Aid to education stagnates, jeopardising global targets

Abstract

Total aid to education more than doubled in real terms between 2002 and 2010, when it reached US$14.2 billion. Since 2010 it has stagnated. As of 2014, it was 8% below its 2010 peak of US$13.1 billion. Total aid to education fell by almost US$600 million, or 4%, between 2013 and 2014, even though total aid levels increased by US$10.1 billion over the same period. This shows that most donors are giving education a lower priority within their aid budgets. Education’s share of total aid (excluding debt relief) fell from 10.2% in 2010 to 9.5% in 2013 and 8.2% in 2014. While education aid from bilateral donors followed the overall trend, aid from multilateral donors rose. Total aid to education across bilateral donors fell by 9% or US$9 45 million between 2013 and 2014. Three donors account for most of this drop: Japan, whose aid fell by US$550 million, or 48%, the United Arab Emirates (down US$529 million, or 74%) and the United Kingdom (down US$208 million, or 13%). These reductions were partially countered by increases in aid from Australia (up US$138 million, or 35%) and the United States (up US$107 million, or 11%).