Educate Global Fund

The solution was created to address the issue regarding lack of quality education in developing countries where according to UNICEF, despite the progress made in developing countries over the last decade, 67 million children worldwide, of whom approximately 53 per cent are girls, do not have access to basic primary education. The barriers to education are mainly greater to girls, children from minority ethnic groups, with disabilities, and living in conflict areas. As these barriers are broad and vary greatly by locality/region, we aim to take a cross sector approach looking at investable projects in health, nutrition, water and sanitation, transport, power and technology that affect children’s access to quality education. We will look for businesses developing high quality, affordable products and services locally where communities will lead the process of removing barriers to education themselves.

Project Stage

Systems Change

Last update: October 05, 2023

Overview Contributors Attachments

Challenge

Private investment to help shape education across Sub-Saharan Africa

Description

In Kenya, SMEs and informal enterprises account for 60 per cent of gross domestic product, and 80 per cent of all new jobs are created by SMEs. By investing in SMEs which positively affect educational outcomes for children in low income communities within rural areas and informal urban settlements, EGF will target the “missing middle”. The needs of this particular demographic segment are under-served by local governments due to limited budgets, reach or capabilities, as well as the commercial-end of the private sector for whom (aside from large infrastructure projects) investments in education for low-income communities would still most likely be deemed financially unattractive over the next 15-20 years. Investing in SMEs may also presents a number of additional advantages (positive externalities) such as increased employment within local communities (especially youth and vulnerable groups); increased production capacity; and, development of local value chains and markets.

SDGs