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The Center for Universal Education collaborates with several key partners to further the goal of universal education for all of the world’s children.
Education For All Fast Track Initiative (FTI) Steering Committee
The FTI Steering Committee provides overall policy guidance to the Education for All Fast Track Initiative, gives direction to the Secretariat between Partnership meetings and helps ensure donor and developing country coordination. The five standing members are the two current co-chairs, UNESCO, the World Bank, and the most recent out-going co-chair, for a six month period following its tenure.
CUE Role: Gene Sperling was elected to the Northern Coalitions Seat on the Steering Committee in 2007
Education Partnership for Children of Conflict
The Education Partnership expands funding for innovative, cutting-edge strategies to educate children in conflict settings; studies and promotes best practices and model programs including those standards developed by the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE); and creates greater understanding and momentum for supporting and funding high-quality education for children of conflict.
CUE Role: Gene Sperling is founder and co-chair of the Education Partnership
FTI Fragile States Task Team
The Fragile States Task Team was created in 2005 and includes representatives from donor agencies, multilateral agencies, humanitarian agencies, and the FTI Secretariat. The task team is led by the UK Department for International Development (DfID).
The FTI Partnership is currently working in many countries that qualify as fragile states. As of April 2007, 11 of 31 countries with FTI-endorsed education sector plans are considered fragile states (according to the World Bank LICUS criteria): Cambodia, Cameroon, Djibouti, The Gambia, Guinea, Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, and Timor Leste.
CUE Role: Gene Sperling is a member of the Fragile States Task Team
The Hewlett and Gates Foundations Quality Education in Developing Countries (QEDC) Initiative
The Gates-Hewlett initiative focuses on improving learning outcomes mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia—regions with the lowest levels of student achievement in the world. We will fund large-scale demonstration projects, coupled with evaluation, to develop techniques to improve the quality of education in these regions, and will disseminate the lessons learned. The grants will focus on ensuring that students in developing countries not only attend school but also master the skills necessary for work opportunities, advanced learning, and full civic participation.
CUE Role: Gene Sperling serves as an advisory board member
US Chapter of the Global Campaign for Education
The U.S. Chapter of the Global Campaign for Education is a broad-based coalition of more than thirty non-governmental and religious organizations, teachers unions, foundations, and child advocates that raises awareness about universal basic education in the world's poorest nations.
CUE Role: Gene Sperling serves as the Chair of the U.S. Global Campaign for Education and, through CFR, hosts youth trainings during the annual Global Campaign for Education Action Week.
August 26, 2008
Gene Sperling, director of CFR's Center for Universal Education, discusses how Kenya's new government is approaching education policy.
Kenya's 'Cutting Edge' Education Policy
Bloomberg Commentary
Gene Sperling
May 1, 2008
Among the casualties of the food crisis will be the schooling of millions of the world's poorest children. The connection is as simple as a school lunch.
Today, 72 million children worldwide are denied access to a basic education. In addition, over 226 million youth are denied the opportunity to attend secondary school.
Global Education Action Week was April 20-27, 2008.
Through the Council on Foreign Relations, the Center for Universal Education conducted outreach for a youth training that brought over 50 young students from across the country to Washington, DC to learn about education in developing countries.
For more information on the CUE, contact:
Gene Sperling
Senior Fellow for Economic Studies
Director, Center for Universal Education
+1.202.509.8401
Anda Adams
Associate Director
+1.202.509.8404
Victoria Palomo
Research Associate
+1.202.509.8472
Copyright 2008 by the Council on Foreign Relations. All Rights Reserved.
