• UNICEF warns of a global $3.2 billion decline in education funding by 2026, a 24% drop from 2023.

• This could lead to 6 million more children out of school globally, including nearly 2 million in West and Central Africa.

• Several West African countries are increasing national education budgets to reduce reliance on external aid.

On September 3, 2025, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued a statement. It warned that global education funding risks declining by $3.2 billion by 2026, representing a 24% reduction compared to 2023.

This contraction could force an additional 6 million children out of school globally, with nearly 2 million in West and Central Africa. The total number of children excluded from school could thus rise from 272 million to 278 million, equivalent to emptying all primary schools in Germany and Italy combined.

The UN agency for children emphasizes that these cuts will primarily affect countries in crisis and vital programs. Such programs include school feeding initiatives and girls' education. The risk is particularly high in humanitarian zones, where essential programs could see reductions of nearly 10%, weakening access to sustainable education.

West and Central Africa would be one of the most affected regions, with 1.9 million children threatened with dropping out of school or never enrolling. This prediction comes as nearly 30% of out-of-school children live in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to 2023 data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Real, But Not Total, Dependence

While the UNICEF alert highlights a very real threat, West African countries do not rely entirely on donors to finance education. Several governments are increasing their own budgetary efforts to secure schooling, particularly at the primary level.

According to World Bank data, public education spending represented 5.99% of Senegal's GDP in 2022. The 2024 budgetary analysis report reveals that education accounted for 22.1% of sectoral expenditures. This confirms its status as a central pillar in the country's public policies. Furthermore, the 2025 budget, adopted by the National Assembly, allocates CFA1377 billion (approximately $2.46 billion) to education and vocational training, representing 21.5% of the national budget, valued at CFA6395 billion. These efforts are particularly notable as they occur within a constrained budgetary context, marked by high debt and ongoing fiscal reforms led by the Ministry of Finance.

In Ivory Coast, the education budget for 2025 amounts to nearly CFA1440 billion, an increase from the 1200 billion allocated in 2023, according to information from the Economic and Financial Affairs Committee (CAEF). As part of the educational system's modernization, the State is investing $364 million (CFA220 billion) over several years. This investment aims to digitize schools, strengthen teacher training, and deploy necessary digital infrastructure. For the 2024-2025 academic year, the ministry delivered over 400 new school infrastructures, 34,098 desks, and 10 million textbooks, totaling an investment of approximately CFA14 billion.

In Benin, the government has progressively increased education's share of its budget. Official data indicates that spending in this sector represented 18% in 2024, up from 16.1% in 2022.

Between Alert and Resilience

While UNICEF’s warning illustrates the risks associated with excessive dependence on foreign funding, it should not obscure the efforts already made by West African governments. The increase in national budgets, diversification of programs (technical training, digitalization, infrastructure), and social inclusion measures demonstrate a commitment to strengthening educational systems' resilience.

However, the challenge remains significant. Needs are considerable in a region marked by strong demographic growth and recurring crises. The mobilization of internal resources will be decisive, but donor support remains essential to prevent an aggravation of educational inequalities.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum