Good news! Canada will double its pledge to the Global Partnership for Education to $180 million over the next three years (2018-2020). Prime Minister Trudeau announced Canada’s pledge at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. This renewed commitment represents an increase in Canada’s giving from $30 million a year to $60 million a year.
As you know, GRAN, along with members of the Canadian International Education Policy Working Group (CIEPWG) and other Canadian civil society organizations, has been calling on the Canadian government to increase its political and financial commitments to girls’ education. Our voices were heard, despite the announced commitment falling short of the $260 million Canadian CSO’s and the GPE had been asking for.
We are encouraged by this pledge, knowing that Canada recognizes the importance of education in achieving gender equality and the full empowerment of girls and women. However, education in development still only receives 8% of Canadian Official Development Assistance (ODA), falling short of the 15% that global advocates are asking donor countries to give. We look forward to more bilateral and humanitarian announcements to support global education in the upcoming year.
Many Canadians became engaged in education issues in the past year. Along with our partners in the CIEPWG, thousands of actions were taken to bring forward the need to support education. GRAN members were a significant part of actions taken and we thank you all for your commitment and continued efforts.
This is an exciting time for improving the human rights of girls and women of all ages. An important step forward in the fight for gender equality was taken this week. The journey continues. The road of advocacy is not easy, but we can celebrate that we have been a part of making change and breaking down barriers so that many girls and women in sub-Saharan Africa will be better able to claim their rights and lift themselves out of poverty.
You can read the Prime Minister's full news release by clicking here.
