Switzerland recognises IFFEd as an international institution as it establishes a presence in Geneva

The agreement anchors IFFEd within International Geneva and provides it with internationally recognised legal status as it establishes a physical presence in the city.

IFFEd was created to respond to a growing global education financing gap at a time when aid budgets are under increasing pressure. In lower-middle-income countries alone, an annual shortfall of more than US$70 billion continues to constrain investment, particularly in countries that are considered too rich for grant funding and yet cannot afford market-rate borrowing.

IFFEd’s financing model addresses this challenge by using donor guarantees and grants to support lending by multilateral development banks. This innovative approach turns one dollar of donor cash into seven dollars of affordable, sustainable finance for education, significantly increasing the impact of limited public resources.

IFFEd’s approach reflects a broader commitment to innovation in development finance and to flexible public–private partnerships, bringing together governments, development banks and philanthropic partners to mobilise capital at scale for education.

Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith KCB CBE, Chair of the IFFEd Board, said:
“We are very grateful to the Swiss government for its support and for recognising IFFEd as an international institution. Establishing a presence in Geneva provides an important institutional foundation as we scale our innovative finance model, deepen collaboration with partners across recipient and donor governments, and attract the high-quality international talent needed to deliver our mandate effectively.”

IFFEd will be based at the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies, alongside leading education and development organisations including Education Cannot Wait and the Global Partnership for Education. Locating within the Education Hub will enable closer cooperation across the global education architecture and strengthen collective efforts to mobilise sustainable financing for education.

Since its establishment, IFFEd has been backed by Canada, Korea, Sweden and the United Kingdom, alongside major philanthropic partners including Atlassian Foundation, Jacobs Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Porticus, and Rockefeller Foundation. IFFEd has received a Aaa credit rating from Moody’s and a AA+ from S&P. Its approach has been endorsed by the G20, reflecting growing international recognition of the role innovative finance must play in closing the education financing gap.

IFFEd worked closely with its legal counsel, Lenz & Staehelin, including Benoît Merkt, Managing Partner, whose guidance was instrumental in supporting IFFEd’s establishment in Switzerland and its recognition as an international institution.