This is a moving defense of the importance of education as a continuing international aid focus, even in the face of major int aid cutbacks.
It is a defense made by children and the communities most affected, not distant aid providers and entirely consistent with Unicef's push for child-friendly spaces as core emergency relief measures.
Aid cuts and kids: Caretakers are clear about what to save – education
Author: Yolande Wright
Publication: The New Humanitarian
Date: November 24, 2025
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Summary:
Research conducted in crisis-affected communities across Ethiopia, Lebanon, Nigeria, and occupied Palestinian territory reveals that caregivers consistently prioritize education when facing humanitarian aid budget cuts. The study, involving focus groups with over 100 caregivers and more than 800 community members surveyed, found that education ranked as the top priority for children's wellbeing, ahead of food security, health services, and child protection programs.
Caregivers view education as essential not only for academic learning but as a protective space that provides structure, safety, and psychosocial support during crises.
Despite this clear community preference, education remains chronically underfunded in humanitarian responses, receiving only 2.9 percent of global humanitarian funding and ranking last among major sectors.
The research challenges the common humanitarian assumption that food and health should automatically take precedence in emergencies, revealing a disconnect between donor priorities and what affected communities actually need. Caregivers emphasized that education helps children maintain normalcy, protects them from harm including recruitment into armed groups, and provides hope for the future even amid ongoing conflict and displacement.
Quotes:
"Education was number one. It came ahead of food security; ahead of health; ahead of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services; and ahead of child protection programmes."
"They didn't just see education as a place for academic learning. They saw it as a protective space – one that helps children process trauma, stay safe from harm (including recruitment or early marriage), and maintain a sense of normalcy."
"If humanitarians are serious about accountability to affected populations – about listening to the people we aim to serve – then we need to stop assuming we know what's best and start funding what communities are telling us they need."
Quotes:
"Education was number one. It came ahead of food security; ahead of health; ahead of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services; and ahead of child protection programmes."
"They didn't just see education as a place for academic learning. They saw it as a protective space – one that helps children process trauma, stay safe from harm (including recruitment or early marriage), and maintain a sense of normalcy."
"If humanitarians are serious about accountability to affected populations – about listening to the people we aim to serve – then we need to stop assuming we know what's best and start funding what communities are telling us they need."
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