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Background
Around 258 million children are affected by wars or other crises worldwide. Nearly a third are cut off from school. Humanitarian funding for education fell by 20 % in 2025 compared with 2023, according to the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies.
The key points
On Thursday 5 November 2026, the UN-backed fund Education Cannot Wait (ECW) held a replenishment conference at the International Conference Centre in Geneva. It raised 541.6 million dollars, out of a 600 million target. New pledges total around $405 million, with the rest coming from earlier multi-year commitments.
Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, Switzerland, Ireland, the EU and Japan were among the main donors. The United States, a founding member, was absent. It contributed 60 million dollars a year before 2025. Denmark and the Lego Foundation did not take part either.
The 2027-2030 strategy targets 10 million vulnerable children and adolescents. The fund aims to raise the share paid directly to local partners from 29% to 50% by 2030. It is preparing an outcome bond with Enosis Capital, a New York credit firm, for next year.
Key figures
- $541.6 million : amount raised against a $600 million target
- 1.29 billion dollars : humanitarian funding for education in 2025
- $1.67 billion : funds raised by ECW since 2016
- 44 countries : supported by the fund, reaching more than 14 million children
- 7 % : target for operating costs as a share of the budget
Who says what
- Maysa Jalbout (Executive Director of ECW): reaching 90% of the target is a “signal of confidence”.
- Jan Egeland (Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council): schools are closing for lack of money, because rich countries are cutting aid.
- Michael Gaffey (Irish Assistant Secretary for development cooperation): education in emergencies is a “humanitarian imperative”.
What's next
- A new replenishment round is planned next year.
- ECW wants to re-engage with its US partners after the elections.
Further reading
Sources
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