In 2023, Learn More, alongside Technopolis and TripleLine, began evaluating the Global Partnership for Education’s (GPE) New Strategy and Operational Model, launched in 2020. The evaluation focuses on how GPE’s strategies are transforming global education systems and identifies areas for improvement. Our Synthesis Report highlights achievements and challenges across various partner countries. Under the guidance of Lorenzo Newman, Learn More conducted evaluations on domestic finance (Alberto Begué and Elizaveta Rusakova) and gender (Alice Pelosi), alongside country case studies in Tajikistan (Elizaveta Rusakova), Cambodia (Giulia Cattaneo), and Sierra Leone (Giulia Monteleone).
Insights from Synthesis Report, Domestic Finance and Gender Thematic Evaluations
- GPE’s new operating model contributed to creating inclusive dialogue among in-country stakeholders to identify triggers and leverage points for systemic change within the education ecosystem.
The engagement of government bodies, civil society organizations, and teacher associations in the compact development process has facilitated a better understanding of the conditions impacting education outcomes and has enabled the systematic identification of challenges and opportunities for reform.
- However, there is limited evidence that partner countries are ready to embark upon the reform implementation phase.
Key challenges include lack of resources, low government capabilities, and lack of robustness in the development of clear and accurate theories of change.
- GPE’s increased ability to support domestic finance is limited by ministries of finance which often remain disengaged.
GPE’s focus on financial equity and efficiency has encouraged partner countries to make policy commitments toward more context-appropriate financing. However, improving the volume of domestic finance will require greater involvement from finance ministries.
- The integration of gender considerations into each priority reform varies significantly across enabling factors such as data, domestic finance, and sector coordination.
Some countries have successfully incorporated gender-related responses into their priority reforms, often thanks to support from the Independent Technical Advisory Panel (ITAP), which has helped to highlight gender issues and recommend gender-responsive actions.
- Gender hardwiring is still challenging due to local capacity gaps.
Some countries have prioritized gender equality explicitly, while others have struggled with understanding or effectively implementing the concept of “gender hardwiring.” While many countries have incorporated gender equality into their reforms, challenges related to local capacities, sustainability, and the availability of intersectional analyses still limit effective prioritization and implementation.
Insights from country case studies
- Cambodia: Effective Use of Evidence but Gaps in Prioritization and Planning
Cambodia’s priority reform (improving student learning outcomes) was strongly evidence-based, supported by national data and global best practices. The country effectively used data from early-grade assessments to design its reform, making Cambodia a good example of how to use evidence for problem identification and solution design. However, Cambodia struggled with comprehensive planning for the full implementation of the reform, particularly in sequencing and prioritizing activities, and coordinating resources for non-GPE funded aspects of the reform.
- Tajikistan: Strong Focus on System Alignment and Gender Prioritization
Tajikistan demonstrated a strong commitment to aligning its education reforms with broader national strategies. The country effectively incorporated recommendations from the Independent Technical Advisory Panel (ITAP). Tajikistan’s reform showed good use of existing evidence and strategic alignment across subsystems like curriculum development and teacher training. However, there was still a lack of clarity on how to resource the reforms beyond GPE grants. There were also concerns about the readiness of local capacities to deliver on the ambitious gender-related objectives.
- Sierra Leone: Inclusion-Focused Reform but Challenges in Implementation Planning
Sierra Leone’s priority reform placed a strong emphasis on marginalized groups such as girls and children in rural areas. The compact included plans to raise school readiness, demonstrating a clear commitment to improving foundational skills and addressing gender inequality in education. Despite these positive steps, Sierra Leone faced challenges in implementing its reform. Key challenges included limited progress in developing detailed implementation plans, gaps in costing and financing the reform, and weaknesses in data systems and monitoring. Overall, the roll-out of the new operational model is an ambitious undertaking which will take time to come to fruition. However, there are encouraging signs that countries are adopting it and prioritizing more effectively. The reforms promoted by the compacts are inherently challenging and GPE must invest more in partner country-level capacity development to ensure that the model supports them in the best way possible.
Further details on our collaboration with GPE are available here. The Synthesis Report and case studies are available here.