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Education Cannot Wait's Vital Support for Education in Chad

Education Cannot Wait (ECW) has made a significant announcement regarding a $20 million grant aimed at enhancing educational resilience in Chad. This grant is part of a broader multi-year initiative designed to address the ongoing educational crisis in this impoverished nation. Currently, over 3.2 million children in Chad are out of school, and this funding aims to change that.

Chad faces numerous challenges, including conflicts, climate change, and poverty, which have collectively disrupted the education of millions. According to UN reports, more than a third of the country's population is in dire need of humanitarian assistance, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan. As children are often the most affected by these crises, the new funding from ECW will be distributed through UNICEF in collaboration with the government of Chad and various national and international partners.

The $20 million grant will specifically aid approximately 66,000 children and adolescents whose education has been disrupted by these crises. This funding brings the total ECW investment in Chad to over $61 million, previously benefiting over 880,000 children by providing safe spaces, hope, and opportunities for quality education. This new funding will directly support the ECW Multi-Year Resilience Programme, which aims to improve educational access and quality in the most affected regions.

The Need for Increased Educational Funding

Chad serves as one of the world's largest hosts of refugees, currently sheltering more than 1.7 million displaced individuals, including 1.2 million refugees. The issues of forced displacement, food insecurity, health crises, and adverse impacts from climate changes continue to exacerbate humanitarian needs, severely impacting educational access. As humanitarian challenges increase, so do the number of children without proper educational opportunities.

Yasmine Sherif, the Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait, stressed the importance of sustaining support for Chad, highlighting that the nation has opened its doors to refugees and is integrating their children into the national education system. However, she pointed out that current demands far exceed available resources and urged both the public and private sectors to contribute more. To ensure a high-quality and protective educational environment for all children, she believes that significant additional funding is crucial.

Mamadou Gana Boukar, Chad's Minister of National Education, echoed these sentiments, stating that support from the multi-year resilience program plays a critical role in meeting the educational needs during crises. He expressed gratitude for ECW's relentless efforts to support education amid emergencies.

Educational Initiatives for Refugee Children

The program will also focus on training more than 1,500 educators in key areas such as conflict resolution, mental health and psychosocial support, and pedagogy. Special emphasis will be placed on providing education to vulnerable groups—including girls at risk and children with disabilities—to ensure inclusivity.

Dr. Marcel Ouattara, Acting UNICEF Representative in Chad, highlighted that more than 40% of the children targeted by these investments will be refugees. The resilience program aims not only to tackle immediate educational crises but to contribute to long-term socio-economic development.

Education Cannot Wait operates as a global fund within the United Nations framework, dedicated to providing quality education for girls and boys affected by crises in Chad and beyond. The organization works closely with governments, public and private donors, civil society organizations, and other humanitarian partners to increase effectiveness and ensure a coordinated approach in crisis situations.

In closing, ECW calls on all donors to widen their support to reach even more vulnerable children and youth, emphasizing the urgent need for action to fulfill the educational aspirations of millions affected in Chad.

For more on this initiative and updates, you can follow their official channels and visit Education Cannot Wait.