Unlocking Philanthropy's Catalytic Role in Financing Education

Event Description

Achieving SDG 4 requires closing a USD 97 billion annual financing gap, as ODA declines and funding remains fragmented. Philanthropy—providing USD 7.7 billion for education (2020–2023)—is an important partner.

This session, part of netFWD’s work as chair of the G7 Foundations Engagement Group (F7), explores blended finance and catalytic capital, bringing together foundations, DFIs, MDBs and education actors to identify opportunities and barriers, with a focus on MENA.

The session will feature opening remarks from Lucia Dellagnelo, Deputy Director for Education and Skills at the OECD, Laila Hosny, CEO of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, and Mohammed Al-Kubaisi, CEO of Education Above All, followed by a discussion with Matias Bendersky, Manager of the Global Partnership Office at the Inter-American Development Bank, Corina Gardner, Executive Director of IDP Foundation, and Marissa Leffler, Health Program Director at UBS Optimus Foundation.

It will contribute to the OECD netFWD Blended Finance Handbook and the netFWD 3D Community of Practice.