European Union Continues To Build Resilient Inclusive Systems For Refugees And Host Communities

PRESS RELEASE: 24^th APRIL, 2025

Uganda hosts 1,786,923 refugees and asylum seekers (Nov 2024), 31% of whom are from DRC, residing in settlements in south western Uganda. Planning figures indicate an expected increase of 94,321 Congolese refugees in 2025, who will be settled in Nakivale, Kyangwali and Rwamwanja, compounding existing challenges to service delivery (UNHCR). Despite Uganda’s progressive approach to refugee hosting, underpinned by its legislative framework and the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), which allows refugees to access the same services as their host community peers, barriers continue to exist leading to low learning outcomes.

With funding from European Union , the Building Resilient Inclusive Systems for Locally Led Education and Protection (RISE) Project will achieve increased access, retention and improved learning outcomes for out of school children and children at risk of drop out, including newly arrived refugees, out of school children, unaccompanied and separated children and children at risk, and provide life-saving education and child protection services at transit sites (SO).

The launch of the RISE project is a testimony to the EU’s continued commitment to provide education in emergencies,” said Morten Petersen, who helps oversee EU humanitarian programmes in Uganda. “Every child needs stability and access to education, but a safe learning environment is especially important for children in humanitarian crises. This project also underscores sustained collaboration with government-led efforts to address the educational needs of refugees. The EU remains committed to support access to education, both to the Ugandan host community and the refugees in the country”, added Morten.

The five million (5M) Euros RISE project will achieve the above through a consortium which leverages the individual technical expertise and operational presence of its partners, led by Save the Children (SC), with Humanity & Inclusion (HI), Education Local Expertise Centre Uganda (ELECU), Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID), Humanitarian Assistance and Development Services (HADS), Uganda Society for Disabled Children (USDC) and Katalemwa Cheshire Home (KCH).

“Education is a fundamental right, and the RISE Project reinforces the Ministry’s commitment to inclusive learning for all, including refugees. Through teacher training, community engagement, and systemic strengthening, this project will complement our efforts to build a resilient and adaptive education sector,” says Dr. Cleophus Mugenyi, Commissioner Basic Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports.

RISE aims to reach 85,372 in and out of school children and young people and 12,264 adults including teachers, school management committees, parent teacher associations and child protection committees in three refugee settlements of Kyangwali, Rwamwanja and Nakivale and Nyakabande Transit Site.

“Save the Children and partners are excited to deliver this transformative project, which will leverage our collective expertise to deliver impact for refugee and host community children, ensuring that they access quality, inclusive learning opportunities. With generous support from European Union, we can ensure that children are protected, learn and gain the foundation for a bright future” says Famari Barro, Country Director, Save the Children.

ABOUT RISE

Building Resilient Inclusive Systems for Locally Led Education and Protection (RISE) Project is a 5M Euro funded by European Union

The RISE project will be implemented by a consortium composed of; Save the Children (SC), Humanity & Inclusion (HI), Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID), Education Local Expertise Centre (ELECU), Humanitarian Assistance and Development Services (HADS), Katalemwa Cheshire Home (KCH) and Uganda Society for Disabled Children (USDC) in three refugee settlements; Kyangwali, Rwamwanja and Nakivale and Nyakabande Transit Site.

The project will ensure that:

1. Conflict affected refugee and host community children, adolescents and youth, including those out of school and at risk of drop out are enrolled, retained and progress to the next education level in an inclusive, safe and supportive learning environment
2. Conflict affected refugee and host community children, adolescents and youth, including those out of school and at risk of drop out enrolled in formal and non-formal education progressively demonstrate improved learning outcomes, supported by teachers with improved competencies
3. District, school, and community systems are strengthened to promote and provide inclusive, safe, and resilient learning opportunities to conflict affected refugee and host community children, adolescents and youth, including those out of school and at risk of drop out
4. Conflict affected refugee and host community children, adolescents and youth, including those out of school and at risk of drop out are protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence through provision of quality education and community-based protection mechanisms

This will be achieved through several key interventions including:

1. Addressing barriers to education for vulnerable groups including children with disabilities and girls, including school aged mothers, through direct and targeted support such as the provision of assistive devices, individual learning materials and menstrual hygiene products, while making sure that teachers, school and community structures are better equipped to support them.
2. Identifying out of school children and children at risk of drop out, and based on an assessment of household socio-economic vulnerability referring children to receive cash for education, to address financial barriers to education
3. Supporting improvements in children’s well-being through the delivery of play-based mental health support
4. Ensuring that children transition from one level of education to another, e.g. between lower and upper primary or upper primary and secondary.
5. Delivering a suite of approaches which ensure that children have access to relevant and quality learning opportunities from the point of arrival to the completion of secondary school, including Return to Learning, Language Bridging, Accelerated Education and U Catch Up.
6. The recruitment and remuneration of teachers to decongest classrooms and support the delivery of quality teaching and learning. They will benefit from continuous blended professional development focused on improving their skills and competencies.
7. Strengthening the capacity of district local government, school management committees, parent teacher associations and child protection committees, in line with Government of Uganda competency frameworks (where relevant) and existing capacity strengthening plans to lead and support the delivery of quality, inclusive and resilient education and protection services for refugee and host community children. This will include a focus on ensuring that accurate data on enrolment is collected and used, including through the EMIS system.
8. Strengthening the integration of child protection and education service delivery, including through the provision of case management for children out of school and at risk of drop out, strengthened links and ways of working between schools and community child protection structures to ensure holistic support for children, and ensuring that schools are equipped with the knowledge and skills to keep children save.
9. Strengthening the ability of schools to anticipate and response to shocks and emergencies, including disease outbreaks and climate related incidents.

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 based on humanitarian needs.

Contact Information:

Rachel Hopkins

Education in Emergencies Director

Save the Children

0776395863

rachel.hopkins@savethechildren.org