The UN-backed fund is seeking at least $5 billion for its Raise Your Hand
campaign for 2021-2025 to support 90 lower-income countries and territories.
He said it was an ambitious target but the money was the best way to help transform education standards in poorer nations and invest in a sustainable future.
Reflecting on the devastating effect
of the coronavirus, Mr Thiam said the fallout “is especially acute in lower-income and conflict-affected countries, where children have been hit hard by the pandemic and faced the highest risk of dropping out permanently”.
“To this day, over half of the world’s children are still facing major disruptions to their learning, ranging from full school closures to reduced or part-time schools.