Dubai Cares pledges $10m for refugee education policies

ABU DHABI // Dubai Cares has pledged US$10 million (Dh36.7m) to give policy makers a better understanding of education of children in areas hit by crises.

The charity aims to focus on research that will inform politicians and create effective education policies for millions of deprived children.

“There are worsening problems throughout the Middle East and beyond. Children are particularly vulnerable, with their education often impacted or denied altogether,” said Tariq Al Gurg, chief executive of Dubai Cares, which is part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. “According to Unicef, refugee children are five times more likely to be out of school than non refugees.”

The five-year research fund, Evidence for Education in Emergencies (E3), was announced at an event in New York hosted jointly with the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) during the current session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Mr Al Gurg said the research fund aimed to “generate more and better evidence to inform decision and policy makers on what works and what models of delivery of education in emergencies offer the greatest potential for impact”.

He added: “We stand witness to billions of dollars spent on humanitarian aid, with only 1 per cent allocated to education.”

Ninety experts and policy makers in the field of education, including senior representatives from UN agencies, attended the event.

Dean Brooks, INEE’s director, said its members were seeking firm evidence on which to base their policies and programmes.

Dubai Cares also signed a $3m (Dh11m) agreement with Unesco to support the UN agency’s Capacity Development for Education programme.

The scheme aims to help developing countries achieve high-quality education and promote opportunities for lifelong learning.