Education Against All Odds: Overcoming a Year of Crises in West and Central Africa
The year 2024 was an exceptionally difficult one for education in West and Central Africa, as overlapping crises pushed millions of children further away from the classroom. As world leaders gathered for COP29, the impact of climate change on education was clearer than ever. Floods led to the destruction or occupation of thousands of classrooms, leaving millions of children unable to return to school.
This year also marked a record high number of children affected by school closures due to insecurity, with 2.8 million children deprived of their right to education in a region where it is a lifeline. Forced displacement also reached unprecedented levels, with over 8.2 million internally displaced people and close to 2.7 million refugees.
Despite this grim reality, there were signs of hope. In some countries, the number of schools closed due to insecurity has decreased, and refugee children’s enrolment in basic education has improved, thanks to governments’ strong commitment to inclusion and the critical support of key donors. Looking ahead, UNHCR is calling for $74 million in 2025 to sustain efforts to support education in West and Central Africa.