Friday July 12, 2024
Somali schoolgirls attend class in a flood-affected region. Education Cannot Wait has announced a $5 million grant to support educational initiatives and enhance preparedness for future climate-related disasters in Somalia. CREDIT/ NRC
Mogadishu (HOL) — Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the United Nations global fund for education in emergencies, has announced a $5 million grant to support educational initiatives in flood-affected regions of Somalia. Administered by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the 18-month grant aims to provide educational access and enhance preparedness for future climate-related disasters, benefiting 33,000 children in its first phase.
Somalia, grappling with severe climate crises, faced devastating floods last year due to a 'Super El Niño' event, impacting over 2.5 million people and damaging 220 schools. Recent heavy rains have exacerbated the situation, displacing 81,000 people and causing further school damage. ECW's total funding in Somalia has now surpassed $40 million, reaching nearly a quarter of a million children.
The new grant will be delivered in two phases. The first phase focuses on providing safe and equitable education for girls and boys impacted by the floods. The second phase will introduce a pilot anticipatory action framework to improve the humanitarian response to future climate shocks if specific triggers are met.
"In Somalia, the climate crisis is pushing children from their homes and schools, leaving an entire generation behind. Right here, right now, we must act as a global community to ensure these girls and boys are offered safe, quality learning environments," said Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait. "We must connect climate action with education action to deliver on the promises outlined in the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals."
The grant emphasizes climate mitigation and adaptation, with over a quarter of the investment allocated to these efforts. Nearly half of the funding will be directed through local organizations, ensuring a community-driven and sustainable impact.
"Somalia has been severely impacted by the effects of climate change, and children have not been spared," said Mohamed Abdi, Country Director of the Norwegian Refugee Council. "Thanks to ECW, NRC, along with its local partners WARDI and SOS Children Villages, will support 33,000 children, enabling them to access safe and equitable education. We aim to deliver tailored solutions that safeguard the rights and dignity of children and enhance preparedness against future climate shocks."
Despite these efforts, Somalia remains one of the world's most underfunded crises. The Education Cluster reports that only 24% of the current appeal is funded. ECW has issued a global climate appeal for an additional $150 million to scale up its response to the climate crisis as part of its broader $1.5 billion appeal to reach 20 million crisis-impacted children and adolescents through its 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.