Germany commits extra €200M to Education Cannot Wait

Germany’s new government has announced a €200 million ($230 million) increase in the country’s contributions to Education Cannot Wait, a United Nations fund that provides educational services during emergencies and protracted crises. Svenja Schulze, the new minister for economic cooperation and development, unveiled the increase in Geneva this week. Germany is now the top donor to the fund, with a multiyear commitment of nearly €319 million The United Kingdom follows, with $160 million in contributions. In an announcement that highlighted students whose educations have been disrupted by COVID-19, but also ongoing disasters and crises, Schulze said, “We have a shared responsibility not to lose this generation.” Why does this matter? It’s a major boost for ECW, which was established during the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit and has mobilized $1.1 billion from public and private donors. The fund estimates that $8.5 billion is needed annually to reach 75 million children and young people who are in need of educational services. ECW is still seeking $1 billion in urgent funding, according to Gordon Brown, a former U.K. prime minister and currently the U.N. special envoy for global education. Development experts are also looking to the donation as a possible indication of the priorities of Germany’s new coalition government, which is led by Schulze’s Social Democrats. “It’s a good way for the German government to start implementing a mix of interlinked priorities set out in the coalition treaty,” said Raimund Zühr, the head of Donor Tracker. “Strengthening Germany’s engagement on humanitarian aid and the nexus of development programs, education, the international COVID-19 response, and stronger engagement with the multilateral system — ECW hits all these boxes.” Germany currently holds the presidency of the G-7 group of nations. Among its five priorities is investing in a better future, with a particular focus on girls’ education and food security.