Geneva – November 06, 2026 -- Education Cannot Wait (ECW) secured US$405.8 million in new government pledges at its High-Level Replenishment Conference, hosted by Switzerland. Combined with US$135.8 million already committed through earlier multi-year donor agreements, the total for its Hope Starts Here campaign reaches US$541.6 million, or 90% of the US$600 million target. That leaves a gap of US$58.4 million.
Eight governments and the EU lead the pledging round
Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, Switzerland, Ireland, the EU and Japan were among the contributors. Switzerland pledged CHF 35 million to ECW for 2027 to 2030. The fund received the commitments as humanitarian needs grow and international aid budgets shrink.
2027-2030 strategic plan targets 10 million children
The pledges underpin ECW's 2027-2030 Strategic Plan, which aims to reach 10 million children. Half of them are to be girls, and one million are to be children with disabilities. Since 2016, ECW and its partners have reached more than 16 million children in crisis-affected countries, against an estimated 258 million school-aged children and adolescents affected by crises worldwide.
The plan calls for faster emergency response and more sustained support in protracted crises. It also covers investment in quality learning, protection, inclusion and national education systems.
Outcome bond and private capital talks widen the funding base
Partnership offers and initiatives involving Porticus, the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd), the Education Bridging Fund (EBF) and Swiss cantonal banks were presented as ways to complement donor contributions with development finance and private capital.
Enosis Capital, BNP Paribas and MetLife Investment Management took part in discussions on an education continuity outcome bond, which is still under development. ECW said these initiatives are at different stages and subject to further design and institutional approvals.
ECW commits to routing at least 50% of programme financing through local partners by 2030
ECW named three priorities for the next strategic period. The first is quality learning, alongside children's safety, mental health and well-being. The second is national and local leadership, including the 50% financing goal for national and local partners. The third is a broader financing coalition, with government contributions remaining the backbone and philanthropy, businesses, development banks and investors adding to them.
Conference discussions also covered integrating refugee and displaced children into national education systems and the need for more predictable financing linking humanitarian response with longer-term recovery.
ECW will keep engaging existing and prospective partners to close the remaining funding gap. ECW Director Maysa Jalbout said of the next phase: "Our work starts now."