Mogadishu, Somalia – Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, has announced a new grant of $17.1 million to support quality education for more than 43,000 Somali children affected by conflict, drought, and displacement.

The new funding brings ECW’s total investment in Somalia to $64.2 million. The initiative, titled the Multi-Year Resilience Programme, will be implemented by ADRA, Save the Children, Concern Worldwide, and the Formal Education Network for Private Schools (FENPS), in close partnership with Somalia’s Ministry of Education.

Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of ECW, emphasized the urgency of action, noting that over 4.5 million Somali children remain out of school. She called on the international community to prevent Somalia from becoming a “forgotten crisis.”

UK Ambassador to Somalia, Mike Nithavrianakis, representing one of ECW’s largest donors, reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to long-term investment in education for vulnerable children in fragile settings.

“The United Kingdom is fully committed to working with the Federal Government of Somalia and partners like Education Cannot Wait to build a safe and stable future for Somali children,” said Ambassador Nithavrianakis.

Somalia’s Minister of Education, Culture, and Higher Education, Farah Sheikh Abdulakdir, welcomed the new partnership as a vital step toward securing the future of Somali children. He pledged his ministry’s continued efforts to expand access to quality education.

“This partnership reaffirms our commitment to providing children with a safe, inclusive learning environment where they can acquire the knowledge and skills needed for a better life,” said Minister Abdulakdir.

The Multi-Year Resilience Programme will be rolled out in six regions across Somalia, focusing on creating protective learning spaces for vulnerable, displaced, and disabled children. It will also strengthen literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills essential for lifelong learning.