In the News

Unfortunately, children and their families affected by such conflicts are among the most vulnerable in the world. They endure extreme poverty, severe protection vulnerabilities and they often lack access to basic services. These protracted crises are often overshadowed by more prominent global issues, yet the silent emergency of generations of children deprived of their right to education is a crisis in and of itself. Immediate relief and support are not just necessary—they are a humanitarian imperative.

Multilateral funds like Education Cannot Wait are particularly effective because they pool resources from various donors, ensuring that funds are used equitably, efficiently, and effectively. This collaborative approach maximizes impact and reduces duplication of efforts, ensuring that every dollar spent reaches those who need it most.

The day concluded with the session on “United for Education in times of Crises,” moderated by Ms. Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW), bringing together Dr. Amjad Saad Suleiman Dababat, Minister of Education and Higher Education, State of Palestine; Dr. Tariq Salem Saleh Al-Akbari, Minister of Education, Republic of Yemen; Dr. Mohammed Alshiriakah, Chairman of the Gulf Arab States Educational Research Center, Kuwait; Ms. Adele Khodr, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, UNICEF; Mr. Fahad Al-Sulaiti, CEO, Education Above All; Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Mudiris, Director General, UNESCO Regional Centre of Quality and Excellence in Education; and Mr. Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir, Minister of Education, Culture and Higher Education, Republic of Somalia.

This initiative, driven by the global fund Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and led by UNESCO's office in Quito, focuses on strengthening education in emergency situations and prolonged crises. During this first phase, Ecuador requested technical support from LLECE to measure socio-emotional skills in students from MYRP schools, such as empathy, openness to diversity, and self-regulation in school. These skills were also assessed in the latest Regional Comparative and Explanatory Study (ERCE 2019).

Despite concerted efforts by the Government of Iraq and the international community, 2 million children are still out of school. Syrian refugees, children with disabilities, girls and other marginalized groups are the most vulnerable. It is such tragedy to see how Iraq – once the cradle of civilization – is now dependent on international aid to educate her children and refugees. By ensuring quality education and lifelong learning for them, let us hope that we can help deliver and restore education towards stability, which they all so deserve," said Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait, the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises within the United Nations.

Invertir eficazmente en la dignificación y profesionalización de la carrera docente, en la evaluación del desempeño y la formación continua de los mismos, en desarrollar competencias de gestión eficiente y eficaz y de liderazgo en todos los directores de escuelas para que el resultado sean niños, niñas y jóvenes con las competencias necesarias para vivir en el siglo 21, dan relevancia a la necesidad de la estabilidad, continuidad y gestión coherente del Sistema Educativo como estrategia país.  Indudablemente se necesita visión de trascendencia y largo plazo.  La educación no puede esperar.

In the introduction of the event, Denmark, Colombia, South Sudan, Luxembourg and the Maldives shared the challenges and some of the best practices implemented at the national level. Among other points, the need to adapt the responses to national contexts, included through communities based initiatives, as well as the issue of data collection in such contexts were highlighted. Several mentioned the importance of addressing other dimensions - beyond education - such as mental health.

Several key actors shared perspectives from their own work: UNESCO, UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO, Education cannot Wait (ECW) and the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion.

Education Cannot Wait (ECW) announced today a US$9 million cost extension for its highly successful Multi-Year Resilience Programme in Iraq. Total ECW funding in Iraq now tops US$23.8 million.

Initiated in 2021, the multi-year programme delivered by Save the Children and a consortium of international and local partners in coordination with the Ministries of Education, has already reached approximately 50,000 children. Despite these successes, challenges persist in improving the quality of education, reaching the most vulnerable groups, providing support to prepare girls and boys for the workforce, and addressing emerging needs related to climate change and other stressors.

Education Cannot Wait (ECW) announced today a US$9 million cost extension for its highly successful Multi-Year Resilience Programme in Iraq. Total ECW funding in Iraq now tops US$23.8 million.

Initiated in 2021, the multi-year programme delivered by Save the Children and a consortium of international and local partners in coordination with the Ministries of Education, has already reached approximately 50,000 children. Despite these successes, challenges persist in improving the quality of education, reaching the most vulnerable groups, providing support to prepare girls and boys for the workforce, and addressing emerging needs related to climate change and other stressors.

The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Education Cannot Wait (ECW) are vital for reaching the most marginalised children. The UK should honour its £430 million pledge to GPE, of which only 17% has been disbursed. It’s crucial that the UK fulfils this commitment and ensures full funding for ECW. These multilateral partnerships are the most efficient and effective way to strengthen education systems, which in turn ensures they are able to reach marginalised groups.

Director, Delphine Dorsi, spoke at an event on protecting the right to early childhood care and education (ECCE) during crisis organised by UNESCO with the support of the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies, UNICEF, Education Cannot Wait and the permanent mission of Colombia to the UN in Geneva.

Heads of state and influential leaders also appeared to address the audience of activists and changemakers, including Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations; Helder Barbalho, Governor of the State of Pará, Brazil; Chief Raoni Metuktire, Chief of the Kayapó People of Brazil; Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi; Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait; Minister Sônia Guajajara,  Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil; Nicolai Wammen, Minister for Finance of Denmark, and many more.

Unos 500 millones de niños en todo el mundo están atrapados en zonas de conflicto o desplazados por la guerra y el cambio climático, lo que pone su derecho a la educación en grave riesgo. Estos son los niños más ignorados del mundo y sus necesidades educativas urgentes deben encabezar la agenda de los responsables de las políticas ahora, en la Cumbre del Futuro de las Naciones Unidas realizada en la ciudad de Nueva York, y en la Segunda Cumbre Mundial sobre Desarrollo Social del año próximo.

Cuando se creó Education Cannot Wait en 2016, enfrentó el enorme desafío de apoyar a alrededor de 75 millones de niños en todo el mundo cuya educación se había visto afectada por crisis. Desde entonces, según la última estimación global de la organización, la cantidad de niños afectados por crisis que necesitan un apoyo educativo prácticamente se ha triplicado, alcanzando 224 millones.