The World Must Respond to Africa's Forgotten Crises
Education is a humanitarian lifeline for the world's most vulnerable children. Our investment in their education today is an investment in global security, economic stability and continued growth in the 21st century.
The following content is by Yasmine Sherif, Education Cannot Wait Executive Director
NEW YORK, May 25, 2025 /CNW/ –The challenges facing many parts of the African continent today are vast and immense. From the surge in violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to all-out-war in Sudan, years of progress are being obliterated by bombs, killings and other grave violations of international law.
The single best investment we can make in addressing these multiplying humanitarian crises is an investment in the vast potential and talents of Africa's younger generations. By investing in their education, we empower them to prevent conflicts, end extreme poverty and ensure economic development, peace and stability. Without investing in education as part of this broader vision, none of these imperatives will be materialized.
The returns on investment are significant. As noted by the World Bank, foundational learning has the potential to double the GDP per capita in sub-Saharan Africa by 2050.
Responding to the education funding gap
Many traditional donor countries have dramatically reduced humanitarian aid in the past year, with recent analysis from UNESCO revealing a concerning drop of 14% in global aid to education. Yet, we all want to see a stable and prosperous Africa – a continent that deserves no less.
Still, Africa is falling even further behind. Estimates from UNESCO indicate that, worldwide, there is a US$100 billion funding gap to reach the goal for universal education as outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with US$70 billion of this gap found in sub-Saharan Africa.
Learning poverty is a concerning global trend. Nowhere is this more pressing than across Africa. Around four out of five African children cannot read or understand a simple text by age 10, according to UNESCO, and many struggle with basic numeracy skills.
Compounding challenges like conflict, climate change and forced displacement are derailing development gains and impeding access to life-saving education in humanitarian crises – an investment that is indispensable to achieve peace and economic prosperity. According to the recent global estimates study by Education Cannot Wait (ECW), about half of the world's 234 million crisis-impacted school-aged children reside in sub-Saharan Africa.
An entire generation is being left behind. 'Although 75 million more African children are enrolled in school today compared to 2015, the number of out-of-school children has increased by 13.2 million to over 100 million during the same period,' according to the 2025 Transforming Learning and Skills Development in Africa report.
You cannot have sustainable economic growth without stability. And you cannot achieve stability without education. Africa is a continent on the move, a continent of forced displacement as a consequence of armed and violent conflicts, as well as climate change.
'In 2020, 21 million Africans were living in another African country. Since 1990, the number of African migrants living outside of the region has more than doubled, with the growth in Europe most pronounced. In 2020, most African-born migrants living outside the region were residing in Europe (11 million), Asia (nearly 5 million) and North America (around 3 million),' according to the World Migration Report.
Our collective failure to respond to this pressing education crisis will have dire global consequences.
The situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
Just look at the terrifying situation unravelling in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This region has been plagued by violence for decades, but it's gotten much, much worse in recent months.
In all, there are an estimated 3.5 million forcibly displaced children in DRC today. Millions risk unimaginable violations of their human rights, including killing, maiming, abduction and forced recruitment into armed groups. There are also unconscionable accounts of sexual violence against girls. In eastern DRC, a child is reported raped every half an hour, according to UNICEF.
How can we tolerate the magnitude and depth of young girls and boys being systematically raped and killed? 'More than 79 million girls and women – over 1 in 5 – across sub-Saharan Africa have experienced rape or sexual assault before turning 18,' according to UNICEF. Let's put that number in perspective. That's more than the total population of Australia and Spain combined.
For the children living in the midst of this chaos and fear, the options are limited. For girls, it's a future as a child bride, continued poverty and early pregnancies. For boys, it might look like forced recruitment into terrorist organizations and other armed groups, forced labour or migration. For the world, this means growing forced displacement and migration, deeper and more widespread insecurity across the Global South, unstable markets, unstable populations and unstable futures.
The consequences of the war in Sudan
The situation in Sudan is soul-shattering and must end now. Recent estimates indicate that 30 million people require humanitarian assistance, including 16 million children. More than 12 million people have been displaced inside and outside Sudan since April 2023, straining education systems, budgets and capacity in neighbouring countries.
In all, the conflict and continuing challenges – including forced displacement, climate change, poverty and other factors – have left about 16.5 million children out of school in Sudan.
Education is the solutionAs the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises in the United Nations, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and its strategic partners are making a value proposition to increase humanitarian funding for education in Africa and beyond. In doing so, we contribute to joint programming on education, hence the broader goal of peace, stability and economic development.
There is a strong economic argument to be made. Africa is the youngest, fastest growing continent on earth – 6 out of 10 people are under the age of 25.
