Government representatives, development partners, philanthropies, and civil society leaders gathered in Nairobi on January 26, 2026, for Investing in Our Future, a high-level roundtable on education financing co-convened by the Government of Kenya and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). The dialogue focused on how sustained and innovative financing can unlock education’s potential to drive economic growth, social progress, and long-term stability.
The event highlighted Kenya’s long-standing commitment to education, with public spending consistently above the global 20% benchmark. Kenya has also played a leading role in international advocacy on domestic education financing, including through the Heads of State Declaration on Education Financing at the 2021 Global Education Summit.
The roundtable coincided with the opening of GPE’s new regional office in Nairobi and the launch of GPE 2030, the organization’s strategy for 2026–2030. The strategy emphasizes country-led reform, sustainable financing, and strong partnerships to accelerate learning outcomes, particularly for girls, children with disabilities, and learners affected by crises and conflict.
The convening followed GPE’s recent Multiply Possibility financing campaign, co-hosted by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The campaign has already secured over $430 million in pledges from sovereign donors, foundations, and philanthropies, aiming to mobilize $5 billion and unlock an additional $10 billion to improve learning for 750 million children across more than 90 partner countries. The campaign also supports countries in expanding domestic education budgets to create sustainable, nationally led financing.
With the largest generation of young people in history entering the workforce by 2040—nearly 900 million across current GPE partner countries—the stakes for quality education are unprecedented. Yet more than 270 million children remain out of school, with almost 90% of 10-year-olds in low-income countries unable to read and comprehend a simple text.
A fully funded GPE could have transformative impacts, including adding $840 billion to the global economy, lifting 23 million people out of poverty, saving $7.7 billion in climate-related damages, enrolling 204 million more children in school, and improving learning for 105 million children. Such investments boost productivity, expand tax bases, and create fiscal space for countries to reinvest in public services while building resilience to shocks.
Kenya’s Minister of Education, Julius Migos Ogamba, emphasized that strong national leadership supported by aligned partnerships is essential to building education systems that deliver for every learner. Dr. Ed Barnett, UK Chargé d’Affaires, highlighted the importance of listening to local priorities to ensure education investments deliver lasting impact. GPE Deputy CEO Charles North described education as one of the smartest investments a country can make for growth, stability, and opportunity, noting that partnerships are crucial to closing education financing gaps. Susan Otieno, CEO of the Aga Khan Foundation, stressed the critical role of philanthropy in catalyzing innovation and supporting system-wide transformation alongside governments and development partners.
Through such initiatives and partnerships, GPE aims to transform education systems in over 90 countries, ensuring that every girl and boy can access quality education and unlock their full potential to contribute to building a better, more equitable world.
