In response to the climate and social crises, the United Nations has established a set of Sustainable Development Goals, to be achieved by 2030. These are organised in 17 concrete objectives to tackle global issues in order to reach a sustainable and peaceful future for everyone, everywhere. In this piece, we analyse alternate avenues for family offices exploring impact investing who wish to contribute to the 4th SDG, which aims to provide access to a full course of free primary and secondary education for all children in the world by 2030, regardless of their gender or family income.
Quality education aims to develop students’ transversal skills in an inclusive and equitable manner. In addition to breaking the cycle of poverty and improving quality of life, education has the power to open the world, facilitate the development of innovative solutions, and enable a violence-free climate. Education is therefore the foundation for many other SDGs. Since 2000, major progress has been made in improving access to education and enrollment at all levels, especially for girls.
The need for impact and investing in education
Despite progress in access to education in recent decades, 61 million primary school-age children remain out of school, 50% of whom live in conflict-affected areas. Enrollment rates increased from 60% to 78% in sub-Saharan Africa and from 80% to 94% in South Asia between 2000 and 2012, rates that are still insufficient but that mark a clear improvement.
