Foreign Affairs committee  There is very good evidence that rising literacy rates, rising educational levels, are actually protective factors against conflict. That proposition has been statistically proven, but it's not as simple as just saying there needs to be education. Of course, we have seen the phenomenon around the world where education systems have been effective, but people have graduated from school into economies that offer them no opportunities and no hope.

Foreign Affairs committee  Well, I suppose I'll let you watch me today at the committee, and you can make the conclusion after that. You can judge.

Foreign Affairs committee  I'm very happy to answer those questions, and I'll do that as quickly as I can. On the choices, we would bring before you the increasing evidence that we can't achieve what we want to achieve in areas like health unless we also focus on education. Indeed, GPE has been working very strongly with the Global Fund and with Gavi, because there is a recognition that what they want to achieve in health will be held back unless there is education.

Foreign Affairs committee  We have a model of eligibility that is based on the country's income band, so we cover low-income countries and lower middle-income countries. We also have eligibility for grants that is factored off the country's income band and also its school outcomes. That used to be factored off the millennium development goal of universal access to primary school.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you very much. Honourable chair and members of the standing committee, thank you very much for having us here today. I'm here in my capacity as chair of the board of the Global Partnership for Education. I want to take a few minutes to tell you about the work of GPE, the Global Partnership, and how it fits into the broader landscape of international co-operation.