Multiply Possibility High Level Event: A New Era for Education Financing

Good morning, class.

Alright, excellencies. Can you hear me? There we go. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Can you hear me? So let's try that greeting one more time. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. That's more like it. Thank you. Good afternoon and welcome to the Multiply Possibility high level event. A New Era for Education Financing. My name is Larry Mido. I am the proud son of a teacher who taught in a small part of rural Kenya. So I'm excited to be here. This is special to me. The Global Partnership for Education was founded in 2002 and today supports more than 90 partner countries to strengthen education systems and improve learning so that every child everywhere can learn and thrive. And today marks GPE's fifth replenishment. So happy replenishment. The GPE team would thank you. Even the GPE team did not respond to that. And it's a critical moment to match partner countries' ambition and investment with the global financing and partnership needed to deliver results at scale. To set the scene for this important moment, it is my privilege to welcome Her Excellency Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much, Larry. Education in the room? Wow. Money in the room? Oh, my God. Your Excellency, Senator Kashin Shatima, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Antonio Tajani, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs for Italy, former President Jakay Kikwete, our Chair of the GPE, Excellencies, distinguished guests and colleagues. Let me begin by deeply appreciating Italy and Nigeria for leading this campaign. It is incredibly important when countries step forward and they push the campaign and the movement for education. As a Nigerian, I'll admit in particular pride in seeing my own country and the Vice President at the front of it. Nigeria knows as well as any country what is at stake when children are out of school, and it knows the answer has to start from home. That idea is central to GPE's work. Lasting change in education begins with countries themselves and the choices they make in their own budgets. What partners bring is the means to multiply it. GPE has shown that this works, and I would like to thank GPE and its partners, and, above all, the countries themselves, for proving it. We need that multiplier effect more than ever. Conflict, climate, shocks and debt are all bearing down on education systems at once. When we met at the Transforming Education Summit +4 in Paris in this July, four years after, we asked whether we were moving fast enough. And the answer, simply put, was no, we're not. 273 million children and young people are out of school, and millions more are sitting in classrooms without learning the very basics. Many of them are girls and boys whose schools have closed because of conflict, or children displaced far from home. In Afghanistan, girls and women are dealing with erasure in everyday life and unacceptable bans on secondary and higher education. And let me just take a moment to acknowledge Malala Yousafzai, who is on this podium, the work that she has done in the struggle for gender apartheid in Afghanistan. Beyond the crises, young people are now heading into a future transformed by artificial intelligence without even the basic digital tools or the literacy. Education is a right and one of the best investments any country can make. If every child were in school, world GDP would rise by more than $6.5 trillion a year. But many countries, most countries determined to make that investment are being stopped short. One hundred and thirteen countries now spend more servicing their debt than educating their children. That should not have to be a choice today. This replenishment is how we start to change that. I ask Governments to keep protecting and increasing what they invest at home, and I ask development partners to back them with ambitious, sustained commitments to GPE. And I would also ask international financial institutions to help countries to find the fiscal space to invest in their people, including through meaningful action on debt and the private sector and philanthropy to add their resources and their leverage. Whatever we raise today, much of its value will come down to teachers. A child can sit in the finest building with the newest of devices and learn very little without a good teacher in front of them. Teachers need to be properly trained, invested in and paid, and we have to trust each one of them to teach. Everyone has had a teacher. Dozens of the countries in this campaign have already committed to invest more in education at home. Every pledge made here this afternoon multiplies what they can do for their children and the futures of our nations, and it brings us closer to a world where the place a child is born is no longer decides the education that they receive. I thank you.

Thank you, Deputy Secretary General. And the challenge ahead of us is simple. You said that 273 million children out of school. As a child of a teacher, I know the power of education and how it changed my life. Let us now hear video messages from our two co-host countries, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy.

We have a unique opportunity to equip a new generation with the tools to shape an Africa that leads, not follows, in the 21st century. This demands vision, determination, and investment. Quality education is the pathway to inclusive growth and lasting peace. By funding the Global Partnership for Education, we empower dynamic, and youthful nations like Nigeria to break down the barriers that keeps our children, especially our girls, out of school and away from learning so they can achieve their full potential. GPE's mission aligns with ours to transform education system and unlock national development and shared prosperity. Our future begins in the classroom. International cooperation and strong investment in education are essential to ensure every child can attend school and society can thrive.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Italy is proud to co-host this campaign together with Nigeria. I thank President Tinubu for his partnership and his leadership. This joint work reflects a conviction that Italy shares deeply: development cannot be imposed from outside. It must be built together. This is the spirit of the Mattei Plan, the strategy through which Italy has chosen to reshape its partnership with Africa. Cooperation between equals, grounded in mutual respect, shared responsibility, and concrete results, not promises that are never kept. And at the heart of this partnership stands one conviction. Nothing can truly be achieved for Africa's future if we do not first invest in its people. Africa is not a continent to be held. It is a continent of extraordinary talent, energy, and hope. A young continent looking to the future with confidence. Its greatest wealth is not beneath the ground. It is in its children. Every young person who is denied an education is a talent the world will never know, a future that will never be written. This is why we believe every child has the right to learn, to grow, and to build a life at home. The right not to be forced to leave everything behind in search of a future that should have been possible where they were born. Education is not a side chapter of development. It is the foundation upon which every other ambition is built. Jobs, dignity, prosperity. Maria Montessori, one of the most famous educator of all time, thought the world something we should never forget. The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind. That hope and that promise are exactly what is at stake today. This is why Italy believes so strongly in the Global Partnership for Education. GPE brings partners together and makes every investment in children's learning go further. Together, we have the opportunity to improve education for 750 million children by 2030. I invite every partner in this room to join this ambition, not as donors and recipients, but as allies in a common cause. Together, we can multiply possibility for millions of children around the world. So we count on you. Thank you.

Thank you to Prime Minister Meloni and President Tinubu for their support and for their leadership in this. It is now my pleasure to welcome His Excellency Jakaya Kikwete, the Chair of the GPE Board of Directors and former President of Tanzania.

