#Education Cannot Wait #N'Djamena #Chad #UNICEF

Education Cannot Wait's Major Grant Announcement for Chad

Education Cannot Wait (ECW), a global fund devoted to education in emergencies, has recently disclosed a significant multi-year catalytic grant of $20 million to bolster its resilience program in Chad, one of the world's poorest countries. This initiative comes in the wake of escalating crises that have rendered over 3.2 million children out of school in the country, where more than a third of the population requires humanitarian assistance.

Background on the Crisis

Chad is currently facing a myriad of challenges, especially exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan, inter-ethnic clashes, climate change effects, and pervasive poverty. These issues not only lead to widespread displacement but also severely disrupt educational opportunities for millions of students. According to recent reports, the humanitarian landscape in Chad is dire, with 1.7 million internally displaced individuals, including approximately 1.2 million refugees who have fled from violent conflicts.

The Investment in Education

The newly announced $20 million grant will be managed by UNICEF alongside the Chad government and various local and international partners. This funding is expected to reach about 66,000 children who are directly affected by the crises. To date, ECW's total financing in Chad has surpassed $61 million, contributing crucial resources that have provided more than 880,000 children with access to the safety, hope, and opportunities that quality education can offer.

Yasmine Sherif, the Executive Director of ECW, emphasized the urgent need for enhanced financial resources, stressing that current offerings are insufficient. Sherif noted, "Chad has opened its doors to refugees, integrating their children into the national education system, which is a commendable effort for refugee protection. However, the existing needs far exceed available resources. We must support Chad to maintain its solidarity with refugees."

The latest aid package targets not only educational needs but also aims to stabilize the education infrastructure amid multiple crises. Significant funding is essential to elevate the educational prospects of refugees and internally displaced children in the region, ensuring they have access to high-quality learning environments.

Broader Implications and Goals

The importance of the multi-year resilience program cannot be overstated. It is designed not just to tackle immediate educational crises but also to support socio-economic development in Chad's most affected provinces. By providing training in conflict and risk mitigation, mental health, and pedagogy to over 1,500 teachers, the program aims to enhance the overall quality of education, especially for vulnerable groups including girls and children with disabilities.

Dr. Marcel Ouattara, acting representative for UNICEF Chad, expressed gratitude to ECW for their persistent support to school-age children afflicted by complex crises. "Phase two of the resilience program is already underway,