How GPE Donors Are Advancing Gender Equality Through Education

A society that overlooks the potential of half its population can never truly thrive. Recognizing this, gender equality has been a foundational priority for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) since its launch in 2002.

Over time, GPE has strengthened its approach, making gender equality and inclusion central to its current strategy, GPE 2030. Alongside this, donor countries have stepped up with policies, funding, and initiatives aimed at ensuring equal educational opportunities for girls and boys worldwide.

Here’s how key GPE donors are driving this mission forward:

Australia

Australia’s International Gender Equality Strategy (2023–2026) places strong emphasis on gender-responsive education, particularly across the Indo-Pacific region. Its development policy reinforces this commitment by requiring all major aid investments to include gender equality goals, with most projects actively integrating gender-focused outcomes.

Canada

Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy prioritizes gender equality under its “human dignity” pillar. A significant portion of its aid is directed toward advancing these goals, including a major financial commitment to GPE (2021–2025) focused on improving girls’ access to quality education and strengthening gender-responsive planning.

European Union

The EU’s upcoming Gender Equality Strategy (2026–2030) aims to embed equality across all sectors, including education. Key initiatives include encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers, addressing gender stereotypes in schools, and involving boys and men in promoting equality.

France

France places gender equality at the heart of its international development efforts through its feminist foreign policy and education strategies. A large share of its GPE contributions is dedicated to girls’ education. As a co-founder of the Gender at the Centre Initiative, France also supports systemic changes in education policies across sub-Saharan Africa.

Germany

Germany continues to treat gender equality as a cross-cutting priority in its development programs. As one of the world’s largest contributors to gender-focused aid, it invests billions annually in empowering women and girls and plays a leading role in funding initiatives like the GPE Girls’ Education Accelerator.

Ireland

Ireland’s development policy, A Better World, highlights gender equality as a central objective. The country consistently ranks among the top OECD donors in this area and allocates dedicated funding to support girls’ education, especially in crisis and emergency settings.

Italy

Italy emphasizes education as a key pillar of its international development agenda, particularly in Africa. Through its leadership roles in global forums like the G7, Italy continues to advocate for stronger commitments to girls’ education and training.

Norway

Norway’s action plan for women’s rights (2023–2030) mandates that at least half of its development funding supports gender equality. The country is also rethinking its broader development strategy to further prioritize equality, democracy, and human rights, with a strong focus on vulnerable groups, including girls in conflict zones.

Spain

Spain’s Feminist Cooperation Strategy (2025) positions gender equality at the core of its global development efforts. Education plays a major role, supported by increased funding commitments to initiatives like the GPE Girls’ Education Accelerator.

United Kingdom

The UK’s International Women and Girls Strategy (2023–2030) focuses on education, empowerment, and ending gender-based violence. With plans to increase gender-focused aid significantly, the UK remains the largest bilateral donor to GPE and plays a key role in shaping its programs and impact.

The Bigger Picture

Across these countries, a clear pattern emerges: education is one of the most powerful tools for achieving gender equality. By investing in girls’ education, donors are not only improving individual lives but also strengthening communities, economies, and future generations.

As GPE and its partners continue to evolve their strategies, the shared goal remains the same—ensuring that every child, regardless of gender, has access to quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential.