On Monday, the UN Global Education Fund, Education cannot wait (ECW) announced a $22 million initiative to help students in Sudan return to learning. ECW, a multibillion-dollar fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, manages the program. The fund works to ensure that displaced children are not left behind and provide them with holistic learning opportunities.
Save the Children’s deputy country director, Francesco Lanino, emphasizes the importance of this initiative. He emphasizes that children in Sudan must focus on access to safe and quality education to protect their future.
Sudan Civil War began in 2023 and has caused enormous suffering to people and their future. ECW states that “some 14 million people have been forced to leave their homes, while 33.7 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance. At least 8 million children – almost half of Sudan’s 17 million school-age children – remain out of school. Across the country, large numbers of schools remain out of operation, while millions of children are facing extended disruptions to their education, with some missing nearly 500 days of instruction.” This data alone illustrates the consequences of the ongoing conflict in the country.
Nevertheless, communities in Sudan have prevailed in times of crisis. The three-year program aims to reach internally displaced children, refugees and vulnerable host communities. Save the Children, Plan International, Lakarmissionen International (LM International) and local partners Alsalam Organization for Relief and Development (AORD) and Sadagaat will implement the program.
The people of Sudan continue to face challenges as they work to rebuild communities, restore education and pursue peace. With funding from ECW, the initiative aims to help 200,000 Sudanese children continue their education and provide communities with better opportunities to rebuild their future.
