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Opportunity EduFinance
Level 18, 100 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 1GT

Telephone: +44 (0) 7768599834

© 2023 Opportunity International Education Finance functions under its US and UK affiliates. Opportunity International United Kingdom is registered as a charity in England and Wales (1107713) and in Scotland (SCO39692). Opportunity International United Statesis a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Latest Blog

Stories of Impact from the EduQuality Program

by Catherine O’Shea

Opportunity EduFinance offers a holistic three-year school development program to local affordable non-state schools, called the 'EduQuality Program’ which focuses on improving the education children receive and fostering an enabling environment for learning. The program, designed as a sustainable model, is delivered through a blended learning model that combines digital, self-access content on tablets for school leaders and teacher mentors with highly interactive in-person training…

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“We are very much able, it's just stereotypes that we need to get over to realize our full potential.” International Women’s Day 2023 - Chilufya Siansangu, EFC Zambia

by Catherine O’Shea and Maham Khuhro

Entrepreneurs Financial Centre (EFC) is one of Zambia’s leading micro-finance institutions. EFC Zambia is committed to contributing to the development of the country’s private sector by providing increased access to financial services. Their EduFinance products include School Improvement Loans, Teacher Loans, School Fee Loans and Edu-Save. Chilufya Siansangu is Head of Business Development/ Marketing and Communications for EFC Zambia. Her role involves driving business growth by identifying opportunities,…

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"Education is an enabler. Education opens doors. Education is an equalizer." 2022 Global Education Finance Conference

by Catherine O’Shea

In November 2022 Opportunity International EduFinance hosted the Global Education Finance Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Read the full Post-Conference Report here. The best thing (about the conference) is that everyone comes up with such honest ideas. The challenges are very similar, but solutions are very diverse.”  - Kamran Azim, Taleem Finance Company (Pakistan) This year’s Global Education Finance Conference brought together 155 attendees from 37 countries, including financial institutions,…

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“Kenya’s future will be determined by its education system” – CEO Interview with Amos Mwangi, Ed Partners Africa

by Catherine O’Shea and Maham Khuhro

Amos Mwangi, CEO of Ed Partners Africa, has a wealth of experience in the education finance sector. He officially began working for Ed Partners in June 2018 after playing a key role in its founding in early 2018. His consulting work on market scoping, feasibility studies, market research and product development ultimately led to the formation of Ed Partners. Ed Partners is a non-banking financial institution in Kenya that works with affordable non-state school owners to provide financial and non-financial…

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“They realize that they are part of a global network of education providers," Meet the 2022 Global EduQuality Awards Winners

by Catherine O'Shea

In November 2022, Opportunity International EduFinance announced the winners of the 2022 Opportunity International Global EduQuality Awards. Read the full Awards Report here! “The EduQuality Awards provide an opportunity for schools to pause and reflect on their implementation journey and take stock of the gains made so far and where they need to make improvements. They are able to ‘zoom in’ on the quality of their schools.” Innocent Masengo, Head Education Specialist, Africa Opportunity…

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ETHIOPIA: The Challenges and Opportunities of investing in Education

by Catherine O'Shea

Mr. Abinet Kabtimer is the proud director and owner of Sunrise Academy, a school he opened just three years ago. Sunrise Academy provides education to children in Meki town, in the East Showa Zone of Oromia region of Ethiopia. The school offers pre-primary classes up to 8th grade, with enrolment space for 450 students, charging tuition fees of Birr 1050 (USD 20) per term. Before opening Sunrise Academy, Mr. Abinet was a teacher in a private school in Meki town, East Showa Zone. In 2019, he decided…

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ABACO and COSAMI: Knowledge Exchange between EduFinance partners in Peru and Guatemala

by Antonella Abategiovanni and Catherine O'Shea

In September 2022 two of Opportunity EduFinance’s Financial Institution (FI) partners from Latin America took part in a knowledge exchange: COSAMI is a financial cooperative established in 1966 with headquarters in Totonicapán, Guatemala. Their mission is “To provide quality financial products and services for Guatemalans, through an effective and committed human team, applying cooperative principles, values and practices.” ABACO is among the three biggest Saving and Credit Unions in Peru.…

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The Case for Increasing Access to Finance for the Non-State School Sector

by Catherine O’Shea and Maham Khuhro

 According to UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UIS), the non-state education market share increased from 23.1 percent to 25.8 percent between 2005 and 2020 across low- and middle-income countries. If this continues, the non-state school sector will grow its share of the education market to 27.2 percent by 2025. The increase in demand for affordable non-state schools means that there will be an additional 56 million new seats for children required through 2025 in low- and middle-income countries.Given…

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Bringing EduQuality to Nigeria

by Catherine O’Shea and Maham Khuhro

  In a new set of data released by UNESCO in September 2022, we learned that the education gap in Nigeria was even worse than we previously thought. Recently filled ‘data gaps’ revealed an estimated 20.2 million children and youth are out-of-school across Nigeria. This is nearly double the previous estimates of 10.5 million out-of-school children. There is no way to overstate the education crisis that children are facing in Nigeria. At Opportunity EduFinance, we are committed to supporting solutions…

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INVESTING IN OUR GLOBAL FUTURE: 2022 Global Education Finance Conference

by Opportunity EduFinance

  Around the globe, almost all schools have returned to in-person learning for their students after COVID-19 closures. This includes millions of affordable non-state schools run by local, independent school owners, which represent more than 1 in 4 schools across low- and middle-income countries.  These dedicated school owners showed resilience during school closures despite insurmountable odds and fought tirelessly to keep their doors open so children would have a school to return to. These are…

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