A Call for Financial Support for Education in Emergencies

Gordon Brown at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland

United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown has called for a global emergency education fund to benefit children who are out of school due to conflict, disease or natural disasters.  The Special Envoy discusses the lack of needed funds to support a double-shift system in Lebanon for Syrian refugee students.  While there has been $100 million pledged for this plan – which was developed with UNICEF and UNHCR and is supported by the Lebanese government – there is still a need for an additional $163 million.  He acknowledges the role that the Global Business Coalition for Education and other organizations can play in providing financial support in an emergency, yet there remains a need for greater financial support for humanitarian funding for education beyond the 1% it currently receives.

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