Within all that youth and energy lies opportunity. According to the World Bank, there is a 10% increase in hourly earnings for every extra year of schooling.
At the same time, taken at a macro-economic level, the opportunity costs are unprecedented. 'This generation of students now risks losing a combined total of US$21 trillion in lifetime earnings in present value, or the equivalent of 17% of today's global GDP – a sharp rise from the 2021 estimate of a US$17 trillion loss.'
The returns on investment in sub-Saharan Africa may be even more substantial, with some analyses indicating that every US$1 invested in tripling pre-primary education enrolment can generate up to US$33 in returns.
A lasting legacyEducation – as a transformative, immediate, life-saving and long-term investment –breaks cycles of poverty, displacement and conflict. Only then can we achieve peace, stability and economic development.
Deep inside us, we all agree that we can do better as a global community. We all know, instinctively, that the world would be a better place if we reduced global military spending – topping US$2.7 trillion – and instead invested in education, health, governance, infrastructure and livelihoods. We do know that we can be creative and turn vision into practical results. All it takes is investing just 0.02% (US$600 million) of this into education – and similar amounts into other sectors – which, together, provide the transformational power to build stability, spread peace and generate significant economic returns. This is not just logic. This is a legacy worth living.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
‘Money in 30 minutes': why it gets ugly for Hongkongers turning to loan sharks
When his grandmother died, Hongkonger Fai Chan inherited her flat, a 377 sq ft unit in eastern Kowloon valued at HK$3 million (US$382,000) in 2023. Before it could be his, however, the fire protection engineer had to pay a HK$1.2 million premium to the Housing Authority, a sum he did not have.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Namibia strives for integration of refugees on World Refugee Day
WINDHOEK, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Namibia seeks to integrate refugees into its broader social and economic systems, a government official said Friday, as the country commemorated World Refugee Day. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security marked the day under the global theme "Solidarity with Refugees" at the Osire Refugee Settlement in the Otjozondjupa Region. Namibia currently hosts 6,582 refugees and asylum seekers, with the majority residing at the Osire Refugee Settlement, located approximately 225 km from the capital, Windhoek. "This number may vary over time due to factors such as new arrivals, voluntary repatriation, and changes in legal status," Etienne Maritz, executive director of the ministry, said in a public notice. He added that most of these individuals originate from African nations, notably the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda, with others arriving from countries like South Sudan, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. "Namibia follows a welcoming and inclusive refugee policy, offering access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and employment," he said, reiterating that the nation aims to integrate refugees into its broader social and economic systems. Through the Osire Refugee Settlement, the Namibian government, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other partners, continues to provide vital support to displaced persons seeking refuge within the country, he highlighted. Observed globally on June 20, World Refugee Day honors the courage and perseverance of millions of refugees worldwide.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Relook and strengthen special education needs in schools
EDUCATION Minister Fadhlina Sidek recently revealed that over 44,000 children are currently receiving special education services, with more than 3,700 integrated into mainstream classrooms through inclusive education programmes. These numbers also hint at the thousands more who may still be undiagnosed, unsupported and unseen. The stigma surrounding special educational needs (SEN) remains a formidable barrier in Malaysia. But denial delays intervention and, in the case of SEN, early support can make all the difference. Teachers are often the first to notice when a child struggles with attention, communication, or learning. Yet when they raise concerns, they are sometimes met with resistance. Not because parents don't care, but because accepting a diagnosis feels like accepting defeat. Hard to believe that someone who sees your child for a few hours a day might understand them better than you do. Even harder to imagine your child being labelled, judged, or left behind. So, how do we move forward? We start by building trust. Schools must become safe spaces not just for students, but for parents, too. Workshops, support groups and open-door policies can help families feel less alone. Educators must approach these conversations with empathy, not authority. The Education Ministry must continue to invest in inclusive infrastructure, as it has pledged under the 12th Malaysia Plan, which includes 50 new special education projects nationwide. We urge the government to step up the effort and introduce avenues for more tailored support systems, including emotional counselling and individualised teaching methods. A compelling recent example comes from the Global Inclusive School Forum held by Unesco in March 2024, which spotlighted Portugal as a standout model of inclusive education. Portugal's approach is exemplary, with every school expected to adapt its teaching methods, curriculum and environment to meet the diverse needs of all learners. Portugal's policies are grounded in equity and supported by legislation, teacher training and community engagement. The country's inclusive education framework aligns with the principles of the 1994 Salamanca Statement, and its success has been documented in Unesco reports as a benchmark for other nations striving to leave no learner behind. Malaysians must stop treating SEN as taboo and start treating it as a reality and one that, with the right support, can lead to thriving futures.
