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Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Sean Fleming T.D., today announced a further €1 million in support for Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the United Nations global fund for education in emergencies.

224 million children around the world are deprived of a quality education due to armed conflicts, forced displacement, climate-induced disasters and other prolonged crises. Funding from Ireland will assist Education Cannot Wait to provide education to children living in areas experiencing crisis. The additional funding will help to provide school infrastructure, learning materials, teacher training and mental health and psychosocial services. It will also provide water, sanitation and food for pupils.

Minister Fleming said:

“Providing education is a key priority for Ireland’s work around the world. Conflicts and disasters are keeping 224 million young people around the world out of education. Depriving children of education is damaging for them and also sets back their entire communities. Ireland’s partnership with Education Cannot Wait supports children caught up in crisis to stay in, or to return to, education.

“I have recently returned from Uganda and Ethiopia, where Ireland is funding schools and helping young people stay in education. This work is vitally important. Education gives young people the skills and knowledge to improve their lives. Ireland is firmly committed to supporting education around the world.”

Ireland has been working with Education Cannot Wait since 2019. Earlier this year Ireland pledged €18 million over four years to Education Cannot Wait as part of ongoing support to global education interventions which improve access to education.

With funding from Ireland and other strategic partners, Education Cannot Wait has already reached close to 9 million children in some of the harshest crises around the world.