New US$22 Million Education Lifeline for Crisis-Affected Children in Sudan
New three-year investment will reach nearly 200,000 crisis-affected children and adolescents, helping them return to safe, inclusive learning while supporting the recovery of Sudan’s education system. The announcement comes as Education Cannot Wait launches Hope Starts Here, a global campaign to mobilise US$600 million to reach 10 million children living through the world’s most severe crises.
GENEVA, Switzerland, Aug. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in crises, has announced a new US$22 million multi-year investment to help restore safe, quality and inclusive education for nearly 200,000 crisis-affected children and adolescents across West Darfur, South Kordofan and Gedaref, as Sudan continues to face the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crisis.
©UNICEF/Eslam Elkhair
The announcement follows a high-level mission to Sudan. ECW Director Maysa Jalbout met with children, teachers, communities and education partners affected by more than three years of armed conflict and displacement.
Since conflict erupted in April 2023, some 14 million people have been forced to flee their homes, while 33.7 million people now require humanitarian assistance. At least 8 million children – nearly half of Sudan’s 17 million school-age children – remain out of school. Across the country, large numbers of schools remain non-operational, while millions of children have endured prolonged disruptions to their education, with some missing nearly 500 days of learning.
“Education in Sudan has been interrupted by conflict, displacement and unimaginable hardship. Yet it remains one of the most powerful tools we have to protect millions of children, restore hope and support recovery. This investment is about much more than reopening classrooms. It is about supporting children to regain a sense of safety and normalcy while strengthening education systems that can continue serving communities through crisis and into recovery. Sudan’s children cannot wait,” said Maysa Jalbout, Director of Education Cannot Wait.
The three-year programme will reach those left furthest behind in the country – including internally displaced children, refugees and vulnerable host communities, with at least 60% girls and 10% children with disabilities. It will establish safe formal and non-formal learning environments, provide mental health and psychosocial support, strengthen teacher capacity, improve access to quality learning materials, and address barriers facing girls and children with disabilities. A US$5 million crisis modifier will enable rapid responses to emerging emergencies and climate-related shocks.
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