Contribution to Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE)
An estimated 234 million crisis-affected children require education support, while funding for Education in Emergencies (EiE) remains critically insufficient. In this challenging context, the Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) plays a key role in strengthening quality education responses through standards, knowledge sharing, advocacy and capacity development. Switzerland’s contribution will support INEE’s transition towards a more localized operating model, ensuring that actors closest to crises have greater influence in shaping EiE policy and practice.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Global |
Education
Education policy
|
01.07.2026
- 30.06.2030 |
CHF 2’000’000
|
- International Rescue Committee
- International Rescue Committee, Inc. (IRC) (INEE is no legal entity, its contractual arrangements are via IRC)
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation EDUCATION
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Education policy and administrative management
Cross-cutting topics Crisis prevention
The project also supports partner organisation improvements
Aid Type Project and programme contribution
Project number 7F09840
| Background | Conflicts, displacement and climate-related crises are driving a sharp increase in education needs, with 234 million children and youth requiring support today. At the same time, only 29% of education funding requested through humanitarian appeals was met in 2024. In this context, strengthening local leadership and coordination in EiE is essential to ensure more effective, sustainable and accountable responses. |
| Objectives | To ensure the right to a quality, safe and relevant education for all who live in emergency and crisis contexts through prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. |
| Target groups |
Direct beneficiaries are INEE’s 2’000 member-organizations, 25’000 individual members from more than 190 countries representing UN, INGOs, national and local NGOs, donors, governments, academic institutions, experts, educators and learners. Indirect beneficiaries: estimated 72’000 persons directly engaged in EIE, benefitting approx. 65 million crisis-affected children and youth, teachers, caretakers, educational authorities. |
| Medium-term outcomes |
1. Provide thought leadership and support global advocacy 2. Strengthen competences of EiE stakeholders through capacity sharing and mutual learning 3. Organize, curate and disseminate EiE knowledge 4. Promote the ethical production, sharing and uptake of EiE data and evidence 5. Facilitate meaningful, equitable and inclusive engagement of INEE members in network activities and decision-making |
| Results |
Expected results: • Greater uptake and use of the INEE MS, EiE programmatic guidance and new intersectional approaches to EiE policy and programming • The diverse interests and voices of INEE members are amplified in global and regional forums either through direct participation or through INEE • Local and national actors have access to contextualized EiE tools and resources and supportive guidance and peer-to-peer exchange, using the INEE MS with an intersectoral lens • Generation of new EiE research and evidence by EiE stakeholders from the Global South and other underrepresented populations Results from previous phases: • Update of the INEE Minimum Standards for Education as well as training materials • Jointly with SDC establishing the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies, including co-chairing its Steering Board • New joint guidance on integrated Child Protection and EiE programming, as well as an implementation pack and online course • Expanded country-level technical support for accelerated education and non-formal education policy and practice • Expansion of INEE’s e-learning platform • Thematic resources related to gender, inclusion and distance education • Bringing national actors to the INEE EiE Data and Evidence Summit in Geneva in 2023, so the resultant action agenda reflected their needs and priorities |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Project partners |
Contract partner International or foreign NGO |
| Coordination with other projects and actors | INEE partners regularly with global stakeholders like the Geneva Global Hub for EiE (EiE Hub), Global Education Cluster (GEC) and national clusters, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the Global Campaign for Education, Education International and the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action. INEE also routinely partners with – and is proactively expanding collaboration with – actors at regional and national levels. INEE will explore expanding its cooperation with national governments to provide director support for local and national ownership of EiE efforts. |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 2’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 500’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF 4’638’621 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 7’525’000 |
| Project phases | Phase 3 01.07.2026 - 30.06.2030 (Current phase) Phase 2 01.07.2022 - 30.06.2026 (Completed) Phase 1 01.02.2018 - 30.06.2022 (Completed) |
