New US$22 million education lifeline for crisis-affected Children in Sudan. New three-year investment will reach nearly 200,000 crisis-affected children and adolescents, helping them return to safe, inclusive learning while supporting the recovery of Sudan's education system. The announcement comes as Education Cannot Wait launches Hope Starts Here, a global campaign to mobilise US$600 million to reach 10 million children living through the world's most severe crises. GENEVA, Switzerland, Aug. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in crises, has announced a new US$22 million multi-year investment to help restore safe, quality and inclusive education for nearly 200,000 crisis-affected children and adolescents across West Darfur, South Kordofan and Gedaref, as Sudan continues to face the world's largest humanitarian and displacement crisis. The announcement follows a high-level mission to Sudan. ECW Director Maysa Jalbout met with children, teachers, communities and education partners affected by more than three years of armed conflict and displacement. Since conflict erupted in April 2023, some 14 million people have been forced to flee their homes, while 33.7 million people now require humanitarian assistance. At least 8 million children - nearly half of Sudan's 17 million school-age children - remain out of school. Across the country, large numbers of schools remain non-operational, while millions of children have endured prolonged disruptions to their education, with some missing nearly 500 days of learning. "Education in Sudan has been interrupted by conflict, displacement and unimaginable hardship. Yet it remains one of the most powerful tools we have to protect millions of children, restore hope and support recovery. This investment is about much more than reopening classrooms. It is about supporting children to regain a sense of safety and normalcy while strengthening education systems that can continue serving communities through crisis and into recovery. Sudan's children cannot wait," said Maysa Jalbout, Director of Education Cannot Wait. The three-year programme will reach those left furthest behind in the country - including internally displaced children, refugees and vulnerable host communities, with at least 60% girls and 10% children with disabilities. It will establish safe formal and non-formal learning environments, provide mental health and psychosocial support, strengthen teacher capacity, improve access to quality learning materials, and address barriers facing girls and children with disabilities. A US$5 million crisis modifier will enable rapid responses to emerging emergencies and climate-related shocks. Implementation will be led by Save the Children, in partnership with Plan International, Lakarmissionen International (LM International), and local partners Alsalam Organisation for Relief and Development (AORD) and Sadagaat. "For millions of children in Sudan, conflict and displacement have disrupted not only their education, but also their sense of safety, routine and hope for the future. Access to safe, quality education is a fundamental right and one of the most effective ways to protect children and support their recovery during times of crises. Through this ECW multi-year investment and partnership, children in Sudan will be able to access learning opportunities that provide critical protection, psychosocial support and a pathway to recovery, resilience and a brighter future," said Francesco Lanino, Deputy Country Director for Save the Children. Localisation is central to the programme, with nearly 48% of the budget going to national and local partners. Local actors will work alongside organisations of persons with disabilities, women-led organisations and community structures to ensure the response is rooted in the priorities and capacities of the communities it serves. "Communities in Sudan have shown extraordinary resilience despite the immense challenges they continue to face. 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. Through this programme, we will work alongside families, teachers and local partners to help children return to safe, inclusive learning environments where they can recover, regain hope and build the skills they need for the future," said Rudwan Elfaki, General Director of AORD. ECW's US$22 million investment provides seed funding towards a total programme requirement of US$39 million, with partners continuing to mobilise additional resources to expand support as needs evolve. From Sudan to a global call for action The Sudan investment comes days after the launch of Hope Starts Here, ECW's new global campaign to mobilise US$600 million to reach 10 million crisis-affected children with education over the next four years. The campaign launches at a critical moment. ECW's latest global estimates show that 258 million school-aged children and adolescents across 87 countries now have their education disrupted by crises. Hope Starts Here builds on a decade of action by ECW and its partners, reaching more than 14 million crisis-affected children and adolescents with education, protection and holistic support. The campaign will mobilise governments, foundations, philanthropies and private sector partners ahead of ECW's High-Level Replenishment Conference in Geneva on 5 November 2026, hosted by Switzerland. Note to Editors B-roll and high-resolution photos are available here. About Education Cannot Wait: Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is the global fund for education in crises. The Fund provides rapid, flexible funding to locally-led education responses that protect learning for refugee, internally displaced and other children, while strengthening systems to sustain learning and resilience in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. ECW works with governments, public and private funders, UN agencies, civil society organisations, and other humanitarian and development aid actors so that no child is left behind. As global crises intensify and the education financing gap widens, ECW calls on public and private sector partners to scale up investments so millions more crisis-affected girls and boys can learn and rebuild their futures. For press inquiries: Rafik Elouerchefani [email protected] Estefanía Jiménez: [email protected]