Your Excellency, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Excellency Amina Mohammed, Your Excellency, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Kashim Shetima, Your Excellency, the Deputy Prime Minister of Italy, Excellency Antonio Tajani, distinguished heads of states and government present, representatives of heads of state and government, Excellencies, distinguished partners, ladies and gentlemen. Allow me to begin by thanking President, His Excellency President Bola Tinubu of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Her Excellency the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni of Italy, for convening this historic event and for their leadership. One year ago, the Global Partnership for Education launched an ambitious campaign to improve education for 750 million children in over 90 GPE partner countries. Here at the United Nations, we are reminded that education is key to human rights, to peace, security, and development. We are gathered here this afternoon to get the requisite resources to fulfill the needs of the young people and children of this planet. But the challenges before us are immense. Artificial intelligence, climate change are transforming societies. Public finances are tightening. Development assistance is falling. The gap is widening between those learning and those being left behind. To unlock the potential of this generation, we must transform how we deliver and finance education. We need systems that deliver better learning, reach every child, and prepare young people for the future. Excellencies, we need to coordinate effective partnerships aligned behind country-led reforms. And we need sustainable financing that is anchored in domestic resources and mobilizes diverse resources of capital, sources of capital. This is the GPE's mission. In the next five years, our partnership has improved. In the last five years, our partnership has improved education for 372 million children and young people. in more than 90 countries. With sustained investments, we can reach millions more by 2030. Excellencies, GPE's fifth replenishment is a pivotal milestone in confronting the learning crisis. I thank partner governments, donors, development banks, philanthropy community, civil society, teachers, and young people for their tireless leadership throughout this campaign. But we must be clear, today is not the end. The learning crisis is urgent. GPE is proof that together, we can put SDG 4 back within reach. Now we must summon the political will, the partnerships, and the resources this moment demands. If we fail to act now, we fail a generation ready to learn and to lead. So let us rest, and let us not rest until we hope we have multiplied opportunity, possibility for every child, for every child everywhere. Let's work together to multiply possibility. I thank you and welcome to this Replenishment Meeting.

Thank you, Your Excellency, for setting the stage for us. At the back, I understand you're having problems hearing us. So if you can't hear properly at the back, please use the earpieces. They should be at your table so you can hear well. Anyone in the back, do you get that? Fantastic, thank you. It is now my pleasure to invite His Excellency Kashim Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria, to deliver his opening remarks.

Education is the greatest game changer. Within a generation, the son of a hapless peasant can be a celebrated icon. So, Larry Madowa, you are not the only son of a teacher, I am the son of an Arabic scholar. And I'm a first generation graduate of my family. Your Excellency Aminah J. Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations. Your Excellency Antonio Tajani, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy. Your Excellency Jakaya Kikwete, the former president of Tanzania and chair of the board of GPE, the inspirational Malala Yousafzai, your excellencies, distinguished personalities, ladies and gentlemen. Let me begin by expressing Nigeria's appreciation to the government of Italy and the Global Partnership for Education for joining us in this important conversation on the future of education financing. As co-hosts of this campaign, Nigeria comes to this replenishment not simply to ask the international community to invest more in education. We come to demonstrate that we are investing in education ourselves. For Nigeria, education is not an expenditure at the margins of our development agenda. It is an investment in our economic future, national productivity, and the prosperity and stability of our people. Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR assumed the mantle of leadership in 2023, our administration has substantially increased resources devoted to education while pursuing reforms to strengthen basic education financing, expand foundational learning, and improve access to tertiary and technical education. Through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, We are widening access to higher education while strengthening the link between education, skills, employment, and enterprise. We are also looking beyond traditional budgetary allocations. President Tinubu has directed that liquid points recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, once legally cleared and free from litigation, be channeled to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. The Federal Executive Council has also approved consideration of unclaimed dividends and dormant funds for the same purpose, subject to the relevant legal requirements. This demonstrates our conviction that financing education requires us to mobilize every possible and local domestic source available. Our partnership with the World Bank and GPE through HopeEdu further demonstrates what international partnership can achieve. The program is expected to reach approximately 29 million children and 500,000 teachers across Nigeria. And this is why GPE matters. GPE does not replace national investment, it multiplies it. The ambition before us is to mobilize $5 billion for GPE and through that investment, unlock additional financing for education in partner countries. The domestic resources must remain the anchor, complemented by development assistance, concessional finance, philanthropy, and innovative financing. Nigeria is a young country with a population of 250 million, and expected to be the third most populous nation on Earth by 2050. And the average age of the Nigerian nation is 16.9. We have the opportunity of transforming this demographic bulge into demographic dividends, instead of the much feared demographic disasters. We believe that we have the intellect, the capacity, and the international partnership to make this transition work. As I said, our growing population can become one of our greatest economic assets, but only if our young people have access to quality education, relevant skills, and meaningful opportunities. The answer to declining aid must therefore be smarter multilateralism, using scarce international resources to leverage much larger investments. Let us make this replenishment not merely a pawn-raising exercise, but a renewed compact for human capital, bringing together national leadership, international leadership, and responsible financing so that every child has the opportunity to learn, thrive, and contribute to their country's future. I thank you for listening.

Thank you, Your Excellency, Shetty, and what a powerful demonstration of the power of education. from the son of an Arabic scholar to the vice president. Thank you for sharing that little tidbit and a huge inspiration. It is now my pleasure to invite His Excellency Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy.

Thank you very much, Excellencies, Deputy Secretary General, Chair of the GPI. Vice President of Nigeria, ladies and gentlemen, it's a great honor to co-chair this event with Nigeria, the 2026 Global Partnership for Education Replenishment. I'm very pleased to share this symbolic moment with the Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima. We worked hard with Nigeria to make today a great success. Like Prime Minister Meloni said in her video, today we sent together a strong political message. Education is still the most powerful investment we can make in development. More education means fewer conflicts and wars. More education means more peace, growth, and cooperation. Good news from Italy. I am pleased to announce that Italy will double its funding for GPI from 25 million to 50 million euros. Our focus will be on Africa and on girls' education. This is the future. Education is a top priority for Italian foreign policy in Africa, in the Mediterranean region, and in the world. Today, Italian tennis champion, number one in the world, Jannik Sinner, will send a special message to the new generations. Education is a pillar of the Mattei Plan, as Prime Minister Mattei, Meloni said. Our vision for Africa is a model for Europe and for many international partners. Our goal is simple. We want true partnership of equals. We want to support local capacities. We want to grow together. We are investing in African youth with concrete projects. A few weeks ago, I was in Egypt and I met a young student of the Italian technical schools in Cairo. They have great potential. We want to give African students all the tools to build their own future, the future they dream. As Pope Benedict said, we must give them the right not to emigrate. This is a human right. At the same time, we are expanding our regular channels for African students to come, study, and train in Italy. In this spirit, Italy has also welcomed more than 270 students coming from Gaza. We want to train the future Palestinian leadership. This is our engagement for helping these young people. At a time when development budgets are under pressure, protecting investment in education is more important than ever. Education is key to strengthening the capacity of our partner countries to drive their own development. The resources we mobilize today mean better school tomorrow and real opportunities for millions of children. We ask our partners, countries, banks, foundation, and the private sector to join this effort. Italy is ready to play its part. No child must be left behind. Thank you very much. Count on Italy. Count on me.

