Engagement on Domestic Financing for Education

The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) is a global, multi-stakeholder partnership that seeks to strengthen education systems in low- and lower-middle-income countries and in countries affected by fragility and conflict to ensure equitable, quality education for all. GPE plays a unique role in helping governments to develop and finance the implementation of strong education sector plans that further equity and learning. GPE leverages the financial support and expertise of donors, developing country governments, international organizations, civil society, teacher organizations, the private sector and philanthropy to ensure the delivery of results. It has allocated US$4.6 billion since 2003.

Highlights presented in this policy brief include:  

1. Between 2015 and 2030, low- and middle-income countries will need to increase spending on education from the current US$1.2 trillion per year to US$3 trillion;  
2. The Incheon Declaration recommends that national governments allocate 4 to 6% of their gross domestic product (GDP) and/or at least 15 to 20% of their total public expenditure to education, with a focus on basic education; 
3. GPE creates incentives for developing country partners to develop financially sustainable education sector plans, increase national budget allocations and improve the quality of education expenditure;  
4. On average, between 2002 and 2013, GPE partner developing countries increased domestic expenditure on education as a percentage of total government expenditure from 15.2% to 16.6% and expenditure as a percentage of GDP from 2.9% to 3.9%; and
5. In 2015, where data is available, 47% of GPE partner developing countries, including 43% of countries affected by fragility and conflict, spent at least 20% of total government expenditure on education.