Making costs count: A new framework for better cost evidence generation and use in global education and ECCE

Thursday, September 17, 2026, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. EDT 
Online only: https://www.brookings.edu/making-costs-count 

As global aid budgets face cuts and education resources remain scarce, the need for high-quality cost data to guide effective decisionmaking has never been greater. However, across the global education and early childhood development sectors, cost data remain sparse and fragmented, constraining efforts to implement efficient, equitable and evidence-based policies and programs that support children.

On September 17, the Center for Universal Education at Brookings will launch a new report on strategies for cost evidence generation and use in global education and early childhood care and education (ECCE), developed through an extensive consultative and consensus-building process with stakeholders across the globe. As the second event in the Global Costing Taskforce for Education and Early Childhood Care and Education webinar series, the report launch and discussion will bring together experts to discuss the importance of harmonized costing standards and the utility of the recommendations in the guidance note. 

The Global Costing Taskforce for Education and ECCE webinar series convenes researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and funders across the education and early childhood sectors to examine the state of cost data and what is needed to strengthen its collection, quality, publication, and use. The series explores barriers that have limited costing efforts while highlighting real-world examples, practical tools, and the collaborative approaches needed. These conversations simultaneously aim to build a global community of practice around education and ECCE cost evidence generation. For more information about the Global Costing Taskforce or to join the mailing list, please email GCT@brookings.edu. 

Viewers can submit questions via email to events@brookings.edu.