The Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power on Monday announced that the United States, through USAID and the U.S. Department of State, will contribute an additional $37 million to Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the only global fund for education in emergencies. The announcement was made virtually during ECW’s High Level Steering Group meeting.
“The $37 million contribution, the U.S. Government’s largest contribution to date, highlights the United States’ commitment to lead in education in crisis and conflict,’ USAID said in a statement. “The United States continues to assist partner countries in building education systems back better as countries respond and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of school closures, COVID-19 disrupted the education of as many as 1.6 billion learners in 190 countries. Thankfully, that number has declined dramatically, yet more than 31 million children remain out of school — and many may never return to a classroom.”
The agency added that the United States’ investment will support the global education fund in ensuring that the most marginalized children and youth in countries experiencing emergencies and protracted crises have access to lifesaving and life-sustaining education services.
“The funding will also support its critical work in improving humanitarian and development coherence in education and enabling a more collaborative and rapid response to the educational needs of children and youth affected by crises. The contribution includes $5 million dedicated to continued learning and resilient education systems for conflict-affected communities in northern Mali,” USAID said, adding that the pledge “complements USAID’s bilateral programs in basic and higher education, adding to our long history of creating better access to quality education, particularly for children in crisis and conflict contexts –– one of the most powerful forces for driving economic development, prosperity, and security.”
Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa. Simon covers President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. government, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington D.C. and New York City.