Executive Summary
Armed conflict, natural disasters, and climate-related shocks continue to displace millions of children worldwide, disrupting their access to safe, quality education. Displaced and refugee children are among the most vulnerable populations, facing prolonged interruptions to learning, psychosocial distress, and heightened protection risks. Without timely and inclusive education responses, displacement can result in long-term learning loss, social exclusion, and lost human capital.
This proposal outlines a comprehensive Education in Emergencies (EiE) program designed to ensure continued access to safe, inclusive, and quality learning opportunities for displaced and refugee children. The initiative combines rapid education response, psychosocial support, teacher capacity building, and system strengthening, aligned with international EiE standards. Implemented in crisis-affected and displacement-hosting contexts, the program will support children’s learning continuity, well-being, and resilience.
Context and Problem Statement
Globally, over 40 million children are displaced due to conflict, violence, or disasters. Many live in refugee camps, informal settlements, or host communities where education systems are overstretched. Schools may be damaged or destroyed, teachers displaced, and learning materials scarce. Language barriers, lack of documentation, poverty, and trauma further limit access to education for refugee and internally displaced children.
Girls, children with disabilities, and unaccompanied or separated children face additional risks, including early marriage, child labor, and exploitation. In protracted crises, education is often deprioritized despite its critical role in protection, psychosocial recovery, and future opportunities.
Education in Emergencies is not only a humanitarian response but a life-saving and life-sustaining intervention that supports protection, stability, and long-term development.
Goal and Objectives
Overall Goal
To ensure equitable access to safe, inclusive, and quality education for displaced and refugee children in emergency and crisis settings.
Specific Objectives
- Restore and maintain access to learning for displaced and refugee children during emergencies.
- Improve the quality and relevance of education through trained teachers and appropriate curricula.
- Provide psychosocial support and protective learning environments.
- Promote inclusion of girls, children with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
- Strengthen education system preparedness and resilience in crisis-affected contexts.
Target Population and Geographic Scope
Target Population
- Displaced and refugee children aged 5–17
- Out-of-school children in host communities
- Teachers and facilitators in emergency settings
- Parents and community education committees
Geographic Scope
The program will be implemented in selected displacement-affected regions, refugee-hosting areas, and emergency-prone contexts, in coordination with national authorities and humanitarian partners.
Program Components and Key Activities
- Component 1: Rapid Access to Safe Learning Opportunities
- Establishment of temporary learning spaces and child-friendly spaces
- Rehabilitation of damaged schools where feasible
- Provision of learning kits, textbooks, and digital learning resources
- Flexible learning schedules for working or mobile children
- Component 2: Quality Teaching and Learning
- Recruitment and training of teachers and volunteer facilitators
- Training on emergency pedagogy, inclusive education, and child protection
- Language support and accelerated learning programs
- Curriculum alignment with national education systems
- Component 3: Psychosocial Support and Child Protection
- School-based psychosocial support and structured play activities
- Referral pathways for children with protection concerns
- Life skills, peace education, and social-emotional learning
- Safe school policies and codes of conduct
- Component 4: Inclusion and Equity
- Targeted outreach to girls and children with disabilities
- Inclusive learning materials and assistive devices
- Community engagement to address barriers such as early marriage
- Gender-sensitive WASH facilities in learning spaces
- Component 5: Community Engagement and Ownership
- Formation and strengthening of community education committees
- Parent and caregiver awareness sessions
- Youth engagement and peer learning initiatives
- Component 6: System Strengthening and Preparedness
- Support to ministries of education on EiE planning
- Integration of refugee learners into national systems
- Teacher deployment and certification support
- Disaster risk reduction and preparedness planning for schools
Cross-Cutting Approaches
- Gender Equality and Inclusion
- The program will apply a gender-responsive and inclusive approach to ensure equitable participation and outcomes.
- Protection Mainstreaming
- Education interventions will be designed to reduce risks and enhance child protection.
- Localization and Partnerships
- The initiative will prioritize collaboration with local actors and refugee-led organizations.
Expected Results and Outcomes
Outputs
- Safe learning spaces established or rehabilitated
- Teachers trained in emergency and inclusive education
- Children receiving psychosocial and protection support
Outcomes
- Increased enrollment, attendance, and retention of displaced children
- Improved learning outcomes and well-being
- Enhanced protection and resilience of children and communities
- Strengthened education system capacity to respond to crises
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)
The MEAL framework will include:
- Baseline and ongoing education needs assessments
- Monitoring of enrollment, attendance, and learning progress
- Child safeguarding and accountability mechanisms
- Learning reviews to adapt programming
Implementation Arrangements and Partnerships
Implementation will be led in coordination with:
- Ministries of Education
- UN agencies and EiE cluster partners
- Local NGOs and community-based organizations
- Refugee and host community representatives
Coordination mechanisms will ensure alignment with humanitarian response plans.
Sustainability and Transition
The program will promote sustainability through integration with national education systems, capacity building of local actors, and transition planning from emergency to development programming.
Budget Overview
The budget will cover learning spaces, teacher training, materials, psychosocial services, and program management. Cost-efficiency and scalability are key considerations.
Conclusion
Education in Emergencies is essential to protect displaced and refugee children and safeguard their future. By ensuring access to quality, inclusive education and psychosocial support, this initiative will help children recover, learn, and thrive despite crisis, contributing to stability, peace, and sustainable development in affected regions.
