Strengthening the right to education for all: Switzerland pledges CHF 35 million to Education Cannot Wait until 2026
Geneva, 16.02.2023 - Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis opened the first Education Cannot Wait (ECW) High-Level Financing Conference on 16 February 2023. Switzerland pledged CHF 35 million to ECW, the UN's global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, until 2026. Education4Future was also the focus of the second edition of the IC Forum, which brought together 1,300 participants from more than 120 countries in Geneva and online.
Switzerland, together with ECW and in partnership with the governments of Colombia, Germany, Niger, Norway and South Sudan, is hosting the first ECW high-level financing conference. The fund was established to strengthen the resilience of education systems and provide access to education for children affected by crises. "Education is one of the most important factors for peace and prosperity. It is through education that fragile nations can rebuild themselves and look forward to a better future," said Mr Cassis in his opening remarks.
Swiss pledge: Education4Future
Switzerland is committed to education for the future. Although SDG 4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – inclusive, equitable and quality education for all – is the most underfunded goal, it will determine the next generation's future. "Switzerland is strongly committed to providing access to high quality education for all, and the ECW is a key partner for us to reach this goal," said Mr Cassis. Thanks to support from Switzerland and other donor countries, over the next four years the ECW will be able to provide access to education and thereby improve the future prospects of 20 million children and young people in crisis-affected countries. A unique partnership with Swiss philanthropic organisations and the Swiss financial sector complements and strengthens Switzerland's pledge.
Geneva plays a central role as the capital of humanitarian aid and the headquarters of a large number of international organisations and NGOs. "The city has become a global hub for education in emergencies, bringing together many actors for joint action, deeper collaboration and greater commitment," stressed Cassis. Bringing together 1300 actors from 120 countries to discuss solutions for innovative education systems, the second edition of the IC Forum was a clear demonstration of this.
IC Forum Website https://icforum.swiss/
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