For a regenerative economy: focusing on education in a changing world

However, education systems in low- and lower-middle-income countries struggle to keep up with demographic pressure. In the next 10-15 years, 1.2 billion people will enter the labour market, most of them from Africa and Asia. Despite this, children and young people complete their education lacking the know-how and skills that are indispensable to meet the challenges of climate change, build resilient societies or promote innovative solutions.

Moreover, they face a huge skills gap: for some 'green' jobs, only one in eight people have the necessary skills, and even fewer women.

This is not just a missed opportunity. It is a global challenge that we must all face together, through strong partnerships. Because no single actor can do it alone. The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) is the only partnership and fund that brings together governments, donors, civil society and the private sector to build future-oriented education systems.

Through innovative funding mechanisms such as the GPE Multiplier, GPE has mobilised over USD 4 billion in additional resources for education, including from over 60 private companies and philanthropic foundations. With a 1:1 match on private partner investments, we double the impact of these investments. These partners also bring know-how, expertise and new ideas.

In Malawi, GPE partnered with Imagine Worldwide to raise more than USD 30 million from a consortium of philanthropic investors, with the aim of widely implementing an effective methodology for the advancement of children's reading and mathematical skills. Thanks to these funds, the Ministry of Education has provided schools across the country with solar-powered tablets, which supplement children's normal teaching activities with digital learning, allowing each child to progress at his or her own pace. In a country directly exposed to the effects of the climate crisis, such innovative solutions could determine the ability of children not to fall behind or catch up, should their education be compromised again by a flood or cyclone.

Zimbabwe, at the national level, was one of the first countries to receive technical assistance from GPE to integrate climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability into its school curriculum.

These are the strategies that we need to disseminate in all countries, to ensure that all children have access to relevant and good quality education to support the transition to a regenerative future.

To implement such solutions on a global scale, however, public funds alone will not suffice. Partnerships with the private sector can help equip education systems with modern tools, resources and connectivity. If we are truly committed to a more sustainable future, we must invest in education. Let our generation be the one to turn the tide.