Displaced student Henriet in her classroom at Manua school near Kindu, Maniema province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Credit: GPE/Elvix Kwanu

Partner since:

Total grant support: US$376,282,344

Grant eligibility:

  • Multiplier
  • Girls' Education Accelerator
  • System capacity
  • System transformation

Partnership Compact

Priority: Transform education through competent, motivated and available teachers, while ensuring the inclusivity of education.

Other key documents

Transforming education in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Since joining GPE in 2012, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has increased the primary school completion rate from 29% to 70%. Still, many students enrolled in primary school do not complete it, and around one-in-five of primary age children are out of school.

For those in school, 73% are not proficient in reading and 81% are not proficient in math. To unlock large-scale change, DRC is working with GPE and other partners to improve the quality of teachers and teaching.

Better trained and supported teachers – and an increase in the number of female teachers – are expected to enhance the learning environment, boost student performance, and create a more resilient education system.

The DRC aims to improve teachers’ mastery of disciplinary content as well as their ability to support vulnerable students. Additional measures to upgrade the profession include merit-based teacher recruitment, a quality assurance system, and improved social protections to support teacher retirement.

The government and partners are also improving infrastructure and equipment to make schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo a better place for teachers to work and for students to learn.

Result story

Democratic Republic of Congo's pathway to education system transformation

The Democratic Republic of Congo is building on progress and lessons learned to transform its education system and improve learning for more children.

Key data

17%

out-of-school rate for children of lower-secondary school age

21%

of children start learning one year before entering primary school

100%

of primary teachers have the minimum required qualifications

16%

of government expenditure on education

Grants

(data as of December 22, 2024)

 
  • Type: System transformation and Girls' Education Accelerator

    Years: 2024 - 2028

    Allocation: US$137,500,000

    Utilization: US$13,440,345

    Grant agent: AFD, WB

  • Type: System capacity

    Years: 2023 - 2025

    Allocation: US$2,312,037

    Utilization: US$891,048

    Grant agent: UNESCO

  • Type: System capacity

    Years: 2021 - 2025

    Allocation: US$760,000

    Utilization: US$757,567

    Grant agent: UNESCO

Civil society engagement

As part of its investment in civil society advocacy and social accountability efforts, GPE’s Education Out Loud fund is supporting:

  • The Coalition Nationale de l'éducation pour tous en République Démocratique du Congo (CONEPT DRC) for the 2024-2026 period. This builds on previous support from the Civil Society Education Fund (CSEF).

Learn more

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