Education cannot wait

Context and Issue

Millions of children worldwide face severe educational deficits due to emergencies and protracted crises. Despite global efforts to increase school enrollment, many children in conflict zones, areas of forced displacement, and regions affected by climate-induced disasters lack access to quality education. These crises disrupt educational systems, depriving children and adolescents of safe, inclusive learning environments essential for their development and well-being. Addressing the educational needs of an estimated 222 million crisis-affected children and adolescents requires a dedicated fund to mobilize resources, enhance coordination, and provide timely, effective responses, ensuring that no child is left behind in their educational journey.

Solution

To address educational deficits in crisis zones, the United Nations established Education Cannot Wait (ECW), a global fund in January 2015. The fund has two primary funding windows: Multi-Year Resilience Programmes (MYRPs) and First Emergency Response (FER). MYRPs facilitate joint humanitarian and development multi-year programming, ensuring long-term funding, while FER provides swift funding for immediate education needs in sudden-onset emergencies. ECW prioritizes holistic learning outcomes, focusing on gender equality, protection, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), aiming to provide safe, inclusive, and quality education. Acting as a global advocate, ECW champions multi-year, predictable financing and builds sector capacity to respond effectively to children in need. By promoting data-driven strategies, establishing a Financing Observatory, and emphasizing community participation and localization, ECW ensures that no child is left behind in their educational journey, leveraging partnerships and mobilizing resources to deliver timely, effective educational support and pave the way for sustainable education systems.

Impact

Since its inception, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) has significantly impacted education in crisis-affected areas, reaching a total of 8.8 million children, with 49.2% being female. Through its COVID-19 interventions alone, ECW has supported 31.2 million children. ECW has also trained 140,539 teachers (47.3% female) and assisted 43 crisis-affected countries. With a strong focus on inclusion, ECW has reached 101,144 children with disabilities and provided education support to 2.1 million refugees (28% of beneficiaries) and over 1 million internally displaced persons (13%). These efforts are supported by over $1.5 billion in mobilized funds, with an additional $1.2 billion allocated for new EiEPC programs, demonstrating ECW's substantial role in improving educational outcomes for the most vulnerable populations.

Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is a crucial initiative addressing the urgent educational needs of children in crisis zones. It's comprehensive funding mechanisms, holistic approach, and strong advocacy have significantly improved educational outcomes for vulnerable populations. However, the program's reliance on long-term funding, logistical challenges, and the need for quality maintenance are critical areas that need continuous attention. By leveraging opportunities for enhanced collaboration, technology integration, and policy influence, ECW can further strengthen its impact and ensure sustainable education for all children, regardless of their circumstances.