CFPs: Education Cannot Wait Announces CORE Programme

The Education Cannot Wait (ECW) Crisis-Oriented Resilience and Emergency (CORE) Programme provides multi-year education funding support to eligible partner consortia delivering crisis-responsive education programmes in Afghanistan. The initiative focuses on safe, inclusive, and gender-equitable education for children and adolescents affected by conflict, displacement, and climate-related emergencies.

About the Education Cannot Wait CORE Programme

Education Cannot Wait (ECW) has launched the Crisis-Oriented Resilience and Emergency (CORE) Programme as a flagship investment approach under its Strategic Plan 2027–2030.

The programme is designed to strengthen education systems and provide coordinated support for children and adolescents living in crisis situations.

CORE combines:

Emergency education response.
Crisis preparedness.
Resilience-building activities.
Humanitarian assistance.
Long-term development approaches.

The programme aims to ensure that children affected by conflict, forced displacement, and climate-related crises continue to access safe and quality learning opportunities.

Purpose of the CORE Programme

The main objective of the CORE Programme is to create stronger and more flexible education responses in crisis settings.

The programme supports:

Rapid emergency education interventions.
Long-term resilience-building.
Nationally led education solutions.
Locally driven implementation approaches.
Stronger coordination between humanitarian and development actors.

It seeks to reduce disruption to education and improve learning outcomes for vulnerable children and adolescents.

Programme Focus Areas

1. Crisis Preparedness and Emergency Response

The programme supports education systems to prepare for and respond quickly to crises.

Activities may include:

Emergency learning support.
Crisis response planning.
Education continuity measures.
Rapid support for affected communities.

2. Safe and Inclusive Education

CORE promotes education environments that are:

Safe.
Accessible.
Inclusive.
Gender-equitable.

Projects should ensure that vulnerable groups, including displaced children and girls, can participate in education opportunities.

3. Resilience Building

The programme focuses on strengthening the ability of education systems and communities to manage future crises.

This includes:

Building institutional capacity.
Strengthening community participation.
Improving crisis preparedness.
Supporting sustainable education approaches.

4. Humanitarian and Development Collaboration

CORE connects emergency responses with longer-term development goals.

The programme encourages:

Collaboration between humanitarian organisations.
Government partnerships.
Development-focused education strategies.
Coordinated implementation.

Countries Included in the First CORE Programme Call

The first CORE Programme Request for Proposals supports education initiatives in:

Afghanistan.
Bangladesh.
Lebanon.
Myanmar.
South Sudan.

Who Can Apply?

Applications are open to:

Eligible partner consortia.
Organisations working collaboratively in education and humanitarian response.

Individual organisations cannot apply alone.

Applicants must form a consortium that demonstrates:

Complementary technical expertise.
Strong operational capacity.
Effective coordination systems.
Ability to deliver crisis education programmes.

Consortium Requirements

Applicant consortia must demonstrate:

Collaborative Partnership

Partners should show:

Clear roles and responsibilities.
Joint planning mechanisms.
Coordinated implementation strategies.

Technical Expertise

Consortium members should have experience in areas such as:

Education in emergencies.
Child protection.
Crisis response.
Inclusive education.
Community engagement.

Operational Capacity

Applicants should demonstrate:

Ability to operate in crisis environments.
Financial and programme management capacity.
Experience delivering education projects.

Host Eligibility Requirements

At least one consortium partner must meet Education Cannot Wait Host eligibility criteria.

The eligible host partner must have:

A low-risk HACT assessment.
Completed Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) assessment.
Compliance with UN CORE values assessments.
Registration on the UN Partner Portal (UNPP).
Legal registration in the country of operation.
Membership in an in-country humanitarian cluster or coordination mechanism.

Why This Programme Matters

Millions of children worldwide experience interrupted education because of:

Armed conflict.
Forced displacement.
Natural disasters.
Climate-related emergencies.

The CORE Programme helps ensure that education remains available during crises by supporting flexible, coordinated, and sustainable responses.

The programme contributes to:

Improved access to education.
Better learning outcomes.
Increased protection for vulnerable children.
Stronger education system resilience.

How the CORE Programme Works

Step 1: Formation of Partner Consortium

Eligible organisations create a consortium with:

Relevant technical expertise.
Local operational presence.
Crisis response experience.

Step 2: Programme Design

Consortiums develop proposals addressing:

Local education challenges.
Crisis risks.
Target populations.
Implementation strategies.

Step 3: Eligibility Verification

Applicants must demonstrate compliance with ECW requirements, including:

Protection standards.
UN compliance requirements.
Registration requirements.
Coordination mechanisms.

Step 4: Proposal Submission

Applications are submitted as a consortium through the required ECW process.

Step 5: Programme Implementation

Selected partners implement activities focused on:

Emergency education.
Inclusive learning.
Crisis resilience.
Community support.

How to Apply

Eligible consortia should prepare proposals that include:

Consortium structure and partner roles.
Education needs assessment.
Crisis response strategy.
Implementation plan.
Monitoring and evaluation approach.
Safeguarding measures.
Evidence of organisational capacity.

Applicants should ensure that all eligibility requirements are met before submission.

Common Application Mistakes and Tips

Common Mistakes

Applicants should avoid:

Applying as a single organisation.
Forming partnerships without clear roles.
Missing ECW eligibility requirements.
Weak safeguarding documentation.
Limited evidence of crisis education experience.

Application Tips

Strong proposals should:

Demonstrate local understanding.
Include affected communities in planning.
Present measurable education outcomes.
Show coordination with national systems.
Highlight gender equality and inclusion.
Explain sustainability beyond emergency funding.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Education Cannot Wait CORE Programme?

The CORE Programme is ECW’s flagship multi-year investment approach that combines emergency education response, crisis preparedness, and resilience-building.

Who can apply for the CORE Programme?

Eligible partner consortia with relevant education and humanitarian expertise can apply.

Can one organisation apply alone?

No. Applications must be submitted by a consortium of partners.

Which countries are supported under this call?

The first CORE Programme call supports Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Lebanon, Myanmar, and South Sudan.

What type of education projects are supported?

The programme supports safe, inclusive, gender-equitable education responses for children and adolescents affected by crises.

What is the Host eligibility requirement?

At least one consortium partner must meet ECW Host eligibility requirements, including HACT, PSEA, UN compliance, registration, and coordination requirements.

Why is crisis resilience important in education?

Crisis resilience helps education systems continue providing learning opportunities during emergencies and recover more effectively after disruptions.

Conclusion

The Education Cannot Wait CORE Programme provides a strategic funding opportunity to strengthen education responses in crisis-affected countries, including Afghanistan. By supporting partner consortia, the programme promotes safe, inclusive, and resilient education systems that help children and adolescents continue learning despite conflict, displacement, and climate-related challenges.