Dutch aid minister Sigrid Kaag has told the United Nations meeting in New York that the Netherlands is to donate €20m a year up to 2023 to the Global Partnership for Education – slightly more than pop star Rihanna called on the Netherlands to donate last month.

‘Education is one of my policy priorities,’ Kaag said. ‘It offers women and young people better opportunities for work and a decent income.’

A spokesman for the minister told broadcaster NOS later than she had not been influenced by Rihanna’s plea. ‘It was the minister’s own decision,’ the spokesman said.

Hi @SigridKaag @markrutte @MinPres! I know that the Netherlands wanted to pledge to support global education back in February, so I’d love if you joined me now! Will you provide $100M to @GPforEducation on Sept 29 at the @GlblCtzn Fest? Dank je! @claralionelfdn 🇳🇱📚

— Rihanna (@rihanna) August 20, 2018

Kaag had said in a reply to Rihanna that ‘all will be revealed in New York’.

Another €15m is going to aid group Education Cannot Wait which boosts the access of children in crisis regions to education and almost €60m to the Global Financing Facility which helps countries set up healthcare programmes for women.