Education experts are deeply concerned by the impact of funding cuts on education in emergencies contexts and the dire consequences of this to millions of vulnerable children and youth in regions affected by conflict, violence and natural disasters.

The decision to create a simplified, more efficient humanitarian system as issued in the recent Humanitarian reset letter has meant that education in emergencies is under significant threat of being dropped completely from humanitarian needs and response plans if it is no longer seen as lifesaving or essential, even though education is often highly prioritized by communities, children and youth themselves.

This shift follows the recent abrupt suspension of aid funding by the Unites States and cuts by other countries, the ramifications of which are already being felt – including on education, as well as linked programs such as food provision, water, sanitation and health services. Already in South Sudan, for example, 25% of Education Cluster partners have reported the suspension of ongoing projects. A reality that is reflected across the region.

Although the UN Central Emergency Response Fund officially recognized education as a life-saving intervention already in 2010, it has continued to be chronically underfunded in humanitarian responses.

In humanitarian crises, education is often one of the first systems to be disrupted. Crises often lead to the closure or destruction of schools, with some repurposed for military use or emergency shelter. Alternative learning options, such as digital or distance education, are frequently inaccessible or non-inclusive. Without safe learning environments, learners face increased risks of violence, exploitation, and psychological harm, often losing access to vital services like school meals, health care, and psychosocial support. Marginalized groups – including girls, children with disabilities, and displaced learners – are particularly affected, facing heightened levels of protection risks and permanent dropout.

In East and Southern Africa, access to quality education is already severely hampered due to the compounding effects climate change such as droughts and floods, conflicts, displacements, and other factors. Combined, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan host almost 4.5 million refugees and asylum seekers, of which around 3.1 million are children. 85 million children globally are out of school, with 51% percent of them in Sub-Saharan Africa: at least 17 million in Sudan, 9 million in Ethiopia and 2,8 million in South Sudan (more than half of school-age children).

Education must be seen as a lifesaving intervention that is prioritized in Humanitarian Needs and Response Plans and humanitarian responses as it provides physical and psychosocial protection, reducing such vulnerabilities as exploitation, violence, child labor, early marriage  and recruitment into armed groups.  Education also offers opportunities for lifesaving knowledge and skills including health, builds resilience and provides a platform for multisectoral responses such as access to clean drinking water, lifesaving vaccines and school feeding by reaching effectively large numbers of children and paying attention to the most vulnerable including those with disabilities.

If education in emergencies is not prioritized, we risk not only the safety and wellbeing of children and youth, but also their futures. We risk deepening cycles of poverty, conflict, instability, and inequality—undermining both immediate humanitarian objectives and long-term recovery and development.

Education is a human right, and it must be continued and defended in any situation.

We urgently call for the prioritization and adequate funding of inclusive, quality education in emergencies initiatives in East and Southern Africa. We further urge Humanitarian Coordinators to actively consult affected populations, Education Clusters and Education in Emergencies working groups in decision-making on response planning and prioritization.

This statement is endorsed by: 

Windle Trust

Street Child

FCA

INEE

NRC

World Vision

LWF

Jesuit Refugee Service

War Child Alliance