"Education Cannot Wait" (ECW) reaches 14 million children in crisis situations worldwide

The new ECW result report emphasizes the positive educational results for children and adolescents in emergency situations and in long-lasting crises and demands urgent funds to secure progress.

„Education Cannot Wait” (ECW), (translated “education cannot wait”), the global fund for education in emergencies and long -term crises of the United Nations, has his report today “Investing in Futures: 2024 Annual Results Report“Published – which shows that ECW and its strategic partners have achieved 8.3 million crisis -damaged children and adolescents in 33 countries with inclusive, high -quality education at half -time their strategy plan. ECW has achieved a total of 14 million girls and boys since its introduction.

The focus is on equality and integration. 51 % of the people achieved are girls and 43 % are refugee or domestic children. The report shows that the ECW investments lead to measurable improvements: more children are enrolled, remain at school and acquire both academic and social-emotional skills. Positive changes in sex also contribute to a fairer access and equal participation.

“These progress reflects the unique strength of the strategic ECW model and the unshakable use of our global coalition of partners. It is not just a coordination, but a common commitment that is reflected in collective measures,” said Sigrid Kaag, chair of the high-ranking control committee of ECW.

The report summarizes the joint efforts of more than 100 partners-including governments of the host countries, UN organizations, local and international organizations of civil society, philanthropic foundations and leading personalities of the private sector-who came together in 2024 in order to impart education in some of the world’s most complex crises.

At the system level, the model of the fast reaction and the multi -year programming of the ECW continue to strengthen the coordination and partnerships in the entire area of linking humanitarian aid, development and peace, whereby local partners and national personal responsibility are more supported.

In 2024, 39 % of the ECW’s payouts in the amount of USD 202 million were provided for countries that are classified as “forgotten crises” – such as Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Libanon, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria and South Sudan – which underlines the most overlook and most overlooked and to achieve underfinanced emergency situations.

The report also shows that ECW and its partner are increasingly focusing on the overlap of the climate crisis and educational crisis: 41 % of the children that were achieved in the period 2023–2024 – ie 3.4 million girls and boys – are achieved by programs that support adaptation to climate change.

Despite these successes, the report warns of a growing funding gap. By the end of 2024, ECW had mobilized $ 934 million for its 2023-2026 strategy plan and thus reached about two thirds of its target. However, the promised contributions of $ 113 million have not yet been paid.

In the meantime, escalating conflicts, forced disorders and climate -related disasters lead to an unprecedented need for humanitarian aid. The education systems in crisis affected areas are on the edge of the abyss: estimated 234 million children and adolescents affected by the crisis I urgently need support in the field of education – an increase of 18 % compared to three years ago.

Nevertheless, the formation of one of the most under -financed areas in humanitarian measures remains. In 2024 only 30 % of the financing needs for education were covered in the context of humanitarian appeals, although education only 5.4 % of the total requirement, of theGlobal Humanitarian Overviewturns out.

“Education is our best – if not that only – Hope for children suffering from the consequences of crises. In order to continue our work and protect the results achieved, we ask our partners from the public and private sector for further financial support. We are also looking forward to an extended commitment through new innovative partnerships, “said Kaag.

In order to achieve its goal of resource mobilization of $ 1.5 billion by the end of 2026, ECW needs additional contributions of $ 567 million. With this support, ECW and its partners can offer 20 million children who need the most necessary. Millions of people run the risk of staying behind without determined action – not because there is a lack of solutions, but because too little is invested chronically.

Most important results

14 million children have been reached since its foundation, including 8.3 million children in 33 countries in the first two years of ECWS strategy plan 2023–2024.
51 % of the children achieved are girls and more than 40 % were driven by force, the highest proportion since ECW’s introduction.
96 % of the programs reported a higher educational participation, with 74 % showing gender -friendly improvements in the period 2023–2024.
Of the multi-year programs that provided evidence, 88 % reported on improved reading and writing capabilities and/or arithmetic skills as well as 78 % about advances in social-emotional learning in the period 2023–2024.
More than 155,000 children with disabilities reached in the period 2023-2024.
In the period 2023–2024, 6 % of the preschoolers achieved were in preschool and 20 % in secondary school age, with remarkable progress in the field of secondary school formation.
In the programs approved in 2024, almost a third (29 %) of the funds for transfer to local and national actors is bound or planned.
41 % of the children – ie 3.4 million girls and boys – reached in the period 2023–2024 – were achieved by programs that support the adaptation to climate change.
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