A camp.;/PHOTO
A five-year initiative to expand early learning support for more than five million children affected by conflict and crisis across East Africa and the Middle East has been launched.
The programme is being implemented through a $97 million partnership between the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the LEGO Foundation.
The initiative will focus on integrating play-based early learning into national education, health, and early childhood development systems in countries facing prolonged humanitarian crises, including Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Lebanon, Syria, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
According to the organisations, the programme is designed to support children from pregnancy through their early school years, helping address the developmental effects of conflict, displacement, disrupted education, food insecurity, and psychosocial stress.
The initiative will target children between birth and age 12 through interventions aimed at strengthening both early childhood development and primary education systems.
Implementation will centre on embedding play-based learning approaches into existing national structures rather than operating as stand-alone projects.
This includes strengthening teacher training, supporting caregivers, improving classroom learning practices, and integrating psychosocial support into early learning services.
The partnership builds on existing programmes such as PlayMatters, Ahlan Simsim, and Play to Learn, which have focused on helping children affected by crises continue learning and development through structured play.
The organisations say the new initiative is intended to scale these models through collaboration with governments, local organisations, and community-based partners.
“This is a landmark commitment by the LEGO Foundation, which provides hope to millions of children, and I hope will inspire philanthropists to think big and follow the evidence,” said David Miliband, President and CEO of the IRC.
“For the millions of children growing up in conflict zones, disruption not development is the order of the day,” he added.
“Through this partnership, the IRC and the LEGO Foundation are embedding proven, playful learning into national systems, moving from helping children cope with crisis to giving them a real chance to thrive.”
Sidsel Marie Kristensen, CEO of the LEGO Foundation, said the partnership aims to ensure children affected by conflict continue accessing learning opportunities despite difficult conditions.
“Every child deserves the chance to learn, develop and thrive no matter the circumstances they are growing up in,” she said.
“Together, we are building on years of collaboration to reach millions of children with approaches that deliver meaningful impact at scale.”
The organisations noted that less than four percent of aid to crisis-affected countries currently supports early childhood development programmes despite evidence showing long-term benefits from early investment.
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