2 billion – a 24 percent decrease since 2023 – in Official Development Assistance (ODA) earmarked for education UNICEF states that these cuts are concentrated, with just three donor countries responsible for nearly 80 percent of the reduction This downturn is expected to increase the number of out-of-school children worldwide from 272 million to 278 million-a figure UNICEF equates to the closure of all primary schools in Germany and Italy combined
“Every dollar cut from education isn’t just a budgetary decision; it represents a child’s future compromised” stated UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell “Education, particularly in emergency situations, is often a lifeline connecting children with crucial services like health, protection and nutrition It is also the greatest opportunity for a child to escape poverty and build a better life
The analysis highlights the importance of the ODA target, established by the UN General Assembly in 1970, which aims to ensure a minimum level of global development assistance The benchmark calls for developed countries to allocate 07 percent of their Gross National Income to official development assistance, a commitment reinforced in the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 While Germany’s ODA contribution reached 067 percent in 2024, current plans indicate a decline to 052 percent by 2026 and further down to 043 percent by 2029
