Recent reductions in global education financing have intensified concerns about the sustainability of education systems in crisis-affected regions. These changes are particularly significant for countries in the Sahel (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali,  Mauritania, and Niger) where education systems face acute pressures from conflict, displacement, and demographic growth. With decreasing donor funding, there is increasing urgency for national governments to strengthen domestic financing for education, including investments specifically targeting education in emergencies (EiE). 

In response, a rapid evidence review was commissioned through the ERICC Helpdesk to analyse trends in domestic and donor education financing in the Sahel, explore the political economy factors shaping government spending decisions, and identify practical strategies for encouraging greater domestic investment in education and EiE.

This brief synthesises existing evidence and insights to examine education financing patterns across the five focus countries and identifies opportunities for strengthening domestic investment, including potential fiscal, political, and strategic levers. The brief concludes with a set of evidence-based advocacy messages and recommendations designed to support bilateral and multilateral partners in engaging governments on sustainable financing for education systems in the Sahel.