When armed conflict erupted in Sudan in April 2023, it displaced 14 million people and created the world's largest humanitarian emergency. It also systematically dismantled the educational infrastructure for an entire generation.
Nearly three years into the crisis, approximately 8 million children — nearly half of Sudan's school-age population — have been locked out of classrooms. Some have missed nearly 500 days of learning. For many, the damage extends far beyond academics: the loss of routine, safety and hope.
This week, Education Cannot Wait, the global fund for education in emergencies, announced a $22 million multi-year investment designed to reach 190,000 crisis-affected children across West Darfur, South Kordofan and Gedaref. The program represents more than emergency aid — it is a deliberate attempt to rebuild educational systems while they're fractured, to restore protective structures for vulnerable children, and to demonstrate how strategic investment in education during crises can catalyze broader recovery.
The program explicitly centers the needs of Sudan's most marginalized students: at least 60% of beneficiaries will be girls, and 10% will be children with disabilities — populations that typically face the steepest barriers to learning even before crises occur.
The three-year program will establish both formal and non-formal learning environments, recognizing that in active conflict zones, traditional schools may not be feasible or safe. The initiative includes mental health and psychosocial support, often overlooked but critical components of educational recovery.
The program also commits to strengthening teacher capacity and improving access to quality learning materials. It includes a $5 million crisis modifier — funding reserved for rapid responses to emerging emergencies and climate-related shocks.
Implementation will be led by Save the Children in partnership with Plan International and local organizations including the Alsalam Organisation for Relief and Development and Sadagaat. Nearly 48% of the program's budget will flow directly to national and local partners.
"As a Sudanese organisation, we know that lasting impact comes from solutions that are rooted in local knowledge, trust and partnerships with the communities we serve," said Rudwan Elfaki, general director of AORD.
The $22 million represents seed funding toward a total program requirement of $39 million. The gap between announced funding and actual need is a persistent challenge in humanitarian education work.
The Sudan investment arrives alongside Education Cannot Wait's launch of "Hope Starts Here," a global campaign aiming to mobilize $600 million to reach 10 million crisis-affected children over four years. Globally, 258 million school-aged children across 87 countries now have their education disrupted by crises.
