In a moment marked by prolonged wars, climate crises, forced displacements, and increasing pressure on international cooperation, few decisions are as relevant as maintaining the commitment to global education. The recent announcement of a commitment by Spain of 25 million euros to the campaign “Multiply Opportunities” of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE, for its initials in English), which represents a 25% increase compared to its announcement in 2021, reflects a shared conviction: investing in education is investing in development, stability, equality, and opportunities.
We live in a time of overlapping crises. Wars interrupt schooling, extreme climate phenomena destroy schools and displace communities, and economic restrictions limit public investment in basic services. In this context, education runs the risk of being relegated. However, precisely in times of uncertainty, it is when it is most necessary to protect and strengthen it.
Education is not only a fundamental right. It is also a decisive tool for building more stable, more prosperous, and more resilient societies. Where children and young people have access to quality education, economic opportunities increase, public health improves, civic participation is strengthened, and inequalities are reduced. Investing in education means investing in peace, sustainable growth, and stronger institutions.
Wars interrupt schooling, extreme climate phenomena destroy schools and displace communities, and economic restrictions limit public investment in basic services
From the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and from the GPE, we share the same certainty: there can be no sustainable development without strong, inclusive educational systems capable of reaching those who need it most. This is the basis of an alliance that combines Spain's political and financial commitment with GPE's multilateral experience in supporting partner countries to transform their educational systems.
The commitment from Spain comes at a key moment for international development financing. Needs are growing and resources are under pressure. In a scenario where many countries are reviewing their budget priorities, sustaining education requires leadership, long-term vision, and shared responsibility. It also requires recognizing that some investments do not yield immediate returns, but do lead to profound and lasting transformations.
For AECID, this commitment is part of a trajectory of defending effective multilateralism, global public goods, and a development agenda centered on people. For GPE, it reinforces a collective effort aimed at supporting countries in building more equitable, inclusive, and resilient educational systems. Both perspectives converge on the same priority: to expand educational opportunities where challenges are greatest.
GPE offers a multilateral framework from which governments, international organizations, civil society, teachers, and local communities work together to strengthen educational systems. The goal is not only to increase school access but to ensure that boys and girls learn, stay in the educational system, and develop the necessary skills to face the challenges of the 21st century. To achieve this, it is necessary to support structural reforms, promote teacher training, drive gender equality, and accompany countries in building educational systems capable of responding to crises and inequalities.
The results of this collective effort are tangible. Between 2021 and 2025, GPE grants and co-financing from its partners have supported 372 million boys and girls with a higher quality education, reaching nearly half of the school-age population in partner countries. These advances show that international cooperation, when articulated around shared priorities and strong national systems, can transform lives and expand opportunities on a large scale.
The education of girls deserves special attention. Despite the progress made in recent decades, 119 million girls remain deprived of education in the world and millions more face barriers that limit their access to school and their learning opportunities. When a girl receives education, her chances of accessing decent employment increase, her health and that of her future family improve, and her opportunities for social and economic participation expand. A girl whose mother can read is 50% more likely to live beyond the age of five, be vaccinated, and attend school. The education of girls not only transforms individual trajectories: it multiplies opportunities within families, communities, and economies.
Education also plays an essential role in conflict prevention and in the reconstruction of communities affected by violence. In fragile contexts, schools are spaces of protection, stability, and hope. Where institutions are weak, they can become a decisive factor in strengthening social cohesion and reducing the tensions that fuel instability. Ensuring educational continuity in these contexts is also an investment in peace, protection, and the future.
Education also plays an essential role in conflict prevention and in the reconstruction of communities affected by violence
Spain's participation in the GPE allows our country to engage in a novel way of addressing the challenge posed by SDG4 within the framework of the 2030 Agenda. This alliance reflects a shared understanding of global interaction. The challenges affecting one region ultimately have consequences for all humanity. Stability, prosperity, and security are common goods that require common efforts. Therefore, strengthening education financing should not be understood only as an economic contribution, but as a strategic bet on an international order based on cooperation, solidarity, and opportunities.
In times of uncertainty, few decisions have such lasting impact as ensuring that every boy and every girl, wherever they are born, can learn, grow, and build their own future. That is the responsibility we share: to defend education as a right, as a strategic investment, and as an indispensable foundation for a fairer, more stable, and more resilient world.