Education Cannot Wait

 <info@educationcannotwait.org>

To:chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk

Fri, 9 Oct at 13:24

SCALING UP SDG4 IN CRISES Out of global crises spring opportunities for change. In crisis, change is not an option. It is a necessity. And, as Plato famously noted: “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is an invention that sprang out of crisis and was borne of necessity.     Education Cannot Wait was conceived as a direct response to the lack of financial resources and crisis-sensitive approaches needed to address the learning crisis for 75 million vulnerable children and adolescents impacted by armed conflicts, forced displacement and climate-induced disasters. Today, three years into its operations, the growing number of already crisis-affected children and youth are now doubly hit by another crisis, COVID-19, while under the threat of being hit again by the global financial crisis.    How many crises can they withstand without succumbing? How many hits can they take without losing hope? This burning question was at the centre of the UNGA week event: “The Future of Education is Here for Those Left Furthest Behind.” On 17 September 2020, ECW brought together an impressive, diverse line-up of political leaders, policymakers, influencers and youth advocates, who unanimously spoke to the need of scaling up investments in inclusive quality education for those left furthest behind: refugees, internally displaced, girls and children with disabilities – all already affected by brutal conflicts and climate-induced disasters. Their statements were strong, powerful and driven by determination (see the collection of speaker’s quotes in this month’s Newsletter). This impressive gathering recognized Education Cannot Wait’s innovative design and modus operandi, specifically tailored to reach those left furthest behind in emergencies and protracted crises. Education Cannot Wait translates innovation into action. When a climate-induced disaster hits Mozambique, Nepal or Peru, or when hostilities escalate in Mali, South Sudan or Syria, ECW immediately sets in motion a coordinated response that delivers on the ground within weeks. Where protracted conflicts and forced displacement keep children and adolescents out of school, leaving crisis-affected governments to fend for themselves, multi-year joint programming brings together humanitarian and development actors to jointly respond to the crisis and empower governments to deliver on SDG4 in Afghanistan, Chad and Somalia, and many others.   Between 2017 to 2019, 3.62 million girls and boys previously left behind benefited from Education Cannot Wait’s investments. In Uganda alone, enrollment and access to quality education for refugees rose from 53% to 75%, while girls’ education in ECW investments climbed to 60% in Afghanistan and Nigeria.  When schools shut down in April 2020 due to COVID-19, ECW unleashed its emergency reserves and dispersed funding to over 50 grantees across 33 already crisis-affected countries the very same month. When a devastating explosion took place in Beirut in August, ECW moved swiftly and invested in the rehabilitation of damaged schools. This response to crisis is possible because ECW optimizes other reform efforts geared at innovation and improvement of the multilateral crisis response, such as The New Way of Working, the Grand Bargain and Humanitarian-Development Coherence. It empowers and reinforce existing capacities and coordination structures designed especially for crisis coordination and steers it to prioritize education in the collective response. By doing so, ECW facilitates the multilateral system’s ability to work with greater speed and more sustainability in achieving SDG4 in emergencies and protracted crisis – there, where we find those left furthest behind.   Education Cannot Wait is about systemic change. As a pooled funding mechanism exclusively dedicated to education in emergencies and protracted crises, ECW is designed to leverage financial resources to change the way we deliver inclusive and equitable quality education to those left furthest behind. We know from our growing evidence base that this innovation works.   “Education Cannot Wait is an example of how the United Nations system delivers quality with speed to advance SDG4 leveraging the best from across the UN family. Now is the time to take our work to the next level,” affirmed the UN Deputy-Secretary General, Amina J. Mohammed, in her opening statement at ECW’s most recent High-Level Steering Group, held during the UN General Assembly Week in September.   Working closely with host governments and local communities, UN agencies and civil society are the ones delivering on the ground. When working together through joint programming and coordination, they have the capacity to empower and support governments in crisis to act with speed and deliver at scale to advance SDG4 amidst the largest crisis-affected areas on the globe. Their challenge is not a lack of capacity, coordination or commitment. Their most significant challenge is the lack of funding to allow them to scale up in delivering on SDG4 in crises.   Today, we cannot say that we do not know how to deliver quality education in emergencies or protracted crises. Nor can we continue to ponder what the humanitarian-development nexus might look like in real life, nor assert that in-country host governments, UN agencies and civil society do not coordinate. As ECW’s Annual Results Report of 2019 illustrates, those who work on the emergency frontlines are already doing so - they model cooperation, coordination, speed and quality.   Still, they could do so much more if the required funding was available. To scale up, they need an additional $1.2 billion to reach an additional 5 million children and adolescents. ECW’s immediate ask on their behalf is that of $300 million through 2021. While the pandemic is pushing the world into a global recession, the need for education funding for those left furthest behind has never been greater. As Baroness Liz Sugg, the United Kingdom’s  Minister for Foreign and Development Affairs, stated during the ECW convened event at UNGA:  “Every single country around the work is under huge economic pressure at the moment as a result of COVID-19, but that is not a reason for inaction on education and investing in communities ravished by conflict and crises.” In the same spirit, EU Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen stated: “We must come together to coordinate further our investments to our purpose of leaving no children behind. ECW mobilizes a collective response to urgent needs in education in emergencies. I am proud that that European Union was part of its inception. We have a once in a generation opportunity to reopen schools better than they were before. Now more than ever, Education Cannot Wait.” When crisis hits, we invent out of necessity. When an invention works, we scale up. When we scale up that which works, we build back better. Now, we need to fund it at scale. Yasmine Sherif Director Education Cannot Wait (ECW) RESULTS & UPDATES NEWS EDUCATION CANNOT WAIT INTERVIEWS UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES FILIPPO GRANDI “Education plays a key role, both in ensuring the protection of children and young people and helps families and children focus on rebuilding their lives and returning to many of the activities that they would normally have engaged in prior to displacement.” – Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Read full interview here: Learn More UN DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL AMINA J. MOHAMMED COMMENDS ECW AS AN ‘EXAMPLE OF HOW THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM DELIVERS QUALITY WITH SPEED’ In her remarks at the ECW High-Level Steering Group meeting, UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, expressed her support for ECW’s critical work for the millions of children and youth whose education is disrupted by conflict, disasters and other crises. “Education Cannot Wait is an example of how the United Nations system delivers quality with speed to advance Sustainable Development Goal 4 leveraging the best from across the UN family.” Learn more ‘THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION IS HERE FOR THOSE LEFT FURTHEST BEHIND’ – ECW UNGA EVENT: 17 SEPTEMBER 2020 Education Cannot Wait brought together