New US$22 million education lifeline for crisis-affected Children in Sudan. Aug 24, 2026, 00:00 ET New three-year investment will reach nearly 200,000 crisis-affected children and adolescents, helping them return to safe, inclusive learning while supporting the recovery of Sudan's education system. The announcement comes as Education Cannot Wait launches Hope Starts Here, a global campaign to mobilise US$600 million to reach 10 million children living through the world's most severe crises. GENEVA, Switzerland, Aug. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in crises, has announced a new US$22 million multi-year investment to help restore safe, quality and inclusive education for nearly 200,000 crisis-affected children and adolescents across West Darfur, South Kordofan and Gedaref, as Sudan continues to face the world's largest humanitarian and displacement crisis. The announcement follows a high-level mission to Sudan. ECW Director Maysa Jalbout met with children, teachers, communities and education partners affected by more than three years of armed conflict and displacement. Since conflict erupted in April 2023, some 14 million people have been forced to flee their homes, while 33.7 million people now require humanitarian assistance. At least 8 million children - nearly half of Sudan's 17 million school-age children - remain out of school. Across the country, large numbers of schools remain non-operational, while millions of children have endured prolonged disruptions to their education, with some missing nearly 500 days of learning. "Education in Sudan has been interrupted by conflict, displacement and unimaginable hardship. Yet it remains one of the most powerful tools we have to protect millions of children, restore hope and support recovery. This investment is about much more than reopening classrooms. It is about supporting children to regain a sense of safety and normalcy while strengthening education systems that can continue serving communities through crisis and into recovery. Sudan's children cannot wait," said Maysa Jalbout, Director of Education Cannot Wait. The three-year programme will reach those left furthest behind in the country - including internally displaced children, refugees and vulnerable host communities, with at least 60% girls and 10% children with disabilities. It will establish safe formal and non-formal learning environments, provide mental health and psychosocial support, strengthen teacher capacity, improve access to quality learning materials, and address barriers facing girls and children with disabilities. A US$5 million crisis modifier will enable rapid responses to emerging emergencies and climate-related shocks. Implementation will be led by Save the Children, in partnership with Plan International, Lakarmissionen International (LM International), and local partners Alsalam Organisation for Relief and Development (AORD) and Sadagaat. "For millions of children in Sudan, conflict and displacement have disrupted not only their education, but also their sense of safety, routine and hope for the future. Access to safe, quality education is a fundamental right and one of the most effective ways to protect children and support their recovery during times of crises. Through this ECW multi-year investment and partnership, children in Sudan will be able to access learning opportunities that provide critical protection, psychosocial support and a pathway to recovery, resilience and a brighter future," said Francesco Lanino, Deputy Country Director for Save the Children. Localisation is central to the programme, with nearly 48% of the budget going to national and local partners. Local actors will work alongside organisations of persons with disabilities, women-led organisations and community structures to ensure the response is rooted in the priorities and capacities of the communities it serves. "Communities in Sudan have shown extraordinary resilience despite the immense challenges they continue to face. 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. Through this programme, we will work alongside families, teachers and local partners to help children return to safe, inclusive learning environments where they can recover, regain hope and build the skills they need for the future," said Rudwan Elfaki, General Director of AORD. ECW's US$22 million investment provides seed funding towards a total programme requirement of US$39 million, with partners continuing to mobilise additional resources to expand support as needs evolve. From Sudan to a global call for action The Sudan investment comes days after the launch of Hope Starts Here, ECW's new global campaign to mobilise US$600 million to reach 10 million crisis-affected children with education over the next four years. The campaign launches at a critical moment. ECW's latest global estimates show that 258 million school-aged children and adolescents across 87 countries now have their education disrupted by crises. Hope Starts Here builds on a decade of action by ECW and its partners, reaching more than 14 million crisis-affected children and adolescents with education, protection and