U.S. Commitment to Global Partnership for Education Falls Short

Washington, DC, June 27, 2014—Leaders from donor and developing country governments gathered yesterday for the Global Partnership for Education’s Second Replenishment pledging conference, making commitments to support quality education for children in poor and conflict-affected countries between now and 2018. At the conference, 27 developing countries made landmark commitments to increase their own education budgets to a total of $26 billion over the next four years—a 25% increase.

In two separate announcements, our own aid agency, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) indicated it will contribute $40 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 and $50 million in FY 2015—far short of recent calls from the U.S. Congress, civil society, and world leaders for $250 million over two years.

“Developing countries have shown remarkable commitment and leadership, pledging $26 billion for their national education programs over the next four years. We are disappointed the United States did not match this ambition,” said Joanne Carter, Executive Director of RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund. “It’s now up to Congress and the Administration to seize additional pledging opportunities in the months ahead.”

In total, the Global Partnership secured $2.1 billion in new funding from donors toward its $3.5 billion target. Notably, the United Kingdom pledged up to £300 million (U.S. $510 million), contingent on increased support from other donors. Combining developing country commitments with the full $3.5 billion from donors, the Global Partnership would be able to support quality education for an additional 29 million of the world’s most vulnerable children. It’s up to new donors to come forward and donors like the United States to commit additional resources over the coming months to help bridge the financial gap that remains.

RESULTS affiliates in Australia, Canada, UK and U.S. also pledged their own support for the goals of the Global Partnership for Education yesterday, committing to double the resources allocated to basic education advocacy.

To date, the Global Partnership for Education has helped support quality education for 22 million children in more than 60 of the world’s poorest countries. Demand for the Global Partnership’s support is on the rise based on its success creating long-term, effective education systems.

“We know that quality education improves health, economies, gender equality, and security,” said Carter. “Simply put, we cannot end poverty without investing in education. It is incumbent on all of us to make sure this is the beginning—not the end—of our work to fully replenish the Global Partnership for Education and ensure a quality education for every child.”

RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund
RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund are sister organizations that, together, are a leading force in ending poverty in the United States and around the world. We empower ordinary people to become extraordinary voices for the end of poverty in their communities, the media, and the halls of government. The collective voices of these passionate grassroots activists, coordinated with grass-tops efforts driven by our staff, leverage millions of dollars for programs and improved policies that give low-income people the tools they need to move out of poverty.

Contact:
Colin Smith
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