The Ministry of Education and Save the Children have embarked on a groundbreaking initiative, the Multi-Year Resilience Programme II (MYRP II), to transform the lives of 173,000 children in conflict-torn and drought-stricken areas across Ethiopia. This ambitious three-year project, backed by a substantial $24 million from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), aims to provide a robust educational foundation for the most vulnerable students, especially girls and children with disabilities. The program's primary focus is to ensure that these children, who have been displaced by conflict and natural disasters, have access to quality education, fostering their long-term resilience and well-being. The initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration, with Save the Children leading a consortium of esteemed organizations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council, Humanity Inclusion, the Development Expertise Center, the Forum for African Women Educationalists, the Tigray Development Association, and OWS Development Fund. These partners will work in unison to deliver the program's objectives effectively. Furthermore, the establishment of a National Steering Committee, chaired by the Ministry of Education, is a pivotal aspect of MYRP II. This committee will play a crucial role in coordinating national and regional responses, aligning donor efforts, and overseeing the program's implementation. The committee's primary goal is to create a cohesive framework that seamlessly integrates humanitarian support with long-term system resilience, ensuring that education remains a cornerstone of emergency response in Ethiopia. The program builds upon previous successes, having already restored schooling for thousands of children affected by conflict and natural disasters. MYRP II is poised to become a model for integrating emergency response with education sector reform, ensuring that Ethiopia's education system remains robust and adaptable, even in the face of adversity.
