MARTIN MAWAYA
HARARE-Government of Zimbabwe has launched the implementation of the US$48.8 million Global Partnership for Education (GPE) grant to support inclusion of the vulnerable children and transformation of the education sector.
The grant will run for a period of three years, covering the year 2023 to 2026.
The funding includes the System Transformation Grant-STG (USD 24.8 million), the Girls Education Accelerator-GEA (USD12.4 million), the System Capacity Grant-SCG (USD2.9m), the Programme Development Grant-PDG (USD0,2m) and the Multiplier Funding (USD 8.6m).
In a statement released by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE), the grant targets to empower the marginalized children with the aim of enhancing their literacy.
“New Global Partnership for Education (GPE) grants have particular attention for the most vulnerable children and focus on improved functionality and safety of schools, enhanced foundational literacy and numeracy for all girls and boys and increased equity-focused leadership of the education sector,” reads part of the statement.
Director of Communications and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Taungana Ndoro added that “the GPE brings together developing country partners, donors, multilateral agencies, civil society organizations, private sector, and private foundations to get all children into school for a quality inclusive education”.
GPE is the largest global fund dedicated to transforming education in lower-income countries and is a unique, multi-stakeholder partnership.
In 2013, Zimbabwe partnered the Global Partnership for Education.
“Since 2013, over USD 75 million has been received from Global Partnership for Education to transform the lives of children throughout the country, with a focus on more equitable and inclusive education leading to improved learning outcomes and life opportunities.
“Through its new funding, the GPE will support the developmental projects currently lined up for the education system in Zimbabwe while contributing to reaching the goals of the Education Sector Strategic Plan 2021-2025 and Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy (NDS),” added Ndoro.
He said the programmes will be implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, with further roles being played by UNICEF, which is the grant agent for four Grants (SCG, STG, PDG and multiplier), while Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) is the Grant agent of the Girls Education Accelerator (GEA).
