Multi-stakeholder pledges - GCR Objective 2

Multistakeholder Pledge: Expanding Connected Education for Refugees through the Refugee Connected Education Challenge

Key outcome: to achieve access to high-quality connected education for refugees by 2030.

Background

In a world that is rapidly digitizing, refugee learners and their host communities find themselves at a digital divide, being less equipped with the necessary resources, skills, and knowledge to thrive in a technology-supported learning environment. The schools and communities hosting refugees often lack sufficient digital resources to foster learners' success in an increasingly digital world. In response to this challenge and in line with SDG4 and the TES call to action on Digital Learning, UNHCR launched the Refugee Connected Education Challenge (RCEC). The initiative aims to ensure universal access to high-quality connected education for refugees by 2030, paralleling nationals. To accomplish this, RCEC focuses on building partnerships, identifying gaps, and advocating for the inclusion of refugee-hosting schools in national digital learning efforts.

Pledge description

At the 2023 Global Refugee Forum ambitious, multi-partner pledges will leverage expertise, innovation, and financing to demonstrate tangible progress towards universal access to quality connected education for refugees. The RCEC will build partnerships and commitments that address challenges across the 3Cs framework (content, capacity and connectivity) developed under the UN Secretary Generals’ Transforming Education Summit through the Digital Learning Call to Action. Commitments under connectivity will be closely aligned with a multistakeholder pledge on connectivity at the GRF.

Related pledges to match

GRF-00918 – Government of Rwanda - Improve the quality of education by upgrading school infrastructure in refugee hosting districts, equipping them and allocating scholastic materials to accommodate refugees and the host community. Find out more about matching this pledge.
GRF-00492 – Government of Estonia - The Government of Estonia pledges to support refugees' education inc. digital competency programmes developed by Estonian NGOs. Find out more about matching this pledge.
GRF – 00493 - The Government of Estonia pledges to support the projects of Estonian NGOs in Ukraine, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Uganda and other countries to enhance sustainable livelihoods of refugees through vocational and ICT skills and social entrepreneurship development.. Find out more about matching this pledge.
GRF-01050 – Government of Zimbabwe - The Government of Zimbabwe hereby commits to promote and increase access to tertiary education for refugees, asylum seekers and host community. By 2021, establish a technical / vocational training center with an innovation hub and blended learning programmes in Tongogara Refugee Camp for the host community, refugees and asylum seekers.. Find out more about matching this pledge.
GRF 00756 - The government of Sweden will contribute through our strategies for development cooperation and established partnerships, to improve access to education for displaced/refugees and inclusion in local and national systems, by financial support and/or advocacy to enhance: -systematized learning and good practice of inclusion of refugees in education sector plans and national policies; -policy development, methodological guidance and implementation of national policies for inclusion of displaced populations in local and national systems; -education in emergencies and inclusion of refugees with a focus on capacity and systems building, joint planning and coordination; -data collection on refugee education; -teacher training in conflict and post-conflict situations; -linking lifelong learning, TVET, skills development and jobs; -child protection in education including psycho-social support; -inclusion of the most vulnerable boys and girls including disabled children; -recognition of qualifications for refugees and prior learning; -non-formal education in early refugee response, while planning for transition into education systems; -multisectoral approaches linking education to WASH, health and livelihoods; -social cohesion for refugees and host communities by supporting quality education and lifelong learning; -safe schools free from violence and prevention of gender-based violence in and outside of schools; -innovative digital services for inclusion of refugees in education. Find out more about matching this pledge.