This additional funding allows the coalitions another two years to extend their advocacy and improves their chances of creating lasting change. “I appreciate this chance of continuing important work, and I also see it as an acknowledgement of Oxfam Denmark as grant agents and not least of our colleagues in the national education coalitions. They have already proven able to influence governments and communities and stand behind thorough change. I am glad to see this work strengthened further,” says Lars Udsholt, Global Programme manager of Education Out Loud.

Particularly the Covid-19 pandemic has taken its toll on education this last year and education practitioners warn that this crisis will be prolonged and severe, hence advocating for the prioritization of education and the protection of the right to education for the most vulnerable is more important than ever before.

Candidates have been invited to apply

With an initial allocation of US$55.5 million approved in 2019, this new funding brings the total available funds for component 1 under Education Out Loud to US$72.8 million – a significant support for civil society fighting for education throughout the world.

The candidates that qualify for the new funding are only national education coalitions from a total of 61 countries – all of whom have received a direct invitation from Education Out Loud.

All interested parties will now enter a dialogue with EOL management before a formal submission of an application. Deadline for submissions is in November after which assessment and decisions will take place. New grants will cover a 24 month period from January 2022 – December 2023.

Special priority to girls education and domestic financing

“We will prioritize the building of strong networks and wide coalitions as we have seen the impact it has when a wide variety of actors come together in advocacy. And along the lines of the new GPE strategy give special priority to projects focusing on girl’s education and domestic financing for education,” notes Lars Udsholt who find it likely that a vast majority of the 61 applications will be awarded a grant.

And in the announcement from GPE it states: “This additional funding will enable civil society in more than 60 countries to continue to play a critical role in promoting equitable education as a key policy priority, especially in the context of the ongoing pandemic, which poses unique challenges to providing a quality education to millions of children around the world.”