WASHINGTON – Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Leahy (D-VT) yesterday released the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) bill for fiscal year 2022, which includes $25 million for  Education Cannot Wait. Jesuit Refugee Services/USA, which has spearheaded efforts to allocate adequate levels of funding for  ECW in the annual appropriations bill since 2020, commended the funding amount allocated and released the following statement:

“ECW is doing incredibly important work around the world to help youth that have been forced to flee their homes or those that live in conflict settings have access to education and help create opportunities for students and teachers that otherwise would not exist. Jesuit Refugee Services/USA applauds and thanks Chairman Leahy and other members of the Senate Appropriations Committee for prioritizing access to education for  refugee children around the world,” said Giulia McPherson, Director of Advocacy & Operations, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA.

“Jesuit Refugee Service implements education and livelihoods programs in 50 countries and advocates for full access to education for the forcibly displaced as a proud partner of ECW.  We’re thrilled to see the Senate Appropriations Committee recognize the importance of U.S. government investments in these life-saving programs,” she added.

Launched in 2016, ECW is the only global education fund for emergencies and protracted crises. ECW gathers international humanitarian and development aid actors, along with public and private donors, to help reposition education as a priority on the humanitarian agenda, usher in a more collaborative approach among actors on the ground and foster additional funding to ensure that every crisis-affected child and young person is in school and learning. ECW’s COVID-19 response specifically has reached an additional 29.2 million vulnerable girls and boys in 32 countries.

Last month, the Biden Administration announced that the U.S. government would contribute $37 million to ECW to be delivered through USAID and the U.S. Department of State.The funding appropriated in the FY22 SFOPS bill announced yesterday will help allocate more funding for these efforts next year and accelerate the impact of ECW’s critical work in providing education in emergencies, which has already reached more than 4.6 million crisis-affected children and adolescents.Since 2016, the United States has made more than $75 million in combined contributions to the fund. 

To speak with Giulia McPherson about JRS/USA’s work to support refugees, please contact Paola Amador, jrs@westendstrategy.com, (202) 615-9903.