albright’s leadership since February 2013, GPE matured into a dynamic thriving partnership and innovative fund. She has visited 20 developing country partners to engage senior leadership and has repurposed GPE’s business approach, introducing a new results-based funding model, a multiplier fund and a groundbreaking knowledge and innovation exchange. During her tenure the partnership has expanded with 14 new developing countries committing to the GPE principles and substantial new donor financing. The primary focus on driving up domestic government budgets has seen record levels of additional finance flow to education.
“While long-standing donors ratcheted up their support for GPE at last year’s Financing Conference, I was particularly pleased to see us broaden into new regions and welcome new partners,” Ms. Albright said. “The US$100 million contribution from the United Arab Emirates and the operational engagement of the Islamic Development Bank are unprecedented. The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, joining our Board strengthened the partnership’s ability to address the education needs of the most vulnerable children, and the recent inclusion of a new board seat to represent the private sector opens up powerful new opportunities.”
The six-person selection committee, which unanimously agreed to reappoint Ms. Albright, was led by the Chair of the GPE Board of Directors, Julia Gillard. It included representatives from the major Board constituencies and was assisted by an executive search firm.
“In addition to the skills and energy that Alice brings to the position, her reappointment gives the partnership and the Secretariat the benefit of continuity as we move onwards and upward,” Ms. Gillard said. “GPE can now look ahead with confidence to further improving our impact on systems strengthening, learning and equity, developing our new strategic plan and launching the next replenishment campaign.”
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About the Global Partnership for Education
The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) 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.
Contact: Chantal Rigaud. @email