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Seville FfD4 summit: rethinking the effectiveness of education aid through aligned common funds
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In the education sector, fragmented aid and short-lived initiatives undermine the implementation of financing. In contrast, aligned common funds – those based on national priorities and partner countries’ procedures – help enhance both the effectiveness and transparency of funding.
With budget constraints and growing demands on education systems, the effectiveness of international aid has become a critical issue. Fragmented approaches – still the dominant model – are showing their limits: they weaken national capacities, multiply parallel mechanisms, and hinder deep structural reforms.
Conversely, aligned pooled funds offer a concrete, long-term solution for better financing. By relying on existing public systems, they strengthen national administrations, harmonize donor contributions, and promote greater transparency – all while supporting education policies at the national level.
Already implemented in several African countries, these mechanisms are producing tangible results: large-scale subsidies for schools, support for decentralization, and integration of funding into national accounting systems.
Ahead of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), taking place from 30 June to 3 July in Seville, Spain, these experiences demonstrate that more aligned, coordinated, and accountable aid is both achievable and effective.