Africa Education Funding Still Below UNESCO Benchmark

The Benchmark That Most African Countries Are Missing

In 2015, UNESCO member states — including all 54 African states — agreed to increase education spending to at least 4 to 6 percent of GDP and/or at least 15 to 20 percent of total public expenditure. These internationally agreed benchmarks have since been included in at least five global or AU-led declarations and action plans, including the 2015 Incheon Declaration, the Heads of State "Kenyatta" Declaration on Education Financing, the 2021 Paris Declaration, the 2024 Fortaleza Declaration, and more recently the Nouakchott Declaration of December 2024, which expanded the upper GDP benchmark from 6% to 7%.

What the Data Actually Shows

Despite all these commitments, only one-third of African countries met globally endorsed education funding benchmarks for annual average spending over the decade 2013 to 2023. That figure declined to just one quarter of countries by 2022 and 2023. Fourteen African countries did not meet any of the benchmarks in a single year over the past decade. 

Governments Reducing Spending — Not Increasing It

Human Rights Watch stated that most African governments consistently fail to meet crucial education funding targets, hindering quality public education for millions of children, with the persistent underinvestment undermining governments' own legal and political commitments to ensure free and compulsory education from pre-primary through secondary levels. Africa director at Human Rights Watch, Mausi Segun, noted that many governments have actually reduced spending levels in recent years rather than increasing them.

The Legal Right to Education — Still Not Universal

Only 14 African countries legally guarantee free access to education from at least one year of pre-primary through secondary education. Only 21 guarantee free access to 12 years of primary and secondary education, while just 6 legally guarantee access to at least one year of free pre-primary education. Morocco, Namibia, and Sierra Leone are the only three African countries that both legally guarantee universally free access to education and have met both international funding benchmarks in the last decade. 

Why Governments Are Failing — The Real Reasons

Several countries in the Sahel, Central, East, and North Africa face persistent armed conflicts requiring substantial defence and security spending — Burkina Faso, for instance, allocates 27.76% of its 2025 budget to security, while the DRC allocates 30% in 2026. Others must respond to climate emergencies or manage high debt burdens. According to Human Rights Watch, several African governments are implementing regressive austerity measures to service debt and repay interest. 

Population Growth Outpacing Education Budgets

With a fast-growing youth population, education needs are rising faster than available budgets. A joint UNESCO, UNICEF, and African Union report emphasises that although school enrolment has increased since 2015, more than 100 million children in Africa remain out of school. Teaching quality has stagnated due to shortages of qualified teachers and limited infrastructure, resulting in weak learning outcomes — four out of five children aged 10 cannot read a simple text. 

Sub-Saharan Africa's Financing Gap

The largest education financing gap globally is in sub-Saharan Africa at $70 billion per year — the region with the furthest distance to travel, with 20% of primary school-age children and almost 60% of upper secondary school-age youth currently not in school. Around one-third of the gap could be filled if donors fulfilled their aid commitments and prioritised basic education in the poorest countries. 

The One Bright Spot — Namibia

Namibia stands out as one of the few countries demonstrating that these commitments can actually be met, allocating 23.4% of its 2025/2026 national budget to education. 

AI as a Potential Game-Changer

Technological innovation — particularly artificial intelligence — could help transform education systems by supporting personalised learning pathways tailored to each student's level, progress, and challenges. UNESCO notes that AI has the potential to address some of the greatest challenges in education and to accelerate progress toward SDG 4. However, rapid technological developments have so far outpaced policy debates and regulatory frameworks. 

Sources

Human Rights Watch — Africa: Insufficient Domestic Funding Hinders Education Progress

JURIST News — Human Rights Watch Calls Out African Governments on Education Funding

Ecofin Agency — Education Rises as Top Priority in Africa, But Funding Falls Short

WILDAF-AO — Education Rises as Top Priority in Africa, But Funding Falls Short

UN News — New UNESCO Report Reveals $97 Billion Barrier to Reaching Education Targets

Africa.com — Africa: Insufficient Domestic Funding Hinders Education Progress