Fabio Segura in conversation: rethinking how we fund education

In a recent Devex Pro Funding live conversation, Fabio Segura, Co-CEO of the Jacobs Foundation, discussed how the organization is rethinking education funding at the midpoint of its Strategy 2030.

With education often being the first casualty of budget cuts, Segura highlights how the Foundation has shifted from short-term grants to longer-term, evidence-driven partnerships designed to transform national education systems.

Central to this approach are pooled funding mechanisms: innovative models that bring ministries of education, private sector actors, local communities, and researchers together around shared objectives. Exemplified by flagship initiatives in Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Switzerland, these collaborations leverage local leadership and evidence-informed practice to create systemic change.

Looking ahead, the Jacobs Foundation is scaling its impact through initiatives such as the Learning Variability Network Exchange (LEVANTE) and innovative financing mechanisms with the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd). These efforts aim to unlock substantial public funds and establish a global evidence base for improving how children learn worldwide.

At the Jacobs Foundation, we believe that transforming education requires moving beyond short-term interventions toward genuine collaboration, built on trust and driven by evidence.