At a time of growing inequality, democratic fragility, and global uncertainty, one investment remains fundamental to just and sustainable societies: education across the lifespan.
The GPE Multiply Possibility Financing Campaign (https://www.globalpartnership.org/) highlights the urgent need to scale up education financing globally. For ICAE and its members, this is a critical moment to ensure that adult learning and education (ALE) is fully recognised as part of the solution (see also the campaign advocacy toolkit ).
Education multiplies possibility—throughout life
Education is a powerful driver of inclusive growth, resilience, and social transformation. As outlined in the GPE case for investment (https://www.globalpartnership.org/impact/case-investment), even one additional year of schooling can significantly increase income and opportunity.
But focusing only on schooling is not enough.
Across the world, millions of adults are denied opportunities to develop basic skills, participate in democratic life, or adapt to rapidly changing labour markets. Without strong adult learning systems, the promise of education remains incomplete.
This is why ICAE’s work on adult learning and education (https://www.icae.global) continues to advocate for a lifelong learning perspective, where education is not limited to children and youth, but recognised as a continuous right and public responsibility.
Financing education is key to achieving SDG4
The global education financing debate is inseparable from the commitment to SDG4 – inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal4).
Yet, progress on SDG4 remains off track.
- 270 million children are out of school
- Millions of adults lack basic literacy and numeracy skills
- Public education systems are underfunded and under pressure
At the same time, adult learning and education remains chronically underfunded and under-recognised in national and international financing frameworks.
ICAE calls for a shift in perspective:
Financing education must mean financing lifelong learning systems—including adult education, literacy, and community learning.
From GRALE to global action: the missing link is financing
The Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE) (https://uil.unesco.org/adult-learning-and-education/global-report) provides a critical evidence base: countries consistently highlight the importance of ALE for democracy, sustainability, and social cohesion—yet investment remains insufficient.
This creates a clear political gap:
- Strong recognition of ALE in policy discourse
- Weak commitment in public financing and implementation
The GPE campaign offers an opportunity to address this gap—if lifelong learning is meaningfully included.
The role of civil society: shaping the agenda
Civil society organisations are central to this moment.
They play a key role in:
- Advocating for increased and equitable education financing
- Engaging governments and donors
- Mobilising public support and shaping narratives
- Holding decision-makers accountable
For ICAE’s global network, this means:
- Bringing adult learners’ voices into financing debates
- Advocating for literacy, basic education, and community learning
- Ensuring that no one is left behind—not even after school age
A call for integrated, just, and sustainable financing
Sustainable education financing must go beyond short-term targets. It requires:
- Strong public investment
- A commitment to equity and inclusion
- Recognition of education as a public good, not a market commodity
- Integration of formal, non-formal, and informal learning systems
Above all, it requires political will to move from rhetoric to action.
ICAE’s call: Fund education. Fund lifelong learning.
ICAE calls on governments, donors, and international partners to:
- Support ambitious financing commitments to education
- Ensure that adult learning and education is fully integrated into financing frameworks
- Align investments with SDG4 and lifelong learning principles
- Strengthen accountability through inclusive, participatory processes
We also call on our members and partners to:
- Engage in advocacy at national and global levels
- Contribute to GRALE-related processes
- Share stories of how learning transforms lives across the lifespan
- Join and amplify the campaign using #MultiplyPossibility (https://www.globalpartnership.org/)
Because education does more than open doors.
It multiplies possibility—at every stage of life.