In the News

It has been observed by Dianah Nelson, Chief of Education Cannot Wait (ECW), that the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises within the United Nations have launched a pilot programme in Somalia and Afghanistan, to identify early action activities or anticipatory action to act against the impacts of climate and minimise its disruption on children's lives and education in those countries. 

Towards embedding education into the climate finance debate, ECW held a series of COP29 side events on such issues as unlocking the potential of anticipatory action through multi-stakeholder collaboration to meet the challenge of conflict, climate and education; climate change-resilient education systems in the most vulnerable nations; and protecting children's futures. It was also underlined that loss and damage must prioritise education in emergencies.

It has also been observed in this context by Adenike Oladosu, ECW's Climate Champion and Nigerian climate justice advocate that "we need to safeguard or protect our schools from being vulnerable, or being attacked in conflict, or even being washed away by flood"

At COP29, ECW reiterated the power of education to unite communities, build consensus, and transform entire societies. In the classroom of the future, children could then acquire the green skills they need to thrive in the new economy of the 21st century

Notes to editor:

[6] Education Cannot Wait, Right Here, Right Now: An Emergency Appeal to Support Education for Children and Adolescents Affected by Climate Hazards 

By Gordon Brown, a former prime minister of the United Kingdom, is UN Special Envoy for Global Education and Chair of Education Cannot Wait.

As the reopening of schools becomes a priority amid these dire circumstances, UNICEF — supported by the European Union, Education Cannot Wait and UNICEF regular resources — continues to provide critical education supplies.

In response to these multiplying crises, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and its strategic partners announced today a US$20 million grant that will extend the Fund's Multi-Year Resilience Programme in Chad, reaching approximately 66,000 crisis-affected children and adolescents. 

The grant will be delivered by UNICEF in coordination with the Government of Chad and a number of national and international partners. ECW funding in Chad now tops US$61 million and has reached over 880,000 children with the safety, hope and opportunity that only a quality education can provide. 

ECW's catalytic grant represents a significant contribution to the Humanitarian Response Plan in Chad, which calls for US$28.2 million toward education. Overall, 50% of the humanitarian appeal remains unmet.

En réponse à ces crises multiples, Éducation sans délai (Education Cannot Wait ou « ECW ») et ses partenaires stratégiques ont annoncé aujourd'hui une subvention de 20 millions de dollars, qui permettra d'étendre le Programme pluriannuel de résilience du Fonds au Tchad, afin de soutenir environ 66 000 enfants et adolescents touchés par la crise. La subvention sera mise en œuvre par l'UNICEF en coordination avec le gouvernement du Tchad et un certain nombre de partenaires nationaux et internationaux. 

Le financement de l'ECW au Tchad dépasse actuellement les 61 millions de dollars. et a permis d'offrir à plus de 880 000 enfants la sécurité, l'espoir et les perspectives que seule une éducation de qualité peut leur apporter. 
 

La subvention à effet catalyseur de l'ECW représente une contribution significative au Plan de réponse humanitaire pour le Tchad, qui cherche à mobiliser 28,2 millions de dollars pour le secteur de l'éducation. Dans l'ensemble, 50 % de l'appel de fonds humanitaire pour le pays reste à combler.

En respuesta a estas crisis que se multiplican, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) y sus socios estratégicos anunciaron hoy una subvención de 20 millones de dólares que ampliará el Programa Plurianual de Resiliencia del Fondo en Chad, llegando a aproximadamente 66.000 niños y adolescentes afectados por la crisis. 

La subvención será entregada por UNICEF en coordinación con el Gobierno de Chad y varios socios nacionales e internacionales. La financiación de ECW en Chad supera ahora los 61 millones de dólares y ha llegado a más de 880.000 niños con la seguridad, la esperanza y las oportunidades que solo una educación de calidad puede proporcionar. 

La subvención catalizadora de ECW representa una importante contribución al Plan de Respuesta Humanitaria en Chad, que exige 28,2 millones de dólares estadounidenses para la educación. En total, el 50% del llamamiento humanitario sigue sin ser atendido.