an impressive, diverse line-up of world leaders, policymakers, youth, teachers, celebrities and global advocates to rally around the cause of education in emergencies and protracted crises during the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly under the inspiring theme “The Future of Education is Here for Those Left Furthest Behind.” Learn More | Event Recording | Notable Quotes GLOBAL HIGH-LEVEL DISCUSSION - ‘STRONGER TOGETHER: EDUCATION IN EMERGENCIES & PROTRACTED CRISES’ LAUNCH OF ECW ANNUAL RESULTS REPORT: 12 AUGUST 2020 ‘Stronger collective efforts and collaboration are key to meeting the urgent education needs of children and youth affected by crises’: this is the unifying message from leaders and youth advocates brought together by Education Cannot Wait in a high-level global advocacy discussion held on 12 August. The discussion was supported by evidence drawn from the new ECW Annual Results Report. Full Event Recording | Event Highlights | ECW Annual Report | Executive Summary | UN Geneva Report Launch DURING THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY WEEK, DONOR PARTNERS ANNOUNCE AN ADDITIONAL US$23.6 MILLION TO ECW IN SUPPORT OF SDG4 IN CRISES With new contributions from Germany, the United States, Norway and the Netherlands, announced during the UN General Assembly week, the total funds mobilized to date by Education Cannot Wait surpass US$650 million. Learn More ECW’S HIGH-LEVEL STEERING GROUP MEETING: 11 SEPTEMBER The Education Cannot Wait High-Level Steering Group convened during UNGA week. The HLSG endorsed the ECW Annual Results Report 2019 and applauded the progress made to date of reaching 3.62 million children and youth, in addition to almost 1 million more targeted in ECW’s COVID-19 emergency response. The governments of Colombia and Ecuador spoke to ECW’s support to refugee education, OCHA briefed on the Anticipatory Action Approach in relation to ECW, while Save the Children and PLAN spoke to the strong civil society partnership with ECW. We are inspired by the passion and commitment of all #ECW High-Level Steering Group members as we work together so that all crisis-affected children & youth have access to the quality education that they want, need and deserve! Education is their right, and their #EducationCannotWait! Learn More ECW HIGH-LEVEL STEERING GROUP MEETING - 11 SEPTEMBER Coronavirus is not just a health crisis, it’s an education crisis too. #UKaid has given urgent support to @EduCannotWait so refugee and vulnerable children can get access to education. Today I joined global education leaders to discuss how best to reach the children most in need. -  Baroness Sugg Share Tweet GLOBAL CAMPAIGN FOR EDUCATION AND ECW JOINT FUNDING STATEMENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE 75TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY On the occasion of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Global Campaign for Education and the Education Cannot Wait Fund jointly call on governments and the donor community to commit funding to ECW for the education of those furthest left behind in emergencies and crises. Another US$300 million is needed to support ECW’s emergency education response to the COVID-19 pandemic in ongoing crises. Learn More EDUCATION CANNOT WAIT QUICKLY RESPONDS TO BEIRUT EXPLOSION WITH US$1.5 MILLION IN EDUCATION IN EMERGENCY FUNDING TO REHABILITATE DAMAGED SCHOOLS Through ECW’s first emergency response window, UNESCO will rehabilitate 40 schools and support 30,000 students to resume learning. The new funding comes just one month after the 4 August 2020 blast, which damaged 140 schools and affected at least 55,000 Lebanese and non-Lebanese students. Learn More MAKING HEADLINES: ECW AND PARTNERS CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR #EiEPC AND TO LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND As Education Cannot Wait accelerates its efforts to mobilize more funds for education in emergencies and protracted crises, the Fund is reaching more people every day through its global advocacy. ECW and partners are making headlines in high-profile media outlets globally, with highlights from Gordon Brown, Yasmine Sherif and more. Project Syndicate | Telegraph | Voice of America | Xinhua | InterPress Service | Forbes | Al Arabiya | ReliefWeb STORIES FROM THE FIELD PROTECTING SCHOOLS CAUGHT IN ARMED CONFLICT IN THE SAHEL – UNHCR AND ECW As we commemorate the first International Day to Protect Education from Attack, UNHCR and Education Cannot Wait are bridging the gap to provide refugee children with the safety, hope and opportunity of an education. In Burkina Faso, attacks on education are pushing children and youth like Oumar to the edge. But he refuses to give up on his education. Learn More ‘WHEN I TEACH, I AM FREE’ – WITH NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL AND ECW SUPPORT In Uganda, a refugee teacher from South Sudan has returned to the classroom through an accelerated education programme implemented by the Norwegian Refugee Council with funding from Education Cannot Wait. Meet Dugale, an inspiring frontlines hero in this story from the field. Learn More NRC AMĖRICA LATINA: BRINDAMOS RECOMENDACIONES PARA LA PREVENCIÓN DEL #COVID19 GRACIAS A ECW ¿Por qué es tan importante lavar nuestras manos frecuentemente? Gracias a @EduCannotWait brindamos recomendaciones para la prevención del #COVID19 y entregamos kits con elementos de hygiene, cuidado personal y limpieza a los niños y niñas en Norte de Santander, #Colombia. LEARN MORE COUNTERING SCHOOL CLOSURES WITH RADIO EDUCATION IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC – WITH JESUIT REFUGEE SERVICE AND ECW SUPPORT With funding from Education Cannot Wait, Jesuit Refugee Service is expanding remote learning opportunities for children impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Learn More ‘MI HOGAR ES MI ESCUELA’, UN NUEVO PROGRAMA RADIAL PARA PROMOVER LA EDUCACIÓN DE LA NIÑEZ MÁS VULNERABLE: NRC AMĖRICA LATINA CON ECW El sábado 19 de septiembre inicia la emisión de la serie radial ‘Mi hogar es mi escuela’ una nueva propuesta educativa radial para que la niñez y juventud de Colombia complementen su aprendizaje en casa. Learn More AVSI-USA MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO CHILDREN TO KEEP LEARNING WITH ECW SUPPORT In the #DRCongo,  the  school year will start soon in the classes that have been empty since March, With @EduCannotWait, AVSI has made it possible for 18,022 Congolese children to participate in distance learning via radio and has offered psychological support for students, parents and teachers. Learn More FCA GLOBAL, UNHCR UGANDA RADIO LESSONS FOR 141,825 LEARNERS IN UGANDA’S REFUGEE SETTLEMENTS WITH ECW AND EU-ECHO SUPPORT “We are eager to return to school when we can,” says Uwase, 13. She tunes into radio lessons during #school closures and does homework with her friends. With @UNHCRuganda, 141,825 learners in #Uganda’s refugee settlements received home learning packages. Thank-you @EduCannotWait @EU_Echo Learn More MEJORES OPORTUNIDADES EDUCATIVAS PARA MIGRANTES Y REFUGIADOS VENEZOLANOS EN EL PERÚ - RETAMERICAS #HOY #RET, con el apoyo de @EduCannotWait, y en asocio con @UnescoPeru, @UNICEFperu y @planperu, presentará el balance del projecto “Mejores oportunidades educativas para migrantes y refugiados Venezolanos en el Perú”. Sigue la Transmision a traves del facebook de #UNESCOPeru. Learn More FONDAZIONE AVSI PODCAST ON DISTANCE LEARNING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS WITH ECW SUPPORT Live on @LaSkilly @RadioInBlu @AVSI_DRCongo and #SouthSudan about our work with @EduCannotWait to guarantee distance learning via radio since school closures and provide psychological support for students, parents and teachers. Hear the podcast. Learn More SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS WELCOMING A NEW CONTRIBUTION FROM GERMANY Education Cannot Wait @EduCannotWait #ECW warmly welcomes this new additional contribution from Germany! This will assist ECW & our partners to reach crisis-affected children and youth - now doubly hit by #Covid19 - with quality education! @BMZ_Bund @GermanyUN @GermanyUNGeneva @YasmineSherif1 @GermanyDiplo Share Tweet NETHERLANDS ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL €6 MILLION CONTRIBUTION TO ECW COVID-19 RESPONSE Education Cannot Wait @EduCannotWait #ECW warmly welcomes this new, additional contribution