holistic support. The campaign will mobilise governments, foundations, philanthropies and private sector partners ahead of ECW's High-Level Replenishment Conference in Geneva on 5 November 2026, hosted by Switzerland. Note to Editors B-roll and high-resolution photos are available here. About Education Cannot Wait: Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is the global fund for education in crises. The Fund provides rapid, flexible funding to locally-led education responses that protect learning for refugee, internally displaced and other children, while strengthening systems to sustain learning and resilience in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. ECW works with governments, public and private funders, UN agencies, civil society organisations, and other humanitarian and development aid actors so that no child is left behind. As global crises intensify and the education financing gap widens, ECW calls on public and private sector partners to scale up investments so millions more crisis-affected girls and boys can learn and rebuild their futures. For press inquiries: Rafik Elouerchefani [email protected] Estefanía Jiménez: [email protected] SOURCE Education Cannot Wait

Mars invests $3m to empower women cocoa farmers. 30-Jul-2026 Last updated on 30-Jul-2026 at 11:50 GMT Mars and Save the Children launch major new project to support women in cocoa farming. Mars and Save the Children's women cocoa farmers project: overview. * Mars and Save the Children have launched a $3m women-focused project * Women R.I.S.E aims to strengthen Indonesia's cocoa-growing communities resilience * More than 17,000 cocoa farmers will participate over three years * The initiative promotes financial inclusion, leadership and climate-smart farming * Supporting women helps improve livelihoods, productivity and cocoa sustainability Mars, Inc. has partnered with Save the Children to launch the Women R.I.S.E. (Resilient & Inclusive Systems for Empowerment) Program. The three-year initiative aims to strengthen the resilience of cocoa-growing communities while advancing child protection and women's economic empowerment across Indonesia. Supported through a $3m (€2.6m) grant from the Mars Impact Fund, the Program will expand Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and strengthen community resilience initiatives in cocoa-growing regions. The effort aims to address key challenges facing rural communities, including fluctuating agricultural productivity, limited access to financial services and the need for stronger local capacity to plan for and manage development. The work, says the multinational, supports the Mars Impact Fund mission to "accelerate meaningful, lasting impact in the communities where Mars operates". Empowering cocoa communities. Over the next three years, the project will directly engage more than 17,000 cocoa farmers across Indonesia, with a goal of 60% female participation. It will also support leadership development, collective decision-making, income diversification, climate-smart agricultural practices and stronger village governance, helping communities build long-term resilience while protecting children and improving livelihoods. "True community resilience is built from the ground up," says program director of the Mars Impact Fund, Isabel Dimitrov. "The Mars Impact Fund is proud to invest in tools that help cocoa-growing families diversify their income, protect their children, and build a more secure, equitable future." The investment comes at a time when the cocoa sector is facing mounting challenges, including climate change, ageing farming populations, low household incomes and increasing pressure from regulators and consumers to demonstrate sustainable sourcing practices. As cocoa-growing regions experience more frequent weather shocks and volatile yields, manufacturers are placing greater emphasis on building resilient farming communities capable of adapting to changing conditions. Women's role in cocoa. Women are increasingly viewed as critical to the future sustainability of the cocoa supply chain. Despite playing a significant role in cocoa production and household income generation, women in many producing regions continue to face barriers to land ownership, financial services, training opportunities and participation in community decision-making. Industry stakeholders argue that improving women's access to resources and leadership opportunities can strengthen household incomes, increase farm productivity and improve outcomes for children. Research across agricultural value chains has consistently shown that when women have greater control over financial resources, families are more likely to invest in nutrition, healthcare and education. For cocoa companies, initiatives that support women's economic empowerment are therefore increasingly seen not only as social investments, but also as a way to help create more resilient and commercially sustainable cocoa-growing communities. By combining financial inclusion, leadership development and climate-smart farming practices, the Women R.I.S.E. Program reflects a growing shift within the cocoa industry towards community-based development models that seek to address the root causes of poverty and vulnerability rather than focusing solely on agricultural productivity. "We are fully committed to supporting the creation of cocoa farming communities that possess independent economic resilience, strong social cohesion and climate readiness," says community development specialist for Mars, Mutmainnah. "This collaboration is designed to strengthen local governance and build integrated partnerships that help establish sustainable, self-reliant village models for future generations."