By campaigning collaboratively, A World at School, Gordon Brown's Office, Plan International and RESULTS ensures Denmark hear global citizens on Education

WHAT'S THE ISSUE?

At the time of the Global Citizen Festival 2013, Christian Friis Bach was Denmark’s Minister for Development Cooperation. He pledged his support for the replenishment of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) on behalf of the Danish Government. He highlighted the importance of education in building countries, “When you build a school, you build a state”, and called for a big push to ensure all children have access to education.

HOW DID GLOBAL CITIZENS RESPOND?

At the Global Poverty Project, we know that it’s important to win over politicians to our cause. Yet despite Christian Friis Bach’s resignation as Minister for Development Cooperation, his replacement Mogens Jensen has said that, in 2015, their contribution will eventually increase even further, pending final approval by the Parliament of the Danish annual finance bills. Global citizens responded by working with our partners the Global Partnership for Education to get the Danish Government to go above and beyond.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT?

The Danish Government has significantly increased funding for the GPE to USD $55 million annually, and are expected to increase further to USD $73 million on an annual basis. This will contribute to more children in developing countries enrolling in school and receiving quality education. GPE supports developing country partners to create and implement sound education plans, and helps to mobilize and coordinate resources that will enable achievement of better education goals. There are numerous benefits to education in alleviating poverty including increased income, health, and understanding of citizen rights and responsibilities.

At the 2014 Global Citizen Festival, Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt announced via video message an additional $9 million to the Global Partnership for Education.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The Parliament of the Danish annual finance bills will provide the final confirmation for the ongoing contributions of USD $73 million per year. Global Poverty Project continues to engage with the Danish Government, principally through their Mission to the United Nations in New York, to support this commitment to the Global Partnership for Education, tracking progress on the financial confirmation of financial contributions.