ECW Delivers Complete Education Against All Odds, But More Funding Needed – World Issues
UNITED NATIONS, Sep 17 (IPS) – Education Cannot Wait (ECW) has brought quality education to children in difficult circumstances “against all odds,” ECW Executive Director Yasmine Sherif said at the United Nations today. “And you can imagine the challenges. We’re seeing more armed conflict, an increase in climate-related disasters and the largest movement of refugees since the Second World War.”
Education Cannot Wait’s ‘Results Against All Challenges: Annual Report 2023’ released today (September 17, 2024) details the dire need for additional funding because, while the number of children in urgent need of educational support has nearly tripled since 2016 , for the first time in a decade funding for education in emergencies and long-term crises has decreased.
The global community is falling behind on its pledge to ensure ‘quality education for all’ by 2030, the report says, as armed conflict, forced displacement, climate change, and other emergencies and protracted crises have left more than 224 million children affected by disasters. with an urgent need for educational support, which has increased significantly from 75 million in 2016.
Overall public funding for education fell by 3% last year, from US$1.2 billion in 2022 to US$1.17 billion in 2023, according to the report.
Despite this, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in emergencies and crises within the United Nations, and its strategic partners continue to deliver life-saving, life-sustaining and multi-year investments in education in many countries around the world. vulnerable children and youth.
Sherif thanked ECW partners and the global community that supports the education of children in difficult situations.
“It’s a lotofeverything,webetothank youichildrenWHOthere isholding ontotohopein spite ofidarknessagainiopportunitiesagainstsee,stillthey wanttogo awaytoschool,they wanttolearnagainthey wanttochangetheirslives.Now,in spite ofeverythingthesescarytrendsagainfacts,educationhe won’twait,” said Sherif, noting that the report provides information on many children it had been reached sinceECWhe wasto workin the middle2017.
“That’s rightsixyears,11millionswithacompletelyleveleducation,ieducationthatis somethingchild-focusedagainthatrightsiperfectthe spectrumofthe schoolsaidof educationtraining,artagainmentallyhealthagainmentallyservices,protection,the teachertrainingagainthe teachersupport,in the middlethereforemanythe restthings.” By 2023 alone, 5.6 million girls and boys have been reached, he noted.
More Funding Needed to Meet 2026 Target
To date, the fund has raised more than US$1.6 billion from public and private donors. However, US$600 million is urgently needed from ECW and its strategic partners’ contributions to reach a total of 20 million children and youth with inclusive, quality education by the end of its 2023-2026 strategic plan period.
“For our 25 strategic donor partners, these flexible funds deliver quality and child-centered education, thereby representing a commitment to sustainable development, human rights, economic sustainability and global security,” said Gordon Brown, UN Special Envoy for Global Education. and Chairman of ECW’s High-Level Steering Group.
“Education is the most powerful tool to restore hope in a country full of brutal conflicts, human rights violations and inequality. It is our investment in a new generation of leaders.”
From Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gaza, the West Bank, Haiti, the Sahel, Sudan, Ukraine and other hot spots around the world, the ECW report highlights the enormous impact of education in disaster situations.
Financing Education: An Ethical Choice
“Girls and boys in crisis are enduring the worst impacts of violent man-made conflicts, forced displacement, climate change and other disasters. Our new report proves that despite these challenges, it is possible to provide them with protection, hope and life- changing opportunities for comprehensive quality education to do this, please -US$600 million to meet our program goals and ensure a better future for 20 million girls and boys by the end of 2026,” said ECW Executive Director Yasmine Sherif. “This is the time to make good political choices.”
The new report shows ECW’s strong focus on the world’s most vulnerable and vulnerable children: of the children reached in 2023, more than half were girls (51%), 17% were homeless and 22% were refugees.
The quality and impact of the education provided—even in the most difficult circumstances—is improving. Overall, 9 out of 10 programs reported improved school enrollment and 72% showed gender-equal progress. ECW reported that, among programs able to monitor learning outcomes, 80% of investments showed improvements in education and 72% showed improvements in children’s learning and social and emotional well-being.
ECW’s investment has also improved continuing education, with a significant increase in the number of girls and boys reached through the Fund’s investment in early childhood and high school education, inclusion of disabilities, gender transition methods, mental health support, and quick, comprehensive solutions, addressing the needs of the whole child.
The climate problem is an education problem. The number of children reached by First Responders for climate-related hazards will almost double from 14% in 2022 to 27% in 2023.
The report sets out a unique approach for ECW and the result is improving engagement at the nexus of human development, joint initiatives, increasing localization and community involvement, and building robust data and evidence systems.
It shows the efforts of ECW and partners to introduce important programs and reforms of the United Nations, including the Grand Bargain agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the reforms of the UN Secretary-General. The report shows that the systems are in place and that Education Cannot Wait has brought about a revival by boldly advocating to make the systems more efficient. But funding is needed to achieve the goals.
“Education is a public good and a fundamental right. In order to achieve our goals, world leaders must align policies, funding and humanitarian goals. International aid funding must be increased immediately to reverse the current decline, and cooperation and collaboration must be strengthened across humanitarian aid. , the development and peace efforts of Education Cannot Wait have shown us that the ‘impossible’ is indeed possible – as long as funding is made available,” said Brown.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
