The G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg marked a historic moment: the first time this influential forum convened on African soil. Under the theme of Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability, leaders reaffirmed that global progress depends on shared responsibility and inclusive growth. This commitment is deeply significant for education, which remains the cornerstone of sustainable development and human dignity.

I welcome the support to education in the Leaders’ Declaration. The prioritization of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and the recognition of qualifications across borders signal a clear understanding that foundational learning is not only a moral imperative but also an economic necessity. Investing in early learning and teacher development will equip future generations with the skills to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni captured this urgency in her remarks: “Together with Nigeria and in collaboration with the Global Partnership for Education, we have launched a campaign to raise $5 billion and improve the education of 750 million children in several countries, and to build an Africa truly capable of competing on equal terms.”

However, ambition must be matched by action. The summit acknowledged the urgent need to mobilize financing for education, alongside climate and debt relief efforts. This is critical. Without adequate and predictable funding, the commitments made in Johannesburg risk remaining aspirational.

Education financing is under severe strain globally, and the G20’s pledge to strengthen international cooperation and explore innovative financing models is a step in the right direction—but it must translate into concrete mechanisms that protect and expand fiscal space for education.

Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettina said: “Africa cannot achieve the positive paradigm shift we seek in its global trajectory, without the collective resolve of the G20. Together we must confront the persistent regional challenges before us, most notably, the urgent needs for sustainable financing to ensure effective implementation of our developmental priorities. Across many regions rising debt burdens continue to constrain economic progress and transform local challenges into global vulnerabilities.”

This bold initiative reflects the spirit of partnership and shared responsibility that must define the next phase of global education financing. It is a powerful example of how political leadership can catalyze transformative change.

As we look ahead, the Global Partnership for Education calls on G20 members to:

• Embed education financing in global financial reforms, ensuring that debt restructuring and climate finance frameworks also support investments in learning.
• Champion sustainable financing, with domestic financing at its core, while leveraging multilateral, ODA, philanthropy and private capital to close the education financing gap.
• Deliver on the promise of equity, by prioritizing the most marginalized learners—girls, refugees, children with disability, displaced, and those in low-income countries.

Education is the foundation upon which all other development goals rest. The commitments made in South Africa must now catalyze a global movement to secure the financing needed to transform education systems. Only then can we ensure that every child, everywhere, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to a more just and sustainable world.