The Basic Education Coalition, a group of 20 development organizations, works to increase knowledge about, raise the priority of and increase support for quality basic education for all as a means of promoting economic development and human well-being. Basic education is the foundation for long term, sustainable success in development.

Coalition members, working in more than 100 countries, have decades of experience around the world working with communities and governments at all levels to improve access to quality basic education. In 2001, they formed the Coalition to maximize resources brought to this endeavor, to broaden the reach of their efforts and to share experiences and lessons toward the common goal of enhancing investment in basic education.

Equitable access to and quality of basic education underpins the range of development goals. Basic education is key to:

• Enhancing economic growth
• Alleviating poverty
• Improving health and nutrition
• Reducing exploitative child labor
• Lowering the mortality rates for infants, children and mothers
• Stemming the spread of infectious disease, including HIV/AIDS
• Promoting equality between women and men
• Supporting civil society, democracy and political stability
• Promoting understanding, tolerance and hope

Basic Education Staff Members: