Doha:Education Above All Foundation participated in the 81st United Nations General Assembly, emphasizing the protection and continuity of education in crisis situations and innovative financing to secure additional resources for education.
According to Qatar News Agency, the foundation engaged in nine high-level meetings from September 21 to 24, collaborating with governments, UN agencies, development finance institutions, philanthropic organizations, businesses, and humanitarian groups. These discussions centered on protecting education for children affected by conflict, displacement, and other crises, as well as expanding financing to ensure their access to schooling.
EAA Foundation CEO Mohammed Saad Al Kubaisi contributed to the 2026 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, addressing broader education and development topics. Dr. Said Yasin, Executive Director of EAA's Educate A Child program, participated in Opportunity International's session on the importance of non-grant capital in complementing traditional development funding and attracting additional investment.
EAA Foundation organized a technical discussion with SEEK Development, bringing together bilateral donors, philanthropic foundations, and multilateral education and development finance institutions to explore innovative financing.
Dr. Ali Ansari, EAA Foundation Partnerships Senior Manager, discussed blended finance facilities, guarantees, education bonds, outcome-based financing, and debt-related mechanisms to mobilize more resources for education. He also joined a session on unlocking philanthropic capital for education, co-hosted by the International Finance Facility for Education and the Jacobs Foundation, focusing on how philanthropic contributions can enhance traditional grant funding.
Al Kubaisi highlighted the importance of UNGA81 as a platform to stress the need for protecting education for vulnerable children and addressing financial barriers that hinder access to education. He emphasized the necessity of partnerships and innovative capital to ensure children's right to learn is upheld.
The participation of various stakeholders, including development finance institutions, OECD partners, UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, philanthropies, businesses, and technical experts, underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration. Through its involvement in UNGA81, the EAA Foundation advanced initiatives to protect education in crisis, strengthen humanitarian responses, mobilize new financing sources, and develop models to support children facing significant educational barriers.