by #Netherlands to our #Covid19 education in emergency response! “We appreciate ECW's intersectoral approach and emphasis on mental health and psychosocial support." ~ @SigridKaag @DutchMFA @NLatUN @YasmineSherif1 @UN Share Tweet US STATE DEPARTMENT BUREAU OF POPULATION, REFUGEES AND MIGRATION (STATE PRM) EXPANDS SUPPORT FOR ECW Education Cannot Wait @EduCannotWait #ECW warmly welcomes this new additional contribution from the #USA! This will assist ECW & our partners to reach vulnerable children & youth caught in emergencies & protracted crises - now doubly hit by #Covid19 - with quality education! @StatePRM @USAID @USAIDEducation Share Tweet SWITZERLAND ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL CHF2.6 MILLION CONTRIBUTION TO ECW COVID-19 RESPONSE Yasmine Sherif @YasmineSherif1 Thank you Switzerland for your generous and steadfast support to #EducationCannotWait  @SwissHumAidUnit @swiss_un @ThomasGass Manuel Bessler @HandschinSabina #LeaveNoOneBehind #EducationInEmergencies #GenevaGlobalHub4EiE Share Tweet NORWAY STEPS UP SUPPORT FOR ECW Education Cannot Wait @EduCannotWait #ECW warmly welcomes this new additional contribution from #Norway! This will assist ECW & partners to reach crisis-affected children & youth caught in armed conflicts, forced disasters, natural disasters - now doubly hit by #Covid19 - with quality education! @dagiulstein Share Tweet INSPIRING QUOTES FROM ECW’S UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY EVENT At the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly under the inspiring theme “The Future of Education is Here for Those Left Furthest Behind,” leaders, advocates, celebrities and champions for education in emergencies and protracted crises came together to re-imagine education for those left furthest behind. View some of the insightful words shared by the eminent speakers at ECW’s #UNGA75 global event. View Quotes ‘PANDEMIC THREATENS DECADES OF HARD-WON DEVELOPMENT GAINS’ – THE RT. HON, GORDON BROWN Gordon & Sarah Brown @OfficeGSBrown New report comes at an unprecedented time when the global education crisis is exacerbated by COVID-19. The pandemic threatens decades of hard-won development gains: 90% of the world’s school-age children and youth have had their education disrupted. Share Tweet AL ARABIYA EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ECW DIRECTOR YASMINE SHERIF Talal Al-Haj @TalalAlhaj It was my honor to exclusively interview LIVE this awesome UN director of #ECW. @YasmineSherif1 is so full of Energy & Passion for her mission of Educating the children of the world, especially the less fortunate! @antonioguterres @MelissaFleming @StephDujarric #COVID19 Share Tweet | Watch in Arabic BARONESS SUGG HIGHLIGHTS VALUE OF ECW-FINANCED ACCELERATED LEARNING PROGRAMMES IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Baroness Sugg @liz_sugg But the good news is we can make a difference! In the Central African Republic,  @EduCannotWait supported an 8-month accelerated learning programme for children living through conflict. 85% of children who completed the programme were able to go back to school. Share Tweet DEVELOPMENT CANADA UNDERSCORES VALUE OF EDUCATION DURING PANDEMIC Development Canada @CanadaDev Today, Parl. Sec. Khera participated in an @EduCannotWait discussion about #education in emergencies #COVID19 “As schools reopen, the most vulnerable and marginalized children & youth must be at the heart of our plans to create better education systems.” #StrongerTogetherInCrises Share Tweet ‘WE HEAR YOU!’ – DAG INGE ULSTEIN, NORWAY’S MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Dag Inge Ulstein @dagiulstein We hear you! #EducationCannotWait @pressrbu @ReddBarna @uroplannorge @savechildrenuk. ‘Almost 10 million children may never return to school following #Covid-19 lockdown. Here are the young campaigners demanding action to #SaveOurEducation. We can’t let them down.’ Share Tweet ROUNDTABLE ON REACHING REFUGEES WITH EDUCATION WITH UNHCR, AL-GHURAIR FOUNDATION, SAVE THE CHILDREN, WORLD BANK AND ECW Filippo Grandi @FilippoGrandi Glad to participate in the roundtable on refugee education organized by @save_children together with @WorldBank @EduCannotWait @AGFforE. We achieved much in the last few years. We must not let the #pandemic to make us lose ground by depriving refugee children of education. Share Tweet UK IN LEBANON HIGHLIGHTS VALUE OF ECW’S BEIRUT EXPLOSION EDUCATION RESPONSE UK in Lebanon @ukinlebanon Welcoming news from @EduCannotWait in support of schools in #Beirut damaged by the blast. The UK continues to be a leading partner so that every child receives an #education across Lebanon. #EducationCannotWait @edwardabarnett @crampling Share Tweet WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE FENPS IN SOMALIA, ECW IS WORKING TO LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND FENPS @FENPS04 It is the responsibility of everyone in everywhere in the world to work for schooling of our children. Share Tweet WFP: SCHOOLS ARE MORE THAN JUST PLACES OF LEARNING World Food Programme @WFP Schools are more than just places of learning. They also offer social protection, health and emotional support. As the world goes #BackToSchool after #COVID19, we must reimagine a healthier future that ensures kids’ access to education, nutrition & health. #EducationCannotWait Share Tweet EXTENDING RADIO EDUCATION WITH UNICEF IN BURKINA FASO UNICEF Burkina Faso @UNICEF_Burkina #COVID19: Students are passing their primary school exam thanks to the radio education program supported by @EduCannotWait. Share Tweet ‘MI HOGAR ES MI ESCUELA’ APOYANDO ACCIÓN HUMANITARIA CON FUNDACIÓN PLAN Fundación PLAN @FundacionPlan #AcciónHumanitaria y @EduCannotWait con el programa radial "Mi Hogar es mi Escuela" quiere educar a niñas, niños y adolescentes, y complementar de manera didáctica los temas de la cartilla ZURI. Tú también puedes aportar, ingresa a http://empoderaya.org Share Tweet REDUCING SCHOOL DROPOUTS WITH JESUIT REFUGEE SERVICE IN CHAD Giulia McPherson @GiuliaMcPherson Great to see @jrs_waf included in @EduCannotWait's 2019 Annual Report, in particular JRS Chad's income-generating activities that helped reduce the school dropout rate from 23.7% in 2017 to 17.9% in 2019. https://educationcannotwait.org/annual-report/ Share Tweet ECW INVESTMENTS DELIVERED BY UNICEF IN YEMEN ARE HELPING CHILDREN SIT FOR THEIR EXAMS UNICEF Yemen @UNICEF_Yemen It’s the 2nd week of school exams. #COVID19 precaution measures are in place; temperature is taken, hand sanitizer is provided & masks & gloves are distributed! We wish the students the best of luck! Thanks to @EduCannotWait, Slovenia, Canada & Sweden for their generous support. Share Tweet SUPPORTING REFUGEE CHILDREN IN GREECE WITH UNHCR, THEIRWORLD AND DUTCH POST CODE LOTTERY UNHCR Greece @UNHCRGreece Thank you @EduCannotWait @Theirworld & @PostcodeLoterij for your continuous and vital support in opening the door to knowledge and creation for refugee children in the Greek Islands. It is crucial that we continue to provide this opportunity following the #Covid_19 outbreak. Share Tweet HYGIENE STATIONS IN SOMALIA HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 THROUGH FENPS SUPPORT WITH ECW FENPS @FENPS04 About 4 months later, schools re-open in Somalia today-very excited that children & teachers exercise hygiene promotion & COVID-19 prevention standard guidelines at FENPS targeted schools. Thank @EduCannotWait 4 supporting these activities. @adrasomalia @AdamValent @SamMuthamia Share Tweet PUTTING CHILDREN IMPACTED BY VENEZUELA REGIONAL CRISIS FIRST WITH PLAN INTERNATIONAL Fundación PLAN @FundacionPlan Guaranteeing the continuity of education at home during the ongoing crisis is one of our objectives. Education kits and learning charts supplied through an @EduCannotWait grant are contributing to learning for girls, boys, adolescent migrants and Colombians. #AcciónHumanitaria Share Tweet ECW ROLLS OUT NEW ONLINE DONATION PLATFORM WITH ZOOM AND PLEDGELING ECW rolled out a new donation feature through video communications platform Zoom in partnership with online fundraising platform Pledgeling during ECW’s UNGA event. The audience was invited to make and view live donations during the event, raising almost $15,000 in just two hours. Donations can still be made at www.pledgeling.com/ECW or, in the US, by texting ‘ECW’ to 707070. Donate Today | Watch Video CONTRIBUTIONS & PLEDGES TO ECW Do