5th GPE-KIX Africa Research Symposium: Education financing – navigating fiscal constraints, driving transformation

With the African Union’s declaration of the Decade of Accelerated Education Development in Africa (2025–2034) and the adoption of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) 2026–2035, governments have reaffirmed education as a cornerstone of economic growth, social inclusion, innovation and sustainable development.

Delivering on these ambitions will require more than policy commitments. Across Africa, governments are striving to expand access, improve foundational learning, strengthen teacher effectiveness, build skills for employment and enhance the resilience of education systems.

But as countries face increasing fiscal pressures – arising from rising debt burdens, demographic growth, climate-related shocks and competing demands on public resources – how can they finance transformation at a scale that is both sustainable and capable of delivering meaningful improvements in learning outcomes?

Important lessons are emerging across the continent, but opportunities to systematically exchange experiences and translate evidence into policy and financing decisions remain limited.

The 5th GPE KIX Africa Research Symposium will provide a continental platform for addressing critical questions:

• Which financing reforms are working?
• Which approaches are improving equity, efficiency and learning outcomes?
• How can successful reforms be adapted and scaled across countries?
• How can countries sustain reform momentum in increasingly constrained fiscal environments?

The Symposium will focus on the intersection of evidence, policy and financing commitments. Participants will explore country experiences that demonstrate how research, policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement have contributed to financing reforms, budget decisions and system-level change.

Discussions will be organized around five thematic areas:

• Financing for access and equity 
• Financing for early childhood education, foundational learning and the teacher workforce 
• Financing for skills and secondary-age pathways 
• Financing for data systems, technology and system efficiency 
• Financing for resilience, climate and crisis response 

Through dialogue between those who generate evidence and those who make financing decisions, the Symposium aims to strengthen the role of evidence in shaping the future of education financing in Africa. It will bring together stakeholders from governments, research institutions, universities, development partners, regional organizations and civil society from across the 40 countries participating in the KIX Africa 19 and Africa 21 Hubs.

The event is jointly organized by the GPE KIX Africa 19 and Africa 21 Hubs in collaboration with key regional and international partners, including the African Union’s Pan-African Institute of Education for Development (AU-IPED), UNESCO-IICBA, UNICEF ESARO, the Institut de la Francophonie pour l'Éducation et la Formation (IFEF-OIF), the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) and la Conférence des ministres de l’Education des Etats et gouvernements de la Francophonie (CONFEMEN).

Since its launch in Addis Ababa in 2022, the Symposium has grown into a flagship continental forum, convening policymakers, researchers and practitioners from more than 50 countries across its first four editions in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) and Thiès (Sénégal). It is convened within the framework of the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX), a joint initiative of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), which supports evidence generation, knowledge sharing and innovation across partner countries.

Participation in the in-person Symposium will be by invitation. Additional information on virtual participation will be shared closer to the event.