Private sector

The business community works collaboratively with GPE to develop high-profile public-private partnerships that deliver impactful results and enhanced visibility.

Many in the business community share GPE’s vision of transformed education systems delivering quality education to all children.

Business community support can help accelerate and deepen this transformation. Businesses bring not only financial resources but also know-how and tools to help resolve some of the most complex education challenges.

For those new to the education space, GPE offers corporate social responsibility (CSR) and philanthropic investment entry points. For businesses already working in education, joining forces with GPE can mean expanded reach and heightened return.

The private sector has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to work hand-in-hand with governments and transform their education systems, giving every girl and boy hope, opportunity and agency.

The business community is an integral part of the GPE partnership, with longstanding representation on the Board of Directors.

By working with GPE, the business community joins a range of partners focused on shared priorities and coordinated action, from ministries of education and local stakeholders to global development organizations such as UNICEF and the World Bank.

GPE works with Cisco, Ecobank, Econet Wireless, Google, Microsoft, Standard Bank, and Vodacom among many others.

Why partner with GPE?

happy people
Make a
difference
Join forces to advocate for transformative change and positively influence education policy at national and international levels.
results
Work at
scale
Leverage GPE’s influential partnership network to implement real, measurable change at scale.
financing
Compound your
impact
Through the GPE Match, GPE will double qualifying business investments made in education in partner countries.
leaders
Join global
leaders
Receive enhanced visibility for your work in education and align your brand with global education leaders and change-makers.

Partnership examples

Partnership in Lesotho is transforming education

In Lesotho, only 40% of grade 4 students have basic skills. Funding from the Roger Federer Foundation ($2.5 million) matched by $2.5 million from the GPE Multiplier is expanding access to pre-primary education and training for over 1,300 teachers across five districts to ensure young learners are academically on track.

Funding from three local private sector organizations totaling $3.6 million unlocked another $2.5 million from the GPE Multiplier to support upper primary and lower secondary girls’ and boys’ education, reaching 93,803 learners and 1,461 teachers.

This strong collaboration between government, philanthropy, and business is a model for sustainable change.

Read the story

Ukraine: Making education accessible when schools are closed

The conflict in Ukraine has disrupted learning for more than 4 million children. A $25.5 million contribution from Google, Microsoft and UNESCO unlocked a matching GPE Multiplier grant making an overall contribution of $51 million for distance learning and psychosocial support for children in conflict-affected areas.

This was the first time that private sector partners have provided the necessary co-financing for a partner country to unlock funding from GPE’s Multiplier through a combination of cash and in-kind donations.

More than 61,000 educators have been trained in psychosocial support. Over 8,000 teachers have been trained in digital and blended learning methods, while more than 20,000 teachers received training to help students recover from learning loss.

39 new digital learning centers have been established and approximately 16,000 digital devices have been distributed to help displaced children continue their education and access critical support.

Read the story

01 02

Public-private partnerships

GPE coordinates two public-private partnerships, each focusing on areas of fundamental impact, reaching across entire national education systems.

By joining these partnerships, the business community works with education ministries, other companies, foundations and international development organizations to address two system-wide challenges in scores of countries:

  • Technology for Education (Tech4Ed)

    GPE's Tech4Ed initiative identifies tools that address country-specific needs. What sets Tech4Ed apart is its focus on strengthening the capacity of partner countries to make use of technology to improve education access and learning for children in their specific contexts. Through Tech4Ed, GPE is partnering with the private sector to enhance partner country capacity to integrate technology into classrooms and teaching practices to improve education outcomes.

  • Education Data Leadership Program (EDLP)

    The EDLP is a GPE-led initiative that helps ministries of education improve how they collect, manage, and use education data. By partnering with leading private sector data companies, the program strengthens education data systems, builds ministry staff skills, and supports better planning and decision-making in education.

The GPE Match: Leverage GPE as an investment partner

GPE offers two ways for the business and philanthropic communities to trigger matching funds for their investments in education. The mechanism, called GPE Match, incentivizes and supports education efforts aligned with country priorities. There are two ways to trigger the Match:

  • Trigger a 1-to-1 match for programs in partner countries

    When business partners invest in new approved education initiatives in partner countries, GPE makes available 1:1 matching grants to support their implementation. GPE plays a coordinating role ensuring strong communications among all partners. In-kind and financial contributions can qualify for a match.

  • Trigger a 1-to-1 match for a contribution to girls' education

    GPE has created a dedicated fund for girls' education initiatives across the partnership, focused on countries with the furthest to go on gender equity: the Girls' Education Accelerator. Business partners can have a direct impact on girls' education by contributing financially through this initiative, which triggers a 1:1 match from the GPE Fund.

Learn more about GPE Match and explore its operational guidelines.

Publications

The business community and the Global Partnership for Education: A Case for Investment
Factsheet: The GPE match
Factsheet: Girls’ education awareness program
Factsheet: Business & private foundations - Partnering with GPE

Latest blogs and news

December 16, 2024
Partnership in Lesotho is transforming education
Lesotho has committed to improving children’s learning and delivering quality education to all. H.E. Prof. Ntoi Rapapa, Lesotho’s Minister of Education, highlights recent achievements and innovations in the...