Your Excellency, what a wonderful way to begin with a big announcement of doubling your funding for GPE to 50 million euros. Thank you so much. I think the Deputy Secretary General began by asking if money is in the room, and I think you got the signal, right? Money is in the room, and we're just getting started. So by the time we're done this afternoon, we'll have a good number. Right now, I'd like to introduce a few champions who also in their respective ways are showing how it is important to keep education on the agenda, especially during these complex times. My only ask is to keep their remarks short so we can get to the more of the numbers and more of the money. And to open this segment, next to me, it's a pleasure to welcome Ms. Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and co-founder of the Malala Fund.

Your excellencies and distinguished guests, assalamu alaikum and good afternoon. I am also honored to join this incredible group of leaders in this room. I'm also the granddaughter of an Islamic scholar and teacher and the daughter of a feminist father and also a teacher. You have all heard speeches about the importance of investing in education, about the positive effects on economic growth and stability. You have also heard stories of children who have benefited from your government's support for the Global Partnership for Education. In rooms like these, they're often called "success stories." It is odd to me that what we celebrate is just the baseline. Children in classrooms learning to read, learning to write their own names. This should not be success, but the standard for all children everywhere. Yet, 132 million girls are out of school today. Girls whose parents cannot afford school fees, whose nearest classroom is a day's walk away, whose education ends the moment conflict begins. They are the reason I am sitting here today. They may never hear this speech or learn what happens at a replenishment conference, but they will live with its outcome, because the pledges you make will either go far enough to reach them or they won't. I commend the partner countries who have committed an incredible $238 billion in domestic financing to education. But the funding alone is not enough, especially for girls. Your commitments must include a plan for ensuring gender equality in education. and must recognize the intersectionality of different identities. You must also meet with the girls in your country, listen to the challenges that they face, and work together with them to solve them. To the donor governments, partner countries are not asking anyone to do this for them. They're asking you to do it with them. GPE works precisely because of this partnership, countries pooling their resources to go farther than they could on their own. Partner countries have set the bar high. What they're asking for is modest by comparison, only $5 billion, a number well within your reach and far less than the price of leaving millions of girls behind. I hope that more of you will match the bold commitment that Italy has made in this room today. Everything we value, health, peace, equality, opportunity, begins in a classroom. But I have been in too many rooms where leaders agreed on everything and committed to nothing. The truest test of your leadership is whether you will go far enough in your policies and in your pledges to reach the girls who need it most. Thank you.

Malala, thank you so much for such a powerful reminder for why we're here today. I want to bring on now some government leaders who are also championing education and the future of their youth. and who see the Global Partnership for Education as a part of that future. And to start us off, let me welcome the Honorable Aaron B. Palik, Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia, to share perspective from the Pacific.

Excellencies, distinguished partners, colleagues, donors, ladies and gentlemen. For Micronesia, our islands may be small and scattered across the vast ocean, and our resources may be limited, but our ambition for our children is not. We want every child in Micronesia and across the Pacific to have the opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive in ways that reflect who they are and the communities they come from. That ambition depends on partnership. The Global Partnership for Education understands that strong education system must be country led. GPE does not impose a blueprint from elsewhere. It enables countries to define their own priorities and lead their own reforms. For Micronesia, this is especially important. It gives us the opportunities to place Our indigenous knowledge, language, tradition, and relationship with the ocean at the heart of our children's education. Education rooted in identity and culture is education that can endure. Since the last GPE replenishment, the partnership's presence in the Pacific has grown significantly. Today, 10 Pacific Island countries are GPE partners. Together, our countries have received more than under $36 million in individual grants, complemented by more than $16 million in regional investments supporting the Pacific Regional Education Framework. Partnership This is partnership in action. It brings our nations closer together and transform common vulnerability into common strength. We are deeply grateful to the donors who continue to stand with the Pacific. I particularly recognize Australia for its steadfast and generous support for education in our region. We also join our global partners in recognizing Italy and Nigeria for their leadership in advancing access to quality education. To all donors here today, our message is simple. Investment in GPE works. It reflects, it respects country ownership. It strengthens regional solidarity. and it reaches children in some of the world's most smallest and most remote island communities. On behalf of Micronesia, I ask you to continue standing with the Pacific and with GPE so that together we can multiply possibilities for generations to come. Thank you very much.

Your Excellency, thank you and thank you for making the case that this works. It is now my pleasure to introduce my friend, the Honorable David Moinona Senghe, Chief Minister and Chief Innovation Officer of Sierra Leone.

