#Education Cannot Wait #N'Djamena #Chad #Sudanese Refugees

Education Cannot Wait's New Initiative for Sudanese Refugees in Chad

In a significant move to aid displaced populations, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) has declared an additional funding allocation of $2 million targeted at Sudanese refugees in Chad. The announcement, made on October 17, 2025, underscores ECW’s commitment to addressing the educational challenges faced by this vulnerable group. Since the onset of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, over 850,000 refugees have fled to Chad, exacerbating an already critical situation.

Expanded Emergency Response

The funding boost will be absorbed into the utility programs initiated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and local partners. This expanded first emergency response is projected to benefit approximately 27,000 children affected by the multi-dimensional crisis, bringing the overall number of beneficiaries to an impressive 97,000. With this latest infusion, ECW’s total investment in Chad has surpassed $68 million since its inception in 2017, enabling access to educational services for over one million children.

Magatte Guisse, a representative from UNHCR, emphasized the importance of continued funding, stating, “The ongoing support from ECW is essential for educational responses in Chad. The additional funding will bolster educational activities in Wadi Fira and Ennedi East, where there has been a recent surge in arrivals, exacerbating existing challenges.”

Challenges in the Educational Sector

The influx of more than 150,000 new refugees has severely stressed Chad’s already fragile educational infrastructure. Many classrooms are now overpopulated with more than 100 students each. Moreover, seasonal floods, worsened by climate change, have damaged or destroyed roughly 125 classrooms in Wadi Fira alone. Currently, it is estimated that two-thirds of refugee children of school age in Chad are out of school, a staggering number that highlights the urgent need for targeted educational interventions.

The ongoing war in Sudan continues to wreak havoc, inciting the world's largest food crisis and leading to mass displacement. Reports from UNICEF reveal alarming violations against children, including killings, sexual violence, and forced recruitment into armed groups. In light of these conditions, ECW’s additional funding seeks to offer not only educational access but also holistic services including mental health and psychosocial support. These initiatives aim to create a more inclusive and quality education environment for both refugee children and students in host communities.

Call for More Support

Despite this new funding, the educational response to the Sudan crisis remains critically underfunded. The regional response plan for Sudanese refugees requires total resources amounting to $1.7 billion, with a specific call for $69.6 million allocated towards educational interventions. Prior to ECW's latest investment, only 22% of these needs were met, revealing a significant gap that must be addressed.

ECW urges both public and private donors to mobilize additional resources urgently to meet the educational needs of these vulnerable children in Chad. ECW operates as a global fund dedicated to education in emergencies and protracted crises, striving to guarantee quality educational outcomes for both boys and girls who are internally displaced or impacted by various crises. ECW collaborates with governments, public and private donors, UN agencies, civic organizations, and various humanitarian and development actors to enhance the efficacy of responses.

For updates and support, follow ECW’s activities on X/Twitter: @EduCannotWait. More information can be found at www.educationcannotwait.org.