Responding to Forgotten Crises: Education Cannot Wait Announces US$22 Million Catalytic Grant for Multi-Year Resilience Programme in Mali
-
Loading... - Deladem Allotey
- 20 Dec 2024
- 55 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
Education Cannot Wait (ECW) has announced a $22 million catalytic grant aimed at supporting over 200,000 vulnerable children and adolescents in Mali. This initiative, delivered by UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and various strategic partners, seeks to address the severe political, economic, and security challenges facing the country, where over 1,700 schools remain closed and half of the children are unable to access formal education.
The new grant builds on ECW’s ongoing investments in Mali, which have already provided quality, holistic education support to more than 480,000 children. With total funding from ECW now exceeding $51.6 million, this latest grant is crucial for addressing the urgent educational needs of children affected by conflict, climate change, and forced displacement.
Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of ECW, emphasized the importance of this funding, describing it as a lifeline for vulnerable children enduring the devastating impacts of ongoing crises. She highlighted the dire need for sustained funding to help rebuild lives through inclusive and quality education. The grant aims not only to address immediate educational needs but also to contribute to building a resilient education system in Mali.
The humanitarian crisis in Mali has reached alarming levels, with an estimated 7.5 million people, including half of them children, requiring urgent support. The situation has been exacerbated by violent conflict, forced displacement, and environmental shocks. Despite these pressing needs, only 31% of the Mali Humanitarian Response Plan is currently funded, and prior to the new ECW grant, only 4% of the $71.5 million humanitarian response for education had been secured.
Mali's Minister of Education, Amadou Sy Savané, expressed gratitude for the ECW funding, noting its critical timing amid a multifaceted crisis. He emphasized the program's goal of ensuring every child’s right to equitable, quality, and inclusive education in a safe environment. The partnership with ECW represents a step toward a more robust education system capable of facing future challenges.
Pierre Ngom, UNICEF Representative in Mali, also acknowledged ECW's unwavering support, highlighting the impact of previous funding that has already provided access to education for over 216,705 children, including 111,241 girls, from 2020 to 2024. The new program, set to launch in 2024, aims to strengthen the resilience of the Malian education system and reach just over 200,000 children between 2025 and 2027.
The grant will focus on regions most affected by instability and armed conflict, including Gao, Ménaka, Kidal, Timbuktu (Taoudenit), and Mopti. The program will implement a multi-sectoral package of interventions tailored for children aged 3 to 18 facing educational and economic barriers, including girls, internally displaced persons, refugees, out-of-school children, and children with disabilities. By rehabilitating school infrastructure, providing access to inclusive quality education, and enhancing crisis response capabilities, the program aims to strengthen the resilience of the education system and empower communities to adapt to emerging challenges.
This initiative represents a vital step toward ensuring that the most vulnerable children in Mali receive the education they deserve, fostering hope and resilience in a country facing significant adversity.
