ODA Spending

How much ODA does the US allocate to education?

The US was the third-largest DAC donor to education in 2023.

The US’ spending on education represented around 3% of its total ODA in 2023. This places the US last among DAC donors in relative terms.

How is US educational ODA changing?

It is expected that the Trump administration will severely reduce or eliminate education funding in coming years.

How does the US allocate educational ODA?

Bilateral Spending

In 2023, 88% of US education ODA was channeled bilaterally or as earmarked funding through multilaterals.

While the US has consistently prioritized primary education, its relative share of bilateral ODA has been steadily declining. Within basic education, the US prioritizes ‘primary education’, in line with USAID’s new strategy for the sub-sector. ‘School feeding’ has become a routine funding focus within basic education.

Multilateral Spending and Commitments

12% of overall education ODA was disbursed as core contributions to multilaterals. Of this, most of the funding went primarily to the World Bank’s IDA. Additionally, the US was a consistent supporter of the GPE, having contributed US$676 million between 2009 and 2022. The US is also a founding donor to ECW, an international initiative launched in 2016 that aims to improve access to education services in humanitarian emergencies and crises. The US has committed a total of US$145 million to the fund since its founding in 2016.

The table below summarizes the US’ more recent commitments to multilaterals working in global education. Some of these commitments are considered core funding to multilaterals while others will be earmarked funding through multilaterals from the US.

Funding and Policy Outlook

What is the current government's outlook on educational ODA?

USAID committed to quality and inclusive education for all: On April 15, 2024, USAID released a new strategy on international basic education for 2024-2029. Working across 10 US agencies and with partner countries, the strategy has three objectives: improved learning outcomes; expanded high quality education, especially for marginalized populations; and leveraging resources to improve outcomes. The 2024-2029 strategy is supported by the USAID Education Policy, which works through stronger locally led development.

There is strong partisan support for girls’ access to education: The Biden administration focused on breaking down gender-related barriers to education so that girls, women, and gender and sexual minorities have equal access to quality and inclusive education, with particular emphasis on reversing the widening gap in equitable education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Goals for breaking down these barriers are set by USAID endorsement of the G7’s Declaration on Girls’ Education and the SDG #4, which sets benchmarks for improved girls’ education in LICs and LMICs. While USAID's new 2024 international basic education strategy does not specifically call out girls’ access, it seeks to expand educational access to historically vulnerable and marginalized populations as well as promoting equity and inclusion.

Key bodies