About Us

Partnerships for Education (PfE) is a joint initiative of UNESCO and the World Economic Forum, committed to enhancing understanding about the role of Multistakeholder Partnerships for Education (MSPEs) and building global capacity for their effective implementation. This site is designed to provide users with an opportunity to share two main types of information: details about existing MSPEs across the world; and material of value to those seeking to implement effective MSPEs.  Users are encouraged to add information about their own MSPEs by registering then uploading information for new projects. Partnerships for Education is committed to making available a range of publications about Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Education (MSPEs), designed explicitly to enable governments, the private sector, civil society and others to deliver these partnerships more effectively.

Multi-stakeholder Partnerships for Education (MSPE or MSPEs)

Key Messages

Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Education (MSPE or MSPEs) bring together governments, the private sector, civil society, academic institutions and other organizations to pool and jointly manage resources and competencies that contribute to the expansion and enhanced quality of education.  They differ from PPPs (Public-Private Partnerships) in their explicit focus on a broader coalition of partners and stakeholders than merely the public (governments) and the private (companies) sectors.

• MSPEs provide valuable opportunities for partners to work together effectively in support of education strategies at a range of scales to make education more relevant to the social and economic needs of a country
• Encourage innovation in educational delivery
• Ensure everyone’s right to education by targeting educational interventions to particular groups, especially vulnerable and marginalized populations
• Introduce new technologies as well as enhanced financial and management techniques into educational systems
• Improve the overall learning environment in selected program sites

For Governments, MSPEs can:

• In so doing, MSPEs also enable governments to
• Access additional resources for the attainment of educational objectives
• Involve a diversity of stakeholders in the design and delivery of effective educational strategies
• Promote inclusion and equity
• Use the niche expertise of different partners to increase the access to opportunities of quality education, as for example through
  • Private sector management expertise in financial management and delivery of targets
  • Engagement of NGOs and local communities in delivering communal learning opportunities
• Gain access to the latest technologies and innovative learning opportunities
• Enhance wellbeing, participation, productivity and creativity of citizens.

For the Private Sector, MSPEs can:

• Enhance image and reputation
• Involve employees in a common company project and thus increase internal motivation and cohesion
• Enable global marketing communication
• Expand market opportunities
• Improve the level and quality of education of potential future employees
• Give access to valuable research and development expertise
• Produce significant synergies through working with partners
• Create valuable networking opportunities
• Contribute to corporate social and environmental responsibility agendas.

UNESCO and the World Economic Forum have launched the Partnerships for Education initiative to promote private sector contributions to the achievement of the Education for All (EFA) goals through enhancing understanding of effective MSPEs, promoting their introduction, and through providing guidance on effective delivery modalities.