FAQs
The Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies (EiE Hub) is a physical and virtual platform that aims to be a catalyst for joint action among its members, and to increase collaboration with other sectors to prioritise education in emergencies. Together they work to create change internationally, increase country-level impact, and foster political, financial and operational commitments for EiE.
The EiE Hub harnesses the expertise and capabilities of International Geneva’s diplomatic, humanitarian, development, human rights, protection, climate migration, and peace communities and organisations, along with academia, to come together for transformative joint action for EiE. The EiE Hub promotes policy dialogue, multistakeholder synergies and partnerships, and inspires political and financial commitments to ensure the delivery and continuity of safe, quality education to crisis-affected and displaced children and youth.
Humanitarian crisis, conflict and displacement deny millions of children and youth their right to education. The number of crisis-impacted school-aged children requiring educational support has grown to some 234 million today. Of the 12.4 million estimated school-aged refugee students, at least 46% are thought to be out of school. That means 5.7 million refugee children are missing out on an education. Figures for internally displaced people are likely even lower.
And yet, education is one of the most underfunded sectors in humanitarian response plans and is particularly vulnerable to economic shocks.
Despite its critical importance and value, education in emergencies has consistently received a lower-than-average share of funds requested. Recent analysis conducted by the EiE Hub revealed that the education sector has become more seriously underfunded since 2018, receiving just 26% of the funds requested in UN-led humanitarian appeals in 2025 – far less than many other sectors.
The world stands at a critical moment for the education of refugee, displaced and crisis-affected children and youth, which calls for a strong alliance of diverse stakeholders ready to communicate with urgency about the challenges faced. Close collaboration is needed to address overall underfunding and under-prioritisation of education in emergencies. The members of the EiE Hub affirm that this can only be done by joining efforts, and have therefore made a renewed commitment.
At the 2023 Global Refugee Forum (GRF) Education Campus, the EiE Hub members officially committed to a new pledge building on the successes of the last four years since Switzerland, together with 9 co-signatories, pledged to promote Geneva as a global hub for education in emergencies at the 2019 GRF.
As the world’s humanitarian capital, Geneva, Switzerland is host to many actors who can make a difference for the education of crisis-affected and displaced children and youth. It has a vibrant and multilateral diplomatic community and offers a rich tapestry of academic institutions, NGOs and private sector entities, whether they operate in the education field or in related spheres: from humanitarian to development, from migration to human rights, from protection to peacebuilding, from climate to water and health.
The EiE Hub Steering Group is the independent governance and oversight body of the EiE Hub. The Steering Group is made up of the initial co-signatories of the GRF pledge and founding members, along with the Global Partnership for Education, and guides the overall strategic work of the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies on behalf of the broader membership.
The Technical Working Group provides technical expertise, acts as a sounding board and takes on leadership for carrying out specific activities as per the work plan. The Technical Working Group is composed of the initial co-signatories as well as Canada and World Vision International, and is coordinated by the EiE Hub Coordinator.
The Association for the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies‘ Secretariat was created in September, 2022 by decision of the EiE Hub Steering Group. As an association under Swiss law, based in Geneva, the Secretariat supports the EiE Hub in operationalising its mandate.
The EiE Hub members are accountable to each other and to those they seek to serve. Accountability drives the EiE Hub’s action and decisions, with crisis-affected and displaced children and youth at the centre of their efforts.
The Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies is open to building a wide partnership around common areas of focus. See the How to Become a Member page.
