Save the Children
In a landmark global effort to shield education systems from the escalating impacts of climate change, South Sudan has been selected as one of three countries to implement the newly launched “Building the Climate Resilience of Children and Communities through the Education Sector” (BRACE) project.
The five-year initiative—co-funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE)—brings a vital US$40 million investment to countries on the frontlines of climate disruption: South Sudan, Cambodia, and Tonga.
Led by Save the Children in partnership with national education ministries, BRACE seeks to embed climate resilience in schools by redesigning how education systems respond to environmental shocks.
In South Sudan, where floods, droughts, and prolonged displacement threaten millions of children’s access to learning, the investment is both timely and transformative.
A Climate Emergency Meets an Education Crisis
South Sudan has faced year after year of catastrophic flooding, with entire school districts washed out and thousands of children pushed out of classrooms.
As education officials battle the twin crises of fragility and climate change, BRACE offers a comprehensive solution to build schools that are not just safer, but smarter in the face of worsening environmental stress.
According to the BRACE project framework, schools will be strengthened physically and institutionally.
Eco-school models will be introduced, climate change will be embedded in the national curriculum, and early warning systems will be designed to reach schools and children before climate shocks hit.
“The BRACE project is a groundbreaking systemic step integration of climate resilience within education systems. We are happy to see the project will bridge the gap between climate action and education, ensuring that children in Cambodia, South Sudan, and Tonga understand climate risk and risk-based decision making. Education is the foundation of resilience.” — Henry Gonzalez, Chief Investment Officer, Green Climate Fund.
South Sudan’s Ministry of General Education and Instruction will work alongside Save the Children to operationalize the program, focusing especially on rural and climate-vulnerable regions where children are most at risk.
A Global Vision Rooted in Local Reality
Though South Sudan’s needs are acute, the BRACE project reflects a broader global crisis.
In Cambodia, nearly 2.9 million children are exposed annually to climate-related disasters such as floods, water scarcity, and heat waves.
A 2021 national consultation with over 3,000 Cambodian children and youth revealed deep fears of losing homes, schools, and livelihoods to worsening droughts and floods.
“Through BRACE, we collaborate with MoEYS to build resilience by integrating disaster preparedness and environmental awareness into education, including pioneering eco-school models so children can learn in safer, greener schools,” said Mr. Hong Reaksmey, Country Director, Save the Children Cambodia.
In Tonga, a Pacific Island nation at high risk of cyclones and sea-level rise, BRACE is expected to help embed local climate science into educational planning.
This will ensure children can continue learning even when communities are forced to relocate or rebuild.
Across all three countries, the project is united by a single principle: that children’s right to education must not be sacrificed to climate change.
“Our partnership testifies to the urgency of protecting children and their education from the impacts of extreme weather. To address this daunting challenge, we all need to come together to protect the most vulnerable children and give them the education they need so they can reinforce our fight against climate change,” said Laura Frigenti, CEO of the Global Partnership for Education.
Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty
While the numbers differ by country, the threat is shared. The BRACE project estimates it will directly benefit 1.27 million people in Cambodia alone, and similarly large impacts are anticipated in South Sudan and Tonga, particularly in the most underserved regions.
For South Sudan, the initiative aligns with national goals to rebuild and strengthen education after years of conflict and climate devastation.
BRACE is expected to help redesign how schools are built, how children are taught about the environment, and how communities plan for the next flood, not just react to it.
Ultimately, BRACE is not simply an education project—it is a climate justice strategy.
It recognizes that the most vulnerable children, often in the world’s least-polluting nations, are being asked to pay the highest price for a crisis they did not create.
By anchoring climate adaptation within classrooms and education ministries, BRACE signals a shift toward long-term resilience.
“This critical investment comes as nearly 2.9 million Cambodian children are highly exposed to climate-related disasters annually… leading to what Save the Children Country Director, Mr. Hong Reaksmey, powerfully describes as a ‘silent child rights crisis’.”
That silent crisis is not limited to Cambodia. In South Sudan, too, BRACE brings a chance to break the cycle by protecting learning as a core pillar of climate response.
