Development Partnerships in Higher Education (DELPHE)

Greater investment is needed at all levels of education if we are to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). DFID gives priority to supporting primary education for all children – especially girls – in countries that are off-track for reaching the MDGs for education. It will continue to do so. But investment is also needed in secondary, tertiary and vocational education, lifelong learning and skills, in order to increase the ability of governments and the private sector, to deliver basic services, and to promote sustainable growth. The best way to do this is with a sector-wide approach, which means supporting the whole education system and using the contributions to education that other sectors make.

The UK has promised to spend £8.4 billion on education in developing countries over the next ten years. As part of this commitment we will support up to 300 partnerships through the Development Partnerships in Higher Education programme DELPHE (£15 million for 2006-13), which will help reduce poverty, promote science and technology and meet the MDGs.

The programme will be managed by the British Council with assistance from the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

For more information visit the DELPHE website

£15m Opportunity for higher education to tackle global poverty - Press Release, May 2006

Last updated: 10 August 2006