Unprecedented School Closures Jeopardise the Future of Millions in West and Central Africa

This report outlines an unprecedented and very disturbing reality that a total of 13,371 schools remain closed as a result of conflict and insecurity in Central and West Africa. In line with the United Nations Security Council's Resolution 2601 on the protection of schools in armed conflict, ECW, NRC, UNHCR and UNICEF call on governments, all parties to conflict and the international community to: (1) Adopt holistic, integrated and multi-sectoral approaches to the implementation of the Safe Schools protocols and frameworks (2) Immediately negotiate the non-occupation of schools by parties to conflict and re-opening of closed schools (3) Develop and implement response plans based on quantitative and qualitative data, prioritizing the most at risk (4) Reinforce alternative, innovative, accelerated, and flexible learning solutions for educational continuity (5) Expand and improve psychosocial support to children, their teachers, and caregivers (6) Increase predictable flexible and long-term financing for education in emergencies.