08 August2022 (Juba, South Sudan): The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)- GIZ and the Government of South Sudan (Ministry of Education) conducted a two-day Consultation meeting on south Sudan’s Costed National Education Response Plan of Action for the implementation of the Djibouti Declaration on Education for Refugees, Returnees and Host Communities.
The objective of the national consultation meeting is to review the progress in the implementation of the South Sudan Costed National Education Response Plan of action for inclusive education and to identify challenges and opportunities in the implementation process; including, generating recommendations on the way forward towards ensuring access to quality education for refugees, returnees and host communities using the costed plan.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of IGAD, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu and the Director for Health and Social Development of IGAD Mme. Fathia Alwan, Senior Coordinator for Education, Science, Technology and innovation, Dr Kebede Tsegaye said that IGAD has been working with member states and partners to develop costed plans. Some of them have already adopted their plans and have already started rolling the implementation.
“IGAD has been tasked to support the development and implementation of multi-year costed national education response plans to ensure inclusive education for refugees, IDPs and returnees, and host communities.” He added
Dr. Kebede also express his sincere appreciation to IGAD partners for their continued financial and technical support and lauded the efforts of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan for playing its respective roles in facilitating the implementation of the IGAD initiatives.
IGAD has been working with closely relevant partners and stakeholders, including the Government of Germany through GIZ, UNHCR, UNESCO, UNICEF, ECW and the European Union to implement the various actions outlined in the Djibouti Declaration.
On her opening remarks, Honor Rosa Adau Deng kuol parliament committee for General education and instruction, republic of south Sudan, recommend that IGAD member states to stand with south Sudan on the reformed of general education system , to support education in the refugee camps and internal displaced people.
“I am really thanks IGAD/UNHCR and others partners to continue supporting south Sudan, as well support peace agreement which is also really problem in south Sudan.” She said.
Representatives from South Sudan Ministry of general education, as