Global Education Cluster at the 2019 Global Refugee Forum

The Global Education Cluster announced two pledges at the 2019 Global Refugee Forum, hosted by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in Geneva from 16-18 December 2019.

Strengthening Education in Emergencies Coordination

The Global Education Cluster, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) announced a joint pledge at the Global Refugee Forum to work together to strengthen the quality of education coordination in emergencies. The joint pledge marks a continuation and further formalization of a two-year partnership between the Global Education Cluster, UNHCR and INEE, initiated by the Education Cannot Wait fund supported Global Partners Project.

Through the Global Partners’ Project, the three entities have been working together to strengthen education sector coordination during emergencies, and collectively contribute to better quality learning outcomes for forcibly displaced children and youth. Specifically, the three entities will continue to work together to generate and share knowledge to enhance coordination, conduct joint capacity development initiatives, and provide technical support.

Advocating for the Prioritization of Education in Emergencies

To better profile the education needs of children and young people in emergency situations and protracted crises, Switzerland pledged to establish Geneva as a global hub for Education in Emergencies dialogue, partnership, policy and action. The Global Education Cluster joined this pledge as meeting the growing education needs of children and youth caught in humanitarian contexts is the foundation of the Cluster’s work and mandate.

The need to increase attention and support for education in emergencies is critical. COVID-19 has had an unprecedented global impact on the learning of millions of children, and has compounded existing challenges to education for those living in humanitarian contexts.

Today, Switzerland has issued a call to action for the international community to continue prioritizing support for education in emergencies: https://bit.ly/2UVPY6p #EiEGenevaHub