Online event: Responding to the Education Crisis in Central Sahel

Side event to the Ministerial Roundtable on Central Sahel in October 2020.

An education crisis is facing Central Sahel, requiring urgent response in order to build the future of the region. Education in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger is under threat due to armed conflict, displacements, climate change and recently the covid19 crisis, leaving 13 million out of school and exposing especially vulnerable children and girls to risks of abuse, child labour, early marriage or radicalisation. 

There is vital need for the education emergency to be addressed in a consolidated response to the Sahel crises through increased financing and stronger and more holistic partnerships. The event brings together ministers, donors, NGOs and the voices of affected children and youth to highlight the education crisis and its impact on the region, present best practices, and provide concrete recommendations. 

The side event is co-hosted by the Ministry of National Education, Literacy and Promotion of National Languages of Burkina Faso, the Government of Spain, Education Cannot Wait, Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack,and Save the Children.

Recommendations from the side event will be put forward to the High-Level Ministerial Roundtable on Central Sahel to be held on October 20th 2020, hosted by the Governments of Denmark and Germany, the European Union and the United Nations. 

Speakers

• H.E. Stanislas Ouaro, Minister of Education, Ministry of National Education, Literacy and Promotion of National Languages of Burkina Faso
• Ms. Yasmine Sherif, Director, Education Cannot Wait (ECW)
• Mr. Michael Köhler, Deputy Director-General, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) (to be confirmed)
• Ms. Goundo Odette Keita, National President, Organisation des Jeunes Africains pour le Développement et l’Emergence, Mali
• Ms. Yasmina Mohamed Boubacar, Advocate for children’s and girls’ education, Plan International Niger
• Mr. Issoufou Ouedraogo, Education in Emergencies Specialist, Save the Children Burkina Faso

Register for the side event to take place on Zoom: Via this link