Education Cannot Wait Pledges $2 Million for Flood-Affected Children in Pakistan

Education Cannot Wait's Contribution to Pakistani Children

New York, November 8, 2025 – Education Cannot Wait (ECW) has made a significant announcement today regarding their allocation of a $2 million grant through their First Emergency Response initiative. This funding is specifically aimed at addressing the pressing educational needs of children whose lives have been disrupted by the devastating monsoon floods in Pakistan.

ECW's initiative is motivated by concerning assessments revealing that more than 367,000 school-aged children currently lack access to education due to the floods, with damage reported in over 1,800 schools across multiple affected districts. The situation is dire, particularly for vulnerable groups including girls, internally displaced persons, and children with disabilities.

The grant for a duration of 12 months will be distributed through the Rural Support Programs Network (RSPN) in collaboration with various local and national organizations. This consortium includes the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP), Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), and the PAGE Foundation. Bashir Anjum, the Director of Operations at RSPN, expressed pride in continuing their partnership with ECW and the Government of Pakistan, emphasizing their shared commitment to ensuring that children in disaster-affected areas can access quality education.

A Path to Recovery

The focus of this local response is to provide critical educational assistance to 34,000 children affected by the floods, allowing them to resume their studies in environments that are both safe and conducive to learning. The interventions made possible by this grant include the rehabilitation of damaged schools, the establishment of temporary learning spaces, the provision of inclusive and gender-sensitive learning materials, and improvements to water and sanitation facilities.

The investment by ECW not only aims to restore educational infrastructure but also aligns with Pakistan's Humanitarian Response Plan, integrating it with ECW's early action pilot program that previously distributed educational materials ahead of the floods.

Education: A Beacon of Hope

This coordinated effort is expected to help rebuild resilient educational systems in affected communities, restore hope, and support children in returning to their studies in enriching environments. Bashir Anjum stated, "Through this collaboration, we aim to assist communities in these districts in reconstructing educational systems that are resilient, thereby transforming dreams into opportunities and providing a lasting hope for the most vulnerable."

As ECW continues to call on public and private sector donors to increase their support, the overarching goal remains focused on reaching an even greater number of vulnerable children and adolescents.

Follow Education Cannot Wait on X/Twitter at @EduCannotWait and @KentPage for updates on our initiatives. For more information, visit www.educationcannotwait.org.

In conclusion, ECW's commitment and swift action represent not only a financial investment but a profound moral obligation to restore education as a basic right for children affected by one of nature's most devastating calamities.