Financing for Education in Emergencies Coming Up Short in the Wake of COVID-19

This study was commissioned by the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies (EiE Hub), with support from Education Cannot Wait and the Government of Switzerland.

Millions of children and youth are being denied their right to safe, inclusive, and quality education because of armed conflict, climate change and other emergencies. The global education crisis has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seriously disrupted children and youth’s schooling and exacerbated education inequalities. Education in emergencies (EiE) has received increased attention in recent years, but the international community is still failing to ensure that all children and youth living in emergency contexts have access to inclusive and equitable quality education. A critical impediment to achieving these education goals is the chronic underfunding of EiE. This study provides a detailed assessment of the state of EiE funding, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It reviews financial data from a range of EiE funding modalities, including humanitarian assistance and development cooperation. In addition to presenting the key funding trends since 2016, it pinpoints the critical factors that influence EiE funding over time, with a view to identify what actions are required to address the noted gaps.