Belgium pledges €36 million for education in developing countries

Belgium’s minister of development co-operation, Alexander De Croo, has pledged €36 million to the international organisation Global Partnership for Education. De Croo, who is currently in Washington, confirmed the funding during a speech last weekend at the US capital’s National Mall to mark Global Citizen Earth Day.

 “There are countries in the world where more than half of the population is under 18 years old,” De Croo said. “That is a real asset. Children are the future.”

But he warned of problems in the world’s poorest countries. “If children don’t have access to water, health care and education, then they have a difficult life.” He called on countries to invest one half of their development aid in the poorest countries. “Children who attend school are stronger and can build their own futures.”

The Global Partnership for Education is headed by Julia Gillard, former prime minister of Australia. Its aim is to fund and help develop education infrastructure and improve access to education in developing countries, including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Ethiopia and Liberia.

Earlier this year, De Croo met Gillard and assured her that Belgium was prepared to take over supervision of education projects in Burundi on behalf of the Global Partnership for Education.

De Croo is in Washington as Belgium’s representative in talks at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.