Making the case for Education Cannot Wait in the UK parliament
Harriett Baldwin MP asks Deputy PM Dominic Raab about UK’s support for the upcoming Education Cannot Wait’s replenishment.
Harriett Baldwin MP took the floor in the House of Commons last week to ask the UK government to make an ambitious pledge in support of Education Cannot Wait.
Ms Baldwin’s question comes after the Send my Friend to School coalition asked the UK to provide £170 million in support of Education Cannot Wait.
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab MP recognised the important work of Education Cannot Wait and said the UK would continue to explore how it can best support ECW.
IPNEd Global Co-Chair Harriett Baldwin MP took the floor during Prime Minister’s question time and asked the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab MP to support Education Cannot Wait’s (ECW) replenishment campaign.
The Deputy Prime Minister commended ECW’s “brilliant work” and promised to look into “what more the UK can do” to support education for children affected by humanitarian crises.
Ms. Baldwin’s question follows calls by the Send My Friend to School coalition of the UK Government to make an early multi-year pledge of £170m to ECW.
This funding would directly provide 2.6 million children in an emergency or protracted crisis with quality education, of whom 60% would be girls.
The UK Government has been central to ECW’s impact since its inception in 2016. Its continued support is crucial in setting an example for new and existing donor governments to help ensure ECW meets its replenishment target.
As a founding donor the UK provided 20% of total funds received by ECW during its first strategic period. During that time ECW grew its donor base so a UK contribution of £170 million will now constitute 13% of ECW’s new $1.5 billion replenishment target.
In a report published by the Independent Committee for Aid Impact earlier this year, it was noted that “FCDO’s aid to education has reached children affected by conflict and humanitarian disasters effectively” and that “central to this performance is the ECW fund”.
“To deliver on its commitment of 12 years of quality education for all girls as well as the G7 global targets on girl’s education and foundational learning, the UK knows it needs to continue to support children impacted by humanitarian crises receive an education,” said IPNEd Executive Director, Joseph Nhan O'Reilly
“It was heartening to hear the Deputy Prime Minister recognise the important work that Education Cannot Wait does and commit to exploring what more the UK can do.
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab MP answers the question from Harriett Baldwin MP on UK’s support to Education Cannot Wait.
“There’s huge political support across parliament for educating children, who through no fault of their own are caught up in conflicts and disasters. As a result, the government can be assured of strong cross-party support for a generous pledge in support of ECW, which is central to closing the education gap in crisis settings and to the UK’s development and humanitarian aims,” concluded Mr. Nhan-O'Reilly.
Watch Ms Baldwin's question and Mr Raab's answer here.
Find out more about IPNEd’s work on the ECW replenishment here.
