FCA and EU Humanitarian Aid launch new project in Uganda
A new European Union Humanitarian Aid funded programme in Uganda, called “Towards Greater Effectiveness and Timely Humanitarian Education Response (TOGETHER)” will support over fifty thousand schoolchildren in Uganda to rejoin and stay in school.
Kampala, 20/06/2024 — Finn Church Aid (FCA) in partnership with Cheshire Services (CSU), Hopelink Action Foundation (HAF) Uganda, Promoters of Agriculture and Market Linkages (PALM Corps), and Forum for Education NGOs (FENU) are thrilled to announce the launch of the TOGETHER (Towards Greater Effectiveness and Timely Humanitarian Education Response) project, funded by European Union Humanitarian Aid.
This project aims to directly support 50,861 children, in primary, secondary, and Accelerated Education for a period of 24 months. The overall objective is to provide access to quality and inclusive formal and non-formal education for South Sudanese and Sudanese refugees, asylum seekers, and host community children in Palorinya, Rhino Camp, Palabek, Kiryandongo, and Imvepi refugee settlements in Uganda.
The project will focus on increasing enrolment, retention, and transition of conflict-affected girls and boys, strengthen child protection and safeguarding mechanisms, improve response and referral systems, and promote child participation through girl child empowerment.
Local leadership in Uganda
FCA Uganda Country Director, Wycliffe Nsheka explained, “the project will be implemented by the TOGETHER Consortium led by Finn Church Aid (FCA). It promotes strong local leadership with Cheshire Services (CSU) leading inclusion activities, Hopelink Action Foundation (HAF) Uganda leading psychosocial support, Promotes of Agriculture and Market Linkages (PALM Corps) leading resilience activities and Forum for Education NGOs (FENU)for policy advocacy efforts.”
He added “the project will respond to the regional challenge of increased school dropouts and child protection risks resulting from lack of livelihoods. It will focus on new arrivals, ensuring they have access to proper levels of education in safe and protective environments. I would like to appreciate the EU’s continued commitment towards supporting Education in situations of crisis.”
Bruno Rotival, Head of the EU’s Humanitarian Aid office in Kampala, emphasised that “children’s right to quality education does not stop in times of humanitarian emergencies. Our Education in Emergencies policy helps children in fragile contexts stay in school or continue their interrupted education, building resilience and developing their skills for the future. For 2024, the EU has set aside €157 million to support learning for children and youth caught in humanitarian emergencies, supporting also host communities.”
The project aligns with the Uganda Education Response Plan for Refugees and Host Communities policy framework, addressing both supply and demand side barriers to education, ensuring access to quality education for all children.
About EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid
The European Union and its Member States are the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises.
Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.