How a purpose-driven approach empowered the UN Girls’ Education Initiative to mobilize resources and strengthen partnerships
The UN Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) embarked on a transformative journey to rethink its approach to resource mobilization and partnership-building. To achieve this, UNGEI partnered with LEAD’s consultants, Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen and Kirstine Føge Jensen, who guided the initiative in developing a new investment case. The goal was to leverage UNGEI’s unique role as a global convener to shift power dynamics and create a strategy that would resonate with both existing and potential partners.
A Vision Grounded in Purpose and Evidence
From the outset, the collaboration was centered on aligning UNGEI’s purpose with practical, strategic actions. AB emphasized the importance of this focus, saying, “We are collaborating with an organization that aims to create a significant change in the world – when boys and girls leave school, they have learned more than just reading and writing. They have also learned the value of equality, democracy, and citizenship.”
To ensure the strategy was grounded in evidence, LEAD conducted a comprehensive research process. This included interviews with key stakeholders, in-depth document reviews, and analyzing data from partners. The insights helped reveal UNGEI’s unique strengths, providing the foundation for the development of an investment case that could mobilize resources and drive action. Kirstine reflected on this process: “We weren’t just looking at the internal dynamics of the organization; we explored how UNGEI is positioned externally and what opportunities lay ahead.”
From Vision to Reality
Through a combination of stakeholder engagement, including interviews and focus group discussions, and in-depth document analysis, LEAD helped UNGEI clearly identify its unique selling proposition. This process laid the groundwork for crafting a compelling investment case that would resonate with donors and partners.
AB remarked on this pivotal moment: “Identifying UNGEI’s strengths as a global convener and its capacity to bring diverse partners together allowed us to shape an investment case that goes beyond immediate needs and focuses on long-term, systemic change.”
Working collaboratively with UNGEI, LEAD’s consultants developed and tested early drafts of the investment casewith friendly donors, refining the approach based on feedback. This iterative process ensured the final product was aligned with the priorities of both UNGEI and its stakeholders.
Kirstine added, "Testing early drafts with key stakeholders gave us the validation we needed to fine-tune the investment case. It helped us ensure we were aligning UNGEI’s purpose with the real-world expectations of partners and donors."
Strategic Investment and Mobilization
The development of the investment case culminated in the creation of a resource mobilization strategy. This strategy was designed to not only enhance UNGEI’s visibility but also strengthen its operational impact and expand its partnerships.
“We worked closely with UNGEI to make sure their vision for systemic change in girls’ education was reflected in their strategy. This wasn’t just about securing resources—it was about positioning UNGEI as a key player in the global push for gender equality in education.” — Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen
Through this strategic process, UNGEI was able to align its youth leadership, feminist values, and collective action into a coherent narrative that empowers the organization to continue leading in gender equality through education.
Results that Matter: A New Chapter for UNGEI
Thanks to this purpose-driven and evidence-based approach, UNGEI now has a powerful investment case that positions it as a leader in gender equality through education. The resource mobilization strategy empowers UNGEI to grow its partnerships and enhance its influence globally.
Summarizing the impact of the collaboration, AB stated: “We deliberately chose the harder path because we see that the sector needs something different, and this new direction will provide much more value for everyone involved.”
With a clear focus on equity, youth leadership, and feminist values, UNGEI is now better positioned to continue driving systemic change in education and advancing the cause of gender equality.
Client Feedback: "Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen and Kirstine Føge Jensen from LEAD helped the UN Girls' Education Initiative develop a new investment case. Their deep knowledge and experience in the sector were invaluable, as was their personal commitment to the issue. UNGEI has grown through this experience, and we are excited about where we are. Thank you so much!" — UNGEI Representative
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