From 20th to 24th April 2026, civil society organisations from Eastern and Southern Africa, as well as West and Central Africa, convened in Nairobi County for the Global Action Week for Education (GAWE) under the Education Financing Learning Collaborative. The convening, supported by partners and convened by Elimu Yetu Coalition, provided a regional platform for stakeholders to reflect on education financing challenges, share experiences, and strengthen collective advocacy for increased investment in quality public education.
A key milestone of the week was the launch of the Education Finance Charter, which calls on governments and education stakeholders across Africa to prioritize adequate and equitable funding for education, strengthen transparency and accountability systems, and ensure inclusive access to quality learning opportunities for all learners. The Charter reinforces a shared commitment to addressing persistent financing gaps that continue to affect education systems across the continent.
As part of the week’s engagements, the GAWE 2026 forum held on 22nd April under the theme Education Financing, and supported by WeWorld Kenya, brought together education stakeholders in Kenya to deepen discussions on financing, equity, and system strengthening. Participants noted that although Kenya allocates over 20% of its national budget to education, a significant proportion is absorbed by recurrent expenditure, leaving limited room for infrastructure development, innovation, and quality improvement.
The forum highlighted key priorities including improved use of data in decision-making, timely and predictable disbursement of funds, stronger accountability mechanisms, and enhanced coordination between government, civil society, and development partners. Stakeholders emphasized the need for financing models that are more responsive to equity gaps and learning outcomes, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable learners.
The discussions concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthen inclusive, equitable, and well-financed education systems in Kenya and across the region. The Global Action Week for Education 2026 reaffirmed the importance of sustained multi-stakeholder collaboration in transforming education financing into a catalyst for improved learning outcomes and social equity.