Thank you very much. Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me start with a simple question. What is the most expensive thing we can do for education? Some might say build more schools, hire more teachers, buy more technology. But I think that the most expensive thing we can do is to leave any child behind. Because that bill eventually comes due in unemployment, inequality, poor health, instability, lost human potential, and the loss of the world GDP. And that is why Africa's future will be decided in our commitment to invest in lifelong learning and education for all. Yes, our governments face immense debt pressures. Yes, fiscal space is tight. But we must all agree that education cannot become the adjustable variable whenever budgets become difficult. African countries like ours in Sierra Leone are demonstrating that we mean this. 56 GPE partner countries have committed 471 billion of their own domestic resources to education. 35 African partner countries alone have pledged more than 250 billion for 2026 to 2030. Think about that. That's 250 billion from Africa for Africa's children. Equitable education as a goal relies on equitable partnerships, equitable dignified partnerships, and that's what GPE is. In Sierra Leone, President Julius Maada Bio has made education and the strategy that we call radical inclusion central to our national transformation. It's the simple commitment to do everything in our power so that all children can receive the opportunities to reach their fullest selves. But for us, commitment is not only what you allocate, it is what you execute. We strengthen tax administration and domestic revenue mobilization, channeling that into education. We're exploring diaspora, climate, and green finance. And Sierra Leone already consistently allocates 20% of its budget to education. Most importantly, budget execution increased from 78% in 2019 to about 92% in 2024, exceeding our GPE results-based target. This is what partnership should look like. Communities lead, countries and partners align, international financing is catalyzed to invest in our shared future. International finance should not create dependency. It should unlock domestic capacity and strengthen national systems until our own resources can do more. So our partner countries, as I said, have put 471 billion of ambition on the table. My challenge to our international partners is simple. Let's match it, fully fund it, because the future of our world depends on it. Beyond these pledges today, I want to challenge all of us that investments that open economic growth in Africa is an investment in education. 20% of a small budget is small. So we ask you to think about investments in our economies as an investment in education. Secondly, Wars around the other parts of the world that affect our economic growth affects education in our communities. Those monies we put into funding wars, the other impacts of those wars affect how much we can raise and mobilize locally. So I want to end by saying, the question is not whether we can afford to educate every child, it is really whether we can afford not to. Thank you.

Thank you, Chief Minister. You made the case for it, and he knows what he's talking about. He's a former education minister in Sierra Leone. So thank you for explaining that we cannot afford to leave any child behind. The model for GPE is about matching government ambition with international partnership. And who better to represent that spirit than His Excellency Joseph Siculek, Commissioner for International Partnerships for the European Commission?

And gentlemen, distinguished guests, perhaps it's my former profession, but it is no about me. I like statistics. And the reasons the statistic from the World Bank caught my eye. Current deficits in health, education, and workforce skills are costing low- and middle-income countries 51% of their future labor earnings. 51%. Think about it. All of us. More than half of the future workforce earnings lost due to insufficient education, skills, and health. Education is a foundation of investment. It is a foundation of prosperity, of stability, of equality, and the clean and digital transition. Education is the foundation of the very goals we seek for our collective future. Investing in it is not just a moral obligation. This is a matter of resilience. This is why the EU and its member states provide not only almost the half of the overall global development assistance, but mainly more than half of the global development assistance for education. Through Global Gateway, we invest across the entire spectrum, from basic education to TVET and higher education. Together with partner countries, we focus on the areas that have the biggest impact, improving the quality of the education, enhancing teacher training and retention, and connecting education to jobs. The Global Partnership for Education is a key partner It delivers results, especially in fragile settings like Chad and Somalia, where we improved education for tens of thousands of children together. Together with Member States, we are GPE's largest financial contributor and remain deeply committed to its mission. Today, our collective ambition remains high to improve education for 700 million young people. Achieving it requires more than an ambition. It requires dedication and mainly commitment. Countries must prioritize domestic resources to education. Companies must invest in the skills of tomorrow. And global leaders must continue to provide support. So today I am proud to confirm an European Union investment of 200 million euros to the Global Partnership for Education. 200 million for 26 and 27. This brings the EU's continuous support for GPE to 1.76 billion euro since 2003. And this contribution is just a part of even larger one from the whole team Europe. While some have chosen to disengage, the European Union continues its support to GPE and is committed to further funding in the next financial cycle, subject to agreement on the multi-annual financial framework. Education and skills are and will remain a key pillar of the European Union's engagement and the critical enabler to roll our global out of the global gateway. And I believe that everyone here today today will join us in this effort. So thank you very much.

Commissioner Sikela, thank you and thank you for the EU's 200 million euros and being the largest contributor. As the Deputy Secretary General began, there is money in the room. We are going to go to the pledges shortly. But before that, Deputy Prime Minister Tajani teased this in his remarks, and I'm now pleased that we can go to this, a special video message from Yannick Sinner, professional tennis player and founder of the Yannick Sinner Foundation.

Hello everyone, it's Yannick Sinner here and I'm very honored to join you at the United Nations in New York, even though it's only virtually. New York is a very fitting location for this high-level financing event. It's where nations from around the world come together at the UN to build a better future step by step. Education works similarly. What we have built for children today will stay with them for the rest of their lives. First and foremost, I want to thank Italy and Nigeria to put this event together. Two countries on two continents, united in a shared belief that every child deserves the chance to grow, learn, and build a bright future. When nations come together with that kind of commitment, it sends a powerful message to the world. That is how real change happens. Growing up in a very small town in northern Italy, I was very fortunate. I had incredible teachers, a supportive family, and the chance to follow my dreams. But millions of children around the world are not given that same opportunity. More than 270 million children still lack access to a classroom, a teacher, a safe school, or an environment that supports their learning and growth. And it's not because these children lack talent or determination. It's because they've been denied the opportunities that they deserve. That's why I started the Yannick Sinner Foundation. We work to create more opportunities for children through education, sports, and safe spaces to grow. And that's why GPE was the right first partner for us, because they are doing this work at an impressive scale, reaching the children who need it most. Today, we have the power to multiply possibility for 750 million children. It's an honor and privilege to stand with GPE in this mission. Thank you for your support.

And thank you to Yannick Sinner and the Yannick Sinner Foundation for that. We know some of our guests might have to leave us in the middle of this. Thank you for your contribution, for your support, and for your leadership. We are going to go to the announcements and pledges now. So far, Who's keeping count? How much money do we have? Were you keeping count? 250 million euros, right? 50 million from Italy, 200 million from the European Union. And so we're now moving from urgency to action. And the commitments we will hear support a model in which countries lead, partners align behind national priorities, and every contribution designed to go further, last longer, and deliver measurable results. My only ask from the speakers we'll be hearing from these contributions, please keep your moments, your contributions short. At some point, you'll see your mic begin to flash, and that's your cue that you're running out of time. And at some point, you'll see our colleagues here at the front hold up the time sheets. When it goes red, you're well out of time. But thank you so much for bearing with us. So To start us off, please welcome His Excellency, Lars Loe Rasmussen, Minister of Foreign Affairs from Denmark.

