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

In a significant move to aid education in crisis situations, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) has announced a substantial grant of $2 million aimed at addressing the urgent educational needs of children who have been adversely affected by catastrophic flooding in Pakistan.

This grant is described as a First Emergency Response initiative, focusing on providing essential support to children in flood-stricken regions, who are facing severe educational challenges. The funding will be administered through the Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN) and a cooperative effort involving other local and national organizations, such as the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP), Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), and PAGE Foundation.

According to the recent education assessments conducted, over 367,000 school-aged children in the affected districts lack adequate access to education. The floods have inflicted damage on more than 1,800 schools, further complicating the educational landscape in these areas. The dire situation calls for immediate action to ensure that children do not fall behind in their education due to natural disasters.

Bashir Anjum, Chief Operating Officer of RSPN, expressed pride in the collaboration between RSPN and ECW, along with the Pakistani government, emphasizing the need to ensure that every child—particularly girls, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and children with disabilities—has access to safe and quality education opportunities. He articulated a vision of resilience and hope, stating, “Through this collaboration, we aim to help communities across these districts rebuild resilient education systems, restore hope, and support children in returning to learning within secure and nurturing environments.”

The local response facilitated by this grant will provide life-saving educational support to approximately 34,000 boys and girls across provinces experiencing the aftermath of flooding. The commitment to rebuilding educational infrastructure and providing necessary resources is paramount to facilitate a swift return to learning for the affected youth. In line with ongoing humanitarian efforts, the ECW investment will cover rehabilitation of damaged schools, establishment of temporary learning spaces, procurement of inclusive and gender-sensitive teaching materials, restoration of water and sanitation facilities, and implementation of crucial protective measures.

Furthermore, the initiatives introduced through this grant are cohesive with the Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan and complement ECW's preceding efforts through an Anticipatory Action pilot, which efficiently pre-positioned materials ahead of the natural disaster.

About Education Cannot Wait
Education Cannot Wait is a global fund dedicated to ensuring quality educational outcomes for children caught in emergencies and prolonged crises. The aim is to leave no child behind, particularly those who are refugees, internally displaced, or affected by other crises. Through a collaborative paradigm with governments, donors, UN bodies, civil society organizations, and various humanitarian and development actors, ECW significantly enhances response speed and bridges the gap between immediate relief and long-term educational investments.

In light of this urgent appeal, ECW is calling upon both public and private sector donors for expanded support to reach a greater number of vulnerable children and adolescents. The commitment to advocating for educational access during crises remains paramount, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and prosper in secure environments.

For further updates and to support the ongoing efforts, follow ECW on Twitter at @EduCannotWait.