Global Gateway: EU strengthens partnership with Niger with a €66 million investment in education

The European Union strengthens its partnership with Niger with an investment of €66 million in the country’s national priorities, mainly for education and youth, under the Global Gateway Africa–EU investment package. Education is a key area of the excellent EU–Niger partnership, with at its heart the shared priorities of gender equality, teachers, skills, and high-quality learning. The funding announced today will provide strong support to the government’s reforms.

Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships, said: “I am happy to announce an allocation of €66 million under the Global Gateway EU–Africa Investment Package to support Niger’s political priorities, in particular on education. Investing in quality education for all is crucial for tackling inequalities and achieving sustainable social and economic development. Building the skills and knowledge of children and youth, with a focus on women and girls in particular, is a shared priority of Niger and the European Union.”

President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger also expressed his satisfaction, saying: “I welcome this allocation, which reflects the strategic partnership between Niger and the EU. It will support the efforts of the Government of Niger on its top priority to improve education for the next generations but also to tackle the multidimensional challenges faced by the country.”

Education as a focal point of the EU–Niger partnership under Global Gateway

At the Transforming Education Summit in 2022, Niger committed to strengthening its education system and improving the quality of learning and its continuity in emergency situations. The government’s new Education and Training Sector Plan as of 2024 aims to, for example, tackle gender disparities and increase teacher recruitment and deployment; priorities that match those of the EU for its education investments under Global Gateway.

The EU invests in Niger's education system in alignment with the Government’s Plan through budget support and the Education Sector Basket Fund (Fonds Commun Sectoriel pour l'Education). Other EU education investments that Niger benefits from include the Global Gateway EU–Africa flagship programme Youth Mobility for Africa, regional programmes such as Strengthening Teaching in the G5 Sahel, and funds such as the Global Partnership for Education, Education Cannot Wait and Gender at the Center Initiative.

European Union Member States contribute to strengthening Niger’s education and technical and vocational education and training through the Team Europe Initiative #NigerGenerationsFutures. The European Union is the largest external investor in education in Niger.

Education as part of the Global Gateway EU–Africa Investment Package

Global Gateway stands for sustainable and trusted connections that work for people and the planet. The Global Gateway Africa–Europe Investment Package aims to support Africa for a strong, inclusive, green and digital recovery and transformation.

Education is a key pillar of Global Gateway, as essential in enabling prosperity, peace and the wellbeing of people and the planet. Under Global Gateway, the European Union is increasing its investment in education in partner countries in a significant way, dedicating it more than 10% of its international partnerships budget.