Education in Crisis and Conflict

Ensuring children and youth have the opportunity to continue their education during conflict and crisis can have far-reaching positive effects.

During major conflicts and crises, many children do not go to school—and the longer they are out, the less likely they are to ever go back. Attending school is not only necessary for their continued education, but for their emotional and physical protection while in the midst of chaos.

USAID’s education programs in crisis- and conflict-affected environments work to:

  • Provide safe learning opportunities for students and teachers, especially for the most vulnerable (i.e., girls, children with disabilities);
  • Rebuild education systems, including providing support to teachers; and
  • Prevent and mitigate further conflict and crisis through conflict-sensitive education programs, community engagement and disaster-risk reduction activities.

Programs also incentivize national government leadership in the education sector to integrate refugees into host country systems, better serve internally-displaced peoples and children and youth affected by violence, and continue to support external coordination groups to increase coherence between humanitarian and development efforts in education.

This work builds resilience by increasing equitable access to education, providing safe spaces to learn, and improving educational outcomes.

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