Thank you. Thank you. And I'm pleased to announce that Denmark will maintain our strong investment in the Global Partnership for Education with an intended contribution of approximately $150 million for the next coming four years, '27 to '30. That will be subject to parliamentary approval, but I look at this as a formality. And it is a part of our broader Team Europe support to GPE. Investing in education is a matter of shared interest, of solidarity, and of achieving results together. For our partner countries, education is a priority. It drives sustainable development, growth, and innovation, and it promotes human rights, equality, and peace. Education gives children the skills to build better future, as it was just said by the tennis player from Italy. For Denmark, investment in education is also about supporting stable, resilient, productive societies, and about building trusted, equal partnerships for trade, investment and cooperation. And today, such partnerships are as important as ever. GPE works through close national collaboration, strengthening local education systems and helping countries, especially in Africa, to deliver quality education at scale. And GPE is demonstrating results, such as 10 million more children enrolled in school and improved learning. So for Denmark, education and GPE is both a smart development and a strategic investment. Thank you.

Your Excellency, thank you so much for your contribution and donating some time back to us. And now, His Excellency, Sheikh Jarad Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kuwait.

Ladies and gentlemen, Excellencies, I am delighted to thank the Italian Republic and the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 2GP as well to have organized and convened this meeting at a time where we have multiple challenges that are facing education systems around the world and requires for us to work together to get to a good quality education and that is equitable. For Kuwait, education is a cornerstone for sustainable development and to invest in our human capital to face future challenges. And that's why my country continued in its invest and develop its education system. and benefit from digitalization and new technology, and to improve the skills of the youth in a way that is coherent with the local and the actual challenges, and to increase access to education in other societies and are most in need, because we have this belief that an investment in education is an investment in stability and prosperity. And Kuwait joins all the donors of GPE in 21 and they had a plush with 33 millions for GPE to improve education system and access to education, to quality education. And and we are on track to fulfill this pledge towards 27, and we want to achieve the SDG 4 in a way to have a more inclusive education system that are more resilient and there will be no one left behind, and I thank you.

Thank you, Your Excellency. And now from France, Her Excellency Eleanor Carroua, Minister Delegate for Francophonie, International Partnerships, and French Nationals Abroad.

Thank you very much, and thank you all indeed for this meeting. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. None of us can remain insensitive to this great injustice, the injustice that children are not educated in some parts of the world. We have no, we can have no international policy without a policy on education. We are here to support this idea and France is present here today. to give a political voice to these programs, which are so important. Through this double commitment, both financial and political, France believes that pledges must be very ambitious and an integral part of development pledges. We have advanced this idea in the G7 through our partnership to mobilize public and private donors and to improve efficacy so that every dollar is used to its full potential. With this reform work, we despite budget limitations, France, it remains committed and will announce that we will accompany GPE once again with a contribution of 162 million euros for the five years to come. And once again, given the political engagement that we have, that each of us have, I invite you to participate in the Summit for Children, which will take place in November in France tomorrow, in November. And because this political will is absolutely vital. Thank you very much.

From Germany, Her Excellency Reem Al-Abali Radovan, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Ladies and gentlemen, education is a human right and the best investment we can make in the future. It gives young people a real stake in their societies, and that is one of the strongest foundations for peace and stability. The Global Partnership plays a crucial role in turning our commitments into real opportunities for children worldwide. Germany will remain a reliable partner for the GPE, and I am very pleased to announce that Germany will support the GPE with 270 million euros for the next five years. And I'm calling on all partners, governments, foundations, and the private sector to make ambitious contributions to here and now to the GPE and to the replenishment of Education Cannot Wait in November. Both initiatives are crucial when it comes to delivering on the right to education. We are-- Thank you. We are counting on your commitment too. Together we can make a difference so that every child everywhere has the chance to learn and build a better future. Thank you.

Your Excellency, thank you. And representing Ireland, His Excellency Neil Richmond, Minister for International Development and Diaspora.

Thank you very much, Chair. May I thank the governments of Italy and Nigeria for convening this extremely important pledging session. Friends, Ireland's own journey has demonstrated the transformative power of education. Investment in education has helped drive our social progress, our economic development and our national prosperity. That experience continues to shape our commitment to international development cooperation and to supporting inclusive, equitable and quality education for all. Education is not only a fundamental human right, it is one of the most effective investments we can make in sustainable development, economic opportunity, social cohesion and, indeed, peace. The Global Partnership for Education has played an important role in supporting this progress. Ireland values GPE's emphasis on country ownership, alignment behind national priorities, strengthening education systems, promoting gender equality and reaching those furthest behind first. In particular, we must continue to prioritise girls, children affected by conflict and crisis, and those whose voices are too often overlooked. It is in that spirit that Ireland is proud to renew its partnership with GPE. Today, I am proud to announce that Ireland will increase our pledge to 40 million euro to GPE over the period 2026 to 2030. Ireland's pledge to GPE is proudly delivered as part of the wider Team Europe commitment, demonstrating our shared support for global education and its centrality for inclusive economic growth. I will continue and repeat the call to ask others to continue their investment in GPE and education kind of ways. Thank you.

Thank you, Excellency. And from the United Arab Emirates, Her Excellency Reem **** Ibrahim Al Hashimi, Minister for State for International Cooperation.

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful.

And Italy, President Kikwete, and of course, Ms. Laura Franghetti and her team at GPE for their incredible leadership. The UAE takes pride in its partnership with the Global Partnership for Education. Since joining in 2018 as the first Arab and Middle Eastern donor with a $100 million commitment, and then renewing that commitment in 2021 with an additional $100 million, we've contributed directly to GPE's mission of transforming education systems, taking leadership roles in girls' education, climate change, jobs for the future, and innovative finance. Education for us is not simply a social service, but the foundation of economic stability, security, and human dignity. GPE's results speak for themselves. Millions more children in school, better trained teachers, and girls now representing more than half of those reached. Yet the learning crisis already costs the global economy $3.3 trillion each year in lost productivity. At a time when international aid is under pressure, sustaining investment in education is harder but more necessary than ever. The UAE's vision remains centered on three key priorities. Every girl in school, young people equipped with future-ready skills, especially across the MENA region and the Global South, and education systems that are resilient to conflict, climate shocks, and disruption. On artificial intelligence, the UAE remains confident this technology can be a force for equity in education, easing the burden on teachers and opening pathways for learners everywhere. We commend GPE as a proven vehicle for collective action, and we're following this replenishment campaign closely as we consider how the UAE can continue to support this vital agenda in the years ahead. Thank you so much for your time and attention.

