Education Cannot Wait (ECW), an NGO aimed at supporting education channels during emergencies, has announced $5 million in investments in Pakistan and Somalia, to reduce disruption to learning when climate events strike.
The two pilot schemes will seek to ensure consistency of learning and minimise damage to schools, and encompasses a $2.5 million grant in Somalia and a $2.5 million grant in Pakistan.
‘These grants will support communities to proactively reduce the devastating impact of future climate change hazards on children’s education by putting in place anticipatory measures that will keep children learning,’ ECW noted.
Both countries have borne the brunt of climate hazards in recent years, specifically flooding – in Somalia last year, flooding affected close to a million school goers, while in September of this year, floods in the Sindh Province of Pakistan put education on hold for 230,000 children and damaged over 1,300 schools.
‘Disrupting education’
“The climate crisis is disrupting the education of every girl and boy on Planet Earth,” commented Yasmine Sherif, executive director of Education Cannot Wait.
“Nowhere are the challenges more severe than on the frontlines of armed conflict, forced displacement and other protracted crises in places like Pakistan and Somalia. These vital pilot investments will allow for fast, dignified and cost-effective actions that protect investments in education and other humanitarian sectors. They are an essential component in our global efforts to deliver on the goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement.”
Sherif called on donors to support ECW’s efforts to accelerate, scale-up and replicate the group’s efforts, and “support the direct link between climate change and education”.
Target areas
In Pakistan, ECW’s grant will be delivered by UNICEF, targeting six flood-prone districts over 18 months to safeguard education infrastructure and reduce dropout rates.
In Somalia, the Norwegian Refugee Council will manage the grant, focusing on providing education during emergencies and establishing frameworks to protect children from future climate risks.
ECW’s climate appeal was launched at COP28, which took place in Dubai last year. The appeal calls for world leaders, the private sector and other key stakeholders to urgently mobilise $150 million in additional funding for ECW’s climate and education programmes.
Find out more about Education Cannot Wait here.
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