Improving access to quality education for South Sudanese refugee children in Bidibidi and Omugo Refugee Settlements, Yumbe and Arua Districts, Uganda

Following the escalating violence in South Sudan, 272,206 refugees, mostly women, children and youth were received in in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement Uganda by December 2016 making it one of the biggest refugee settlement in Africa. This level of influx outstretched planned response levels in all sectors. The purpose of this action is to provide access to quality and inclusive education for South Sudanese refugee children through an approach that puts particular attention to their protection and resilience, as well as promoting peaceful coexistence with the host communities.

The project will directly target 19,500 children, including 1,500 attending Accelerated Learning in zone III and IV of Bidibidi Refugee Settlement. FCA has identified three key strategies to address the education and protection humanitarian needs in line with its niche that include:

• Increasing access to inclusive, safe, protective and child-friendly education for South Sudan Refugee Children through the construction of semi-permanent infrastructure;
• Improving the quality of teaching and learning outcomes in seven primary schools through teachers training, construction of teacher accommodation, provision of inclusive teaching and learning materials and supporting assessment and provision of appropriate services to children with special needs;
• Strengthening the coping mechanisms and resilience of children affected by conflict and those severely affected receiving appropriate support especially through school based protection initiatives.

The project’s duration is 1 April 2017 –  31 March 2018. It is funded by EU/ECHO (European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations). Total project budget is 1,740,000 €, of which ECHO funding is 86,2% and FCA co-funding 13,8%.