Thank you, Your Excellency. And for the United Kingdom, the Honourable Kirsty McNeill, MP, Minister for International Development and Africa. I don't think, yes. Fabulous, thanks.

Your Excellency's colleagues, friends, every child deserves a chance to learn, to discover what they are good at, to build a future of their own choosing. Education opens doors, expands opportunities, and gives children the chance to thrive and shape better futures for themselves and their communities. For all those reasons, the United Kingdom is a proud supporter of the global partnerships for education. The partnership works because it supports country-led change, helping Governments to strengthen education systems and improve learning opportunities for hundreds of millions of children, including those whose education has been disrupted by conflict, crisis or displacement. Education is not only a fundamental right; it is one of the smartest investments that we can make for a more prosperous, safer and healthier world. That is why the United Kingdom is pleased to pledge 100 million in support of GPE 2030. That pledge reflects our continued commitment to a partnership that delivers and to a vision in which every child, everywhere, can unlock their potential. Thank you.

Andrew McNeil, thank you. And we have a few more. Just a quick reminder to please keep it brief so we can include everybody in the time we have allocated. Representing Canada, the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State for International Development. Good.

Afternoon. Bonjour. C'est un plaisir d'etre ici. Je remercie le Premier ministre Meloni et la Presidente Tenubu d'avoir co-organise cette A child's future should never be determined by where they're born. But for millions of children today, it is. So much changes when a girl in rural Tanzania can stay in school. She has an opportunity to earn an income, have more to say in decisions about her life, and more tools to support her family and community. Or a child living through conflict, where a classroom offers a different kind of possibility, a chance to keep learning and envision something beyond the violence around them. That is the power of education, and Canada believes it is a basic human right. In many countries today, young people make up a growing share of the population, so their education will help determine the strength of their economies for decades to come. But their education also needs to keep pace with a rapidly changing world. Technology is transforming the workplace, and the skills they will need are shifting under their feet. At the same time, geopolitical and economic uncertainty are putting pressure on government budgets, making it harder for countries alone to invest at the scale needed. We need to find new ways to bring partners and additional financing into that effort. GPE does exactly that, bringing diverse partners together to expand access to quality education, particularly for children facing the greatest barriers. As a founding member, Canada has supported GPE from the beginning. From 2021 to 2025, we provided $300 million to support its work. In that time, GPE reached more than 370 million children, trained 4.7 million teachers, and distributed more than 270 million textbooks. Today, I'm pleased to announce that Canada is providing an additional $300 million to support Because quality education for every child is critical to the future we're trying to build and child learning to read today could be treating a patient, running a business or teaching their own students in 15 years. Canada is betting on that child. Thank you.

Honourable Soraya, thank you. And representing the Government of Australia, Senator Dorinda Cox, Senator for Western Australia.

Thank you. Ministers, permanent representatives, friends, all formalities observed. I am honoured to speak on behalf of Australia. For those of us who have been given the chance of a good education, we cannot take for granted how much that has shaped our lives. The responsibility on us to foster learning opportunities for current and future generations has never been more urgent. Today, more than 270 children globally are growing up without these opportunities. In this context, the Global Partnership for Education has a simple and powerful objective: a quality education for every child. And Australia has long believed in and supported that mission. Since 2007, Australia has invested 740 million Australian dollars in GPE, alongside our bilateral and regional education programs. We know education is fundamental to stability, growth and opportunity. This commitment is deeply connected to our own region, the Indo-Pacific, a region of extraordinary diversity, energy and promise, but also one where climate change, conflict, displacement and economic pressures are placing real strain on our education systems. Today, the Indo-Pacific countries make up a quarter of GPE's members, spanning diverse cultures and contexts, from Bangladesh to Samoa. We are especially pleased that nearly half of GPE's new members are from the Indo-Pacific, a sign a partnership that listens to countries and local communities that respond to their priorities and backs national leadership. Across our region, education builds stronger economies and more resilient societies. With Australia's backing, GPE will continue to help girls stay in school, bring education to children in remote communities, prepare young people for a changing economy, and support teachers in their classrooms. For this reason, Australia is proud to invest a further $125 million Australian dollars in the GPE education over the next five years. A commitment which reaffirms Australia's enduring support for education, our confidence in what we can achieve together. Thank you all.

Thank you, Senator. And our final few speakers, a quick reminder again, kindly keep it brief. From the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, Ms. Victoria Teras, CEO of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.

I want to thank the governments of Nigeria and of Italy, as well as the GPE, for bringing us together today and for keeping education at the top of the global agenda. Spain began its collaboration with the GPE in 2006. That means 20 years of us building a strategic partnership for global education through GPE, brilliant and ambitious country-driven and listening-based approach. Do not worry, I will not go over these 20 years of fruitful partnership, for we have been asked to keep it short, so I will cut to the chase. As a sign of Spain's commitment to the GPE, my Prime Minister announced in May this year that Spain is, and I am glad to share with all of you, that we are contributing 25 million to this pledging campaign, which represents It represents a 25% increase compared to what we pledged in the previous pledging conference. We also call on all partners to join forces to support education and, of course, to support the tremendous job that the GPE is carrying out in over 90 countries, impacting over 750 million children. because education is the best investment that our country can make in its own future. And as partners, multiplying these children's possibilities is the best investment we can make in a common, thriving, common future. Thank you.

Thank you. And from Japan, Mr. Masatoshi Segura, Director General for Global Issues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Okay, Excellencies, colleagues, friends, Japan regards education as an investment in people, essential to advancing human security. Drawing on our own experience, Japan has long promoted international cooperation in education. From 2020 to 2024, Japan provided approximately 2 billion US dollars in support for education in various forms, including contribution to GPE. We will continue to work closely with GPE to achieve inclusive, equitable, and quality education, leaving no one behind. Last year, at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development, TICA 9, Japan committed to supporting improved access to quality basic education in Africa, including through GPE. While we are not in a position to make a multi-year pledge, so I'm sticking to this year only, So the Japan contributed already to the GPE more than 7 million US dollars, which is the increase of 30% over previous year, with a majority directed towards Africa. In addition, the subject to the completion of necessary arrangement with GPE and other relevant stakeholders, Japan will seek to realize further contributions for this year including approximately 2 billion Japanese yen in co-financing through JICA. Under GP2030, Japan will further facilitate cooperation through such co-financing as a new cornerstone of our partnership, contributing to sustainable financing for partner countries. I thank you.

Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. And from Sweden, Ms. Camilla Nevstad-Breselius, Director General for International Development Cooperation.

Thank you. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Sweden has been a committed partner of the Global Partnership for Education and has provided substantial, predictable and long-term support over time. Since GPE was launched in 2002, Sweden has contributed over 500 million US dollars. We know education plays a critical role in building resilient societies, reducing poverty and advancing gender equality, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized children. Therefore, Sweden commend GPs focus on ensuring access to safe, inclusive and quality education for all children. advancing gender equality in and through education, strengthening resilient education systems capable of responding to crisis and supporting partner countries in improving learning outcomes. Sweden values GPE's partnership model, which is grounded in country-led processes and supports national education plans and priorities, while fostering coordination among partners and promoting effective and efficient action at country level. We also appreciate GPE's continued efforts to strengthen innovative financing for education, as well as the synergies between GPE and complementary initiatives. Since Sweden have a transitional government due to national elections last week, we are unfortunately unable to make a pledge at this very meeting. However, Sweden reaffirms its long-standing commitment to education as a fundamental human right and a key enabler for economic development, sustainable growth, and job creation. Thank you.

Thanks a lot. And that concludes our donor pledges for today. Thank you all for your leadership and your commitment to the world's children. We're going to quickly go into a section about co-financing announcements and pledges of support. And I kindly ask the speakers left here for one minute contributions each. We're coming up to a hard stop here because there's another meeting coming here right after us. So GPE does not just fund education. It grants. Its grants help countries unlock more resources from other sources as well. And Vice President Shetima mentioned that point. And so as we begin our co-financing pledges, I'd like to remind our speakers, please keep it short. Let's get to the point and try and make sure everybody's included before we are kicked out. And so please welcome His Excellency Dr. Abdulhamid Al-Khalifa, President of the OPEC Fund for International Development.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks, ladies and gentlemen. The Arab Coordination Group is pleased to partner with the Global Partnership for Education and now to reaffirm its It's our shared commitment to ensuring that every child has access to quality education. Education is fundamental human development, inclusive growth and resilience societies. Since you are asking to be direct to the point, Chairman, I am pleased to announce that the Arab Coordination Group is pledging $800 million. For SmartEd phase two, including $400 million from OPIC Fund for International Development. Together with the resources from the GPE multiplier, we expect this commitment to mobilize $1 billion for education. I will take maybe 20 seconds since the--

I think you have just-- go ahead.

This pledge reflects our conviction that investing in education means investing in opportunity, prosperity, and peace. We invite partners to join us in mobilizing resources to commensurate with the scale and the urgency of the challenge. Together, we can strengthen education systems and equip the next generation to shape a more prosperous and resilient future. Thank you.

Dr. Al-Khalifa, thank you so much, and you are not over time. It's just the applause that ate up all your time. Well earned. Thank you for that impressive commitment. And let's now hear a message from His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Suleiman Al Jasser, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Group.

Education is the foundation of human development and shared prosperity, yet millions of children across the global south are still denied the opportunity to learn due to widening education financing gaps. Closing these gaps demands stronger international solidarity, innovative financing, and collective action. The Islamic Development Bank supports the Global Partnership for Education's Replenishment Campaign to help 750 million children access quality education and break intergenerational cycles of poverty, fragility, and inequality. Investing in education means investing in resilience and economic transformation. The Islamic Development Bank is committed to mobilize more and better financing for our partner countries facing the greatest constraints ensuring resources translate into stronger education systems and better learning outcomes. We stand ready to work with governments, development partners, and the GPE community to accelerate progress towards SDG 4. Together, let us close the education financing gap. Let us invest in every child's right to learn and build a more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous future for all. Thank you very much.

Thank you. You have seen how development finance institutions are stepping up, but they're not the only ones. So are partners in other sectors, including philanthropy and the private sector. It's now my pleasure to welcome Ms. Maya Ziswele, CEO of the Roger Federer Foundation.

Agencies, distinguished partners and colleagues, good afternoon. It is an honor and a pleasure to speak as a representative of philanthropy and private sector. Education multiplies possibility, yet 270 million children remain out of school, and in low-income countries, seven in ten cannot read a simple text by the age of ten. Meeting that crisis is why GPE exists and why philanthropy stands behind this campaign. This is also an experience that we've had with GPE experiencing the multiplier in practice. In Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho, we jointly helped shape a consortium with local NGOs, local philanthropy, and private sector to unlock the multiplier for early education government priorities. We use the GPE multiplier rather than just funding our own partners in isolation. not only because our contribution is doubled, but because this mechanism facilitates integration instead of fragmentation. At a time of fewer resources for education, it is more important than ever that we all work together for greater efficiency and impact. GPE's stronger focus on results and learning outcomes, its broader range of grant agents, and the flexibility of the foundation for GPE are further reasons for philanthropy to engage. As such, I'm very pleased to announce that philanthropy and private sector are pledging 400 million US dollars to the GPE. And this is also a call to action, a call for philanthropy and to all of us in this room to finance every stage of a child's education as a prerequisite for every country's future economic prosperity. Thank you very much.

Thank you. We have heard a lot of important political and financial contributions and pledges today. These are commitments, but these commitments require accountability, right? These commitments require accountability, right? Thank you. You're still there with me. So to hear from a voice representing civil society, please welcome Reena Gillani, CEO of Plan International.

Thank you, Excellencies, distinguished delegates and partners. It's an honor here to be representing civil society today. Every country that we work in and our other civil society colleagues work in, education is the primary ask of every child and every family. It's particularly girls. For them, it is a protection for their future. Thank you today for those who have shown such global leadership in your pledges. You are part of changing the future. And these are not just financial transactions, they are investments in the future. As we've all agreed, education is the smartest investment we can make for peace, resilience, and equality. Let us turn today's promises, add to them, we still have some way to go, And we can make these into tomorrow's reality. Thank you.