En respuesta a estas crisis que se multiplican, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) y sus socios estratégicos anunciaron hoy una subvención de 20 millones de dólares que ampliará el Programa Plurianual de Resiliencia del Fondo en Chad, llegando a aproximadamente 66.000 niños y adolescentes afectados por la crisis. 

La subvención será entregada por UNICEF en coordinación con el Gobierno de Chad y varios socios nacionales e internacionales. La financiación de ECW en Chad supera ahora los 61 millones de dólares y ha llegado a más de 880.000 niños con la seguridad, la esperanza y las oportunidades que solo una educación de calidad puede proporcionar. 

La subvención catalizadora de ECW representa una importante contribución al Plan de Respuesta Humanitaria en Chad, que exige 28,2 millones de dólares estadounidenses para la educación. En total, el 50% del llamamiento humanitario sigue sin ser atendido.

En réponse à ces crises multiples, Éducation sans délai (Education Cannot Wait ou « ECW ») et ses partenaires stratégiques ont annoncé aujourd'hui une subvention de 20 millions de dollars, qui permettra d'étendre le Programme pluriannuel de résilience du Fonds au Tchad, afin de soutenir environ 66 000 enfants et adolescents touchés par la crise.

 La subvention sera mise en oeuvre par l'UNICEF en coordination avec le gouvernement du Tchad et un certain nombre de partenaires nationaux et internationaux. Le financement de l'ECW au Tchad dépasse actuellement les 61 millions de dollars. et a permis d'offrir à plus de 880 000 enfants la sécurité, l'espoir et les perspectives que seule une éducation de qualité peut leur apporter. 

La subvention à effet catalyseur de l'ECW représente une contribution significative au Plan de réponse humanitaire pour le Tchad, qui cherche à mobiliser 28,2 millions de dollars pour le secteur de l'éducation. Dans l'ensemble, 50 % de l'appel de fonds humanitaire pour le pays reste à combler.

In response to these multiplying crises, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and its strategic partners announced today a US$20 million grant that will extend the Fund's Multi-Year Resilience Programme in Chad, reaching approximately 66,000 crisis-affected children and adolescents. 

The grant will be delivered by UNICEF in coordination with the Government of Chad and a number of national and international partners. ECW funding in Chad now tops US$61 million and has reached over 880,000 children with the safety, hope and opportunity that only a quality education can provide. 

ECW's catalytic grant represents a significant contribution to the Humanitarian Response Plan in Chad, which calls for US$28.2 million toward education. Overall, 50% of the humanitarian appeal remains unmet.

In response to these multiplying crises, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and its strategic partners announced today a US$20 million grant that will extend the Fund's Multi-Year Resilience Programme in Chad, reaching approximately 66,000 crisis-affected children and adolescents. 

The grant will be delivered by UNICEF in coordination with the Government of Chad and a number of national and international partners. ECW funding in Chad now tops US$61 million and has reached over 880,000 children with the safety, hope and opportunity that only a quality education can provide. 

ECW's catalytic grant represents a significant contribution to the Humanitarian Response Plan in Chad, which calls for US$28.2 million toward education. Overall, 50% of the humanitarian appeal remains unmet.

These are real examples of some of the 44 countries and contexts in which ECW invests financial resources towards a holistic quality education, safe learning environments and school meals.

As many will know, Education Cannot Wait is a global platform in the UN system, hosted by UNICEF.

ECW is able to deliver with speed because it is a catalyst that brings together partners who operate with the same level of commitment, energy and determination.

When annual military expenditures worldwide stand at US$2.4 trillion, there is no justification whatsoever to fail in investing a minimum of US$570 million for Education Cannot Wait to support lifesaving and life-sustaining education for children enduring the brunt of man-made and climate crises; as well as to invest substantive financial resources to our sister-funds, such as the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd).

As our ongoing analysis and research at Education Cannot Wait indicates, the number of children in emergencies and protracted crises – who are denied or deprived an education – is getting closer to a quarter of a billion children and adolescents. We can prevent this.

This leads me to the founder and outgoing High-Level Steering Group Chair of Education Cannot Wait, The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education. He had a vision that led to the creation of Education Cannot Wait.

With this, on behalf of the whole Education Cannot Wait family, I wish you Happy Holidays. May 2025 be a brighter year.