The Global Partnership for Education Board of Directors met in Zanzibar on December 5 and 6, 2023. The President of Zanzibar, H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, and the First Lady, H.E. Mariam Mwinyi, hosted GPE Board Members at the State House to celebrate the partnership between GPE and the government of Zanzibar. The Board of Directors visited the Kisiwandui and Kikaangoni primary schools, and saw how collective action and commitment are preparing today's generations to be the builders of our tomorrow. It is an investment whose returns are tangible and lasting. For a decade now, GPE has proudly supported the government of Zanzibar with some US$35 million to transform the education system for all children in the country. Since 2013, GPE has invested more than US$330 million to support the efforts of the governement of Tanzania to transform education.
The meeting was opened by Hemed Suleiman Abdullah, H.E. Second Vice President, and the Board expressed thanks to the government for hosting this convening of GPE's Board of Directors. The first day of the meeting was framed by two important discussions on the African Union Year of Education and the Global Refugee Summit and inspired by the ministerial communique issued by the ministers of education representing 86 partner countries renewing their call for urgent action to transform education at scale and urging the education aid financing architecture to better support their efforts to transform our education systems.
Several key decisions were made. Considering the positive discussions with the World Bank to secure a reduction in the hosting recovery fee, the ability to source support from non-sovereign donors, and agreement to explore options to strengthen country systems, the Board agreed that the Secretariat should remain hosted at the World Bank for the foreseeable future. The Board also agreed to increase the Multiplier envelope for the GPE 2025 financing period from US$755 million to US$950 million, approved eligibility for Lebanon and Jordan considering the change in economic classification and the demands of hosting a significant proportion of refugees on the educations systems of both countries, and called on GPE partners to increase their funding to the Girls' Education Accelerator.
The second day of the Board meeting was dedicated to the learning partnership. The Board of Directors took this opportunity to reflect on the learning on GPE 2025 with focused discussion on gender equality, innovative financing, and system transformation. The Board was provided with an overview of initial findings of the Multilateral Organization Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN) assessment, briefed on the impact of lead exposure in learning outcomes, and received an update on risks, misuse of funds and prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH).
The Board meeting concluded with an announcement from Norway to allocate US$2.9 million to the sub account for the West Bank and Gaza, to address urgent education needs and help children get back to learning as soon as conditions allow. With the initial support of $1.2 million from Ireland, GPE has been in dialogue with education partners including Irish Aid (coordinating agency), the Ministry of Education, Palestinian Authority, the Education Sector Working Group and Education Cannot Wait (ECW) this will enable to work with partners on the best use of GPE resources and ways of mobilizing additional funds for children in the West Bank and Gaza, including through the GPE Multiplier.
The next meeting of the Board of Directors will take place in June 2024 in Berlin, Germany.