Driving Transformational Change in Financing Essential Public Services: The Case of Education
Organized by: France
Co-organized by: Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Council of Europe Development Bank, Global Partnership for Education, UNESCO, Finance in Common (FICS)
Languages: English and French
Date & time: Tuesday, 1 July 2025, 2:30 pm-4:00 pm
Location: FIBES Sevilla Exhibition and Conference Centre, Side Event Room 16
Background
Financing essential public services, particularly education, is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Investing in education enhances human capital, expands tax revenues, supports fair and green economic growth, and strengthens social resilience. It addresses systemic issues like social inequality and lack of access to essential services, ensuring resources reach marginalized groups and contributing to breaking cycles of poverty and exclusion. Prioritizing education is foundational in achieving all SDGs by strengthening resilience to global challenges like economic crises, climate change, pandemics, and digital transformation.
Bridging the financing gaps identified in the 4th Financing for Development (FFD4) outcome areas requires innovative financing models, smart investments, and robust policy frameworks. Education is leading the way through diversified, innovative, and sustainable financing partnerships that reduce reliance on development aid. The private sector plays a critical role in scaling education financing, while increasing domestic resource mobilization and improving Public Financial Management (PFM) are equally essential. Aligning ODA with national priorities and systems ensures it complements domestic resources and private investment, maximizing the efficiency and impact of all funding sources to support long-term, high-return outcomes in education. Together, these efforts reduce the sector’s reliance on ODA, paving the way for more sustainable and self-reliant financing models, with real-world examples demonstrating how education is providing scalable blueprints for other essential services to build sustainable, results-driven financing pathways.
Event objectives
- Showcase scalable and self-sustaining financing pathways in education, integrating domestic resource mobilization, ODA, and private sector investments, with tangible examples providing blueprints for other essential services.
- Highlight proven solutions for resources mobilization in education, including progressive taxation, innovative fiscal policies, earmarked funds, efficient Public Financial Management, and debt swaps for reallocating resources from external debt to direct investments in the sector
- Examine the strategic use of ODA to unlock additional financing from domestic resources, development finance institutions (DFIs), and private capital, emphasizing aid effectiveness principles to maximize ODA’s impact.
- Mobilize critical stakeholders from other sectors to discuss education financing models and their applicability across sectors to provide actionable solutions to address the SDG financing gap.
This event is open to all FfD4 participants registered through national delegations or accredited organisations. You’ll find details for each one attached.
