Administrator Samantha Power has announced the launch of the new U.S. Government Strategy on International Basic Education (2024–2029), reaffirming the nation’s dedication to fostering quality and inclusive education worldwide.
This strategy, a collaborative effort involving ten government departments and offices, including USAID, underscores the commitment to address the significant challenges hindering learning for many students globally.
Despite formidable obstacles such as the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing conflicts, U.S. government initiatives have made strides in enhancing foundational reading skills and meeting educational benchmarks in 15 countries during and after the pandemic emergency.
The strategy focuses on three key objectives: improving learning outcomes, expanding access to high-quality education—especially for historically marginalized communities—and coordinating resources effectively to drive results. It incorporates lessons learned from the pandemic, emphasizing the need for more inclusive and resilient education systems.
Under the previous 2019–2023 strategy, the U.S. government annually reached over 34 million learners through international basic education programmes.
This new strategy underscores the ongoing commitment of agencies and departments to prioritise quality education as a fundamental component of sustainable development in partner countries.
USAID’s education programmes will continue to align with the USAID Education Policy, emphasising local knowledge, leadership, and country-led approaches for strengthening education systems.