Thank you so much. And now that brings this section to a close. We'd like to go back to the co-hosts and GPE's leadership to speak about the path ahead. And to start us off, please welcome the Honorable Giuseppe Valditara, Minister of Education and Merit of Italy.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to take over the co-lead of this high-level event from Minister Tajani and delighted to close it together with my homologue from Nigeria, Minister Alhause. Italy has always been at the forefront of the education financing debate. In 2024, we were the first G7 country to devote a minister meeting to education as enabler of social and economic development. The African Union was part of those discussions. The Trieste Declaration calls to mobilize resources to support education and young talents. the most precious good of every nation. I firmly believe we must involve our youth in education discussions, also in its global financing, like this one. For this reason, I invited Italian student representatives to be here with us today. I launched the proposal to involve students in international initiatives on education in October 2025 during the G20 in South Africa. I reiterated it at UNESCO last July and repeat it here. We must listen to the youth. They are our present and our future. It is for them that we want to multiply possibilities. Today, the global learning crisis is estimated to cost the world's economy $3.3 trillion every year in lost productivity. It is a cost that the world just cannot afford. 270 million boys and girls are out of school. 70% of primary students in lower income countries cannot read a simple text in their mother tongue. Conflicts, instability, crisis deprive millions of children of their right to education. If these are a few ingredients for the perfect storm, the teacher shortage is the forthcoming tsunami. By 2030, the world needs 44 million more teachers, 15 in sub-Saharan Africa alone. This is why I believe it is necessary to launch a big plan to make sure that all African countries can be able to have the teachers needed. In my capacity as member of the SDG 4 High-Level Steering Committee, I consider This is the priority to address if we want to accelerate progress towards quality education for all children. Italy is already carrying out many activities in several African countries through the Mattei Plan to support education systems and the teacher competencies. We are ready to do more. The funds pledged today will contribute to benefit 750 million children in almost 100 partner countries. Our polar star is one, no country, no child shall be left behind. On behalf of Italy, I would like to thank Nigeria and the Global Partnership for Education for the collaboration, this joint exercise. Let me acknowledge the partner countries for their domestic financing commitments to education, as well as the global leaders, donors, and private sector that announced their pledges, most of them substantially increasing them. And really, thank you all. Italy stands ready to continue working all together to multiply possibilities, Together, we can do more. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Thank you, Minister Valdetara. And to welcome our campaign co-host, the Honorable Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister for Education of Nigeria.

Thank you. It's a great day for education. And let me begin by profoundly thanking our president, President Bolarinme Tinubu, who from when he was first invited to be co-host this event in January 2025, he has been consistent and personally involved to getting us to this point, and I also would like to thank the… Prime Minister of Italy, Prime Minister Meloni, for our commitment as well. She and President Buhari spoke many times about how to get us to this day. And I'm happy that today, Nigeria was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima. And I also would like to thank the Deputy Prime Minister of Italy, Honorable Antonio Tajani, and my co- colleague, Honorable Giuseppe Valditara, the Prime Minister of the Minister of Education for Italy, to all distinguished donors, partners, private sectors, and philanthropy leaders who pledge today. On behalf of Nigeria, thank you, thank you, thank you. Today, we have promised 750 million children that their possibility will not be limited by their birthplace. The statistics remain sobering. 270 million out-of-school children, 70% in low-income countries unable to read by 10. Today's gathering provides political will that that can change. For Nigeria, this is personal and policy. Under the President Bola Metinubu renewal agenda, we're expanding access improving learning outcomes, strengthening teachers, deploying technology, and backing reform with increased domestic financing. In line with AU, G7, and Pact for the Future commitments, a fully funded GPE is not charity. It is a catalyst. It multiplies domestic effort. It ensures that no reform-minded country works alone. Three appeals as we close today. First, pledges into prompt disbursement. Second, keep accountability, measuring not spending, but learning. Third, let's keep equity, prioritizing girls, children in conflict, and those that are furthest behind. I would like to thank Italy again for being a co-host nation. Nigeria will continue to lead as partner country. convener and voice for Africa, African's children, thank you and let us multiply possibility for every child.

Honorable Dr. Tunji, thank you so much for that. And for the final word and a call to carry today's momentum forward, please welcome Laura Frigenti, CEO of the Global Partnership for Education.

Thank you very much. Let me start with thanking, of course, I mean, the government of Italy and of Nigeria that showed what courage means in taking responsibility for this campaign at probably one of the most difficult times for global development. I am particularly grateful for their commitment and for their support. Let me thank all of you. I know that each and every government in making the decision to pledge today had to confront very difficult choices and I am particularly grateful that you did it and I'm particularly grateful because as I was listening to all of your speeches you of course said that the main reason was that this is a very important probably the most important cause that you can support but also because many of you have been accompanying us through a very long stretch of time I take it as a boat of confidence for our organization you have seen us You have seen what we do, you have seen how impactful our work is, and you have seen that we manage things in a way that is inclusive and in a way that is cost effective and efficient. to continue working in that direction. And on inclusivity, I do want to thank the many partners. This has been a very growing part of our partnership, the strong support from philanthropy, from private sector, from multilateral banks, from civil society organization. You all have been amazing. And I think that the multiplicity of interventions and the richness of different things that we have been able to do together and that hopefully will be able to, you know, do in the future. I mean, is really something that I think is a testimony of when good minds come together, they can really overcome difficulties and make things happening on the ground for the children of the world. And finally, of course, I mean, a very special thank you to the Arab Coordination Group that has been supporting us in an amazing way, showing really great leadership and showing that organizations that have maybe not necessarily a natural focus on education, understand more than many that everything starts with building human capital. This is what we have been hearing all along during this hour and a half. Without that foundational investment, all other investment do not really manage to achieve the results that they would. So I consider this as, how do we say, the end of the beginning. This is the beginning of our, you know, obviously, replenishment cycle. More needs to be done because the needs are enormous. But I think that we close this day with a message of optimism, with a message of cohesion in this community. And I am particularly grateful that you all agreed to be here and share this moment with us today. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much, Laura. So to conclude, how much has been committed today? You guys were not adding up? You were supposed to have had your calculator the whole time. Anyway, the team at GPE has been working furiously to add up everything. They don't have it yet. But it'll be available later this evening, right, Laura? At some point this evening, you'll have the final number for the commitments today. These are just the beginning. It's not an endpoint. It is the foundation for the next five years and for system-wide change. Thank you to our speakers. Thank you to our partners. That concludes our event today. And the task now is to take these commitments into more children in school and learning, more teachers trained, stronger and more inclusive systems, greater resilience, and to multiply possibility for every child. Thank you for coming. I'm Larry Madowo. Good afternoon.