Right now, over 260 million children worldwide are missing out on an education. More than half of these are girls — girls like Doreenwho, at just 13 years old, was married to a man twice her age, and had to stop going to school to take care of him. This simply isn’t fair.

Education is not only a human right — it also promotes economic development, gender equality, and healthier communities, helping people lift themselves out of poverty.

Yet, as it stands, the total amount of all overseas aid that is spent on education in developing countries adds up to less than £7 per child. That’s hardly enough to pay for a textbook, let alone quality schooling. 

A new initiative called the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd) has been proposed to tackle the education gap.It will help to find new ways for governments to access money so that governments can afford to invest in their children, particularly girls, and ensure they receive a quality education. 

With the support of the UK and other governments, IFFEd could also help governments use funding to address barriers to education such as child marriage, child trafficking and child labour. But, in order to be created, it needs support from the international community — and that’s where the UK can help. 

If the UK backs IFFEd with a substantial pledge of grant funds and guarantees, other countries may follow suit and help to launch this innovative new financing mechanism. IFFEd will help countries access funding outside of traditional overseas aid. So the UK’s support will help ensure that it is created now to help countries to stand on their own two feet, and not need education aid in the long run. 

The UK has already shown great leadership in supporting girls’ education this year, but we need the government to go further. 

Send an email to the government in your own words, telling them why you believe that investing in IFFEd could help us #BetheGeneration to get every child in school — then send a tweet, calling on them to step up!