A girl in a classroom showing of her art. Photo from Education Cannot Wait (ECW
Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the United Nations global fund for education in emergencies, will expand its lifesaving learning programmes in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria with US$3.05 million in new funding from the Government of Japan.
The fresh contribution will support ECW and its partners in delivering safe, inclusive, and quality education for crisis-affected girls and boys, advancing commitments under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“Ensuring continued access to education for children affected by conflict and climate-induced crises is critical from a human security perspective. Japan remains firmly committed to working with international partners to advance the SDGs and ensure that no one is left behind,” the Government of Japan said in a statement.
Expanding Impact Across Africa
The investment comes at a time when millions of children across Africa are being forced out of school by armed conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability.
- Burkina Faso: More than 800,000 students have had their education disrupted, with 20% of schools affected by insecurity. The new funding will reach nearly 100,000 children, prioritizing internally displaced learners and out-of-school children. UNICEF will deliver the investment with FDC, TinTua, Educo, and Plan International.
- Ethiopia: An estimated 10.5 million children require urgent humanitarian aid, with 3.2 million currently out of school in Oromia alone. ECW funding will provide safe, protective, and climate-resilient learning spaces for 72,000 children through UNICEF, Imagine1Day, and the Gurmuu Development Association.
- Nigeria: In the country’s northwest, some 860,000 children remain out of school due to violence and kidnappings. Save the Children and Goal Prime Organization Nigeria will implement the programme, supporting over 137,000 learners.
Strengthening Japan–ECW Partnership
Japan’s support builds on a growing partnership with ECW. In 2023, the country contributed US$3 million for Ukraine through its humanitarian aid programme.
The Japanese government provides humanitarian aid grants through its supplementary budget to international organizations on a rolling annual basis.
The new tranche of funding for Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria was approved in 2024 by the Government of Japan.
ECW intends to submit new proposals each year to deepen collaboration and raise the visibility of Japan’s role in advancing education in emergencies.
“This contribution is particularly significant given that Japan will host the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in August. Japanese civil society recognizes the comparative advantage of ECW as the sole UN fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, enabling a swift and coordinated response,” the Japan NGO Network for Education (JNNE) said.
Since its inception, ECW and partners have mobilised more than US$1.6 billion from public and private donors.
The new Japanese funding will ensure that thousands more children in Africa’s most fragile contexts can continue learning, with the safety, hope, and opportunity that education brings.
About Education Cannot Wait (ECW):
Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises in the United Nations.
We support quality education outcomes for refugee, internally displaced, and other crisis-affected girls and boys, so no one is left behind.
ECW works through the multilateral system to both increase the speed of responses in crises and connect immediate relief and longer-term interventions through multi-year programming.
ECW works in close partnership with governments, public and private donors, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and other humanitarian and development aid actors to increase efficiencies and end siloed responses.
