Geneva Global Ethiopia, in partnership with UNICEF, is launching the Global Partnership for Education’s System Transformation of Education Programme (GPE-STEP) for Girls and Learning program in Ethiopia. Covering 16 districts across eight zones in Oromia, the program will prioritize children most excluded from education, especially girls and those displaced by conflict.
In Oromia, poverty, displacement from conflict, and persistent gender inequalities continue to keep thousands of children, especially girls, out of school. Many families cannot afford school costs, and insecurity has forced others to flee their homes, disrupting children’s education.
Through GPE-STEP, Geneva Global Ethiopia will reach more than 30,000 learners: 19,200 Alternative School Readiness (ASR) students and 11,500 Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) students across 480 schools. This project will also support over 3,800 teachers and establish 16 Inclusive Education Resource Centers in targeted districts. These efforts will expand access to quality teaching and inclusive education for children who are too often left behind.
This initiative builds on Geneva Global’s 15 years of experience implementing its flagship Speed School program in Ethiopia, bringing more than 800,000 out-of-school children and adolescents into formal schooling. By applying lessons learned through Speed School, and through our continued collaboration with the Ministry of Education and regional authorities, GPE-STEP will strengthen national learning outcomes, raise grade completion rates, increase gender parity, and reduce dropout, especially for children affected by conflict.
The launch of GPE-STEP marks an important milestone for Geneva Global Ethiopia, affirming our leadership in education innovation and technical assistance across Ethiopia. It also deepens our long-standing collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry of Education, and engages local partners Imagine One Day (IOD) and the Oromia Development Association (ODA) to advance our shared goal of ensuring every child can return to school, continue learning, and build stronger communities. By promoting inclusive education, gender equity, and teacher development, GPE-STEP will lay the foundation for lasting educational change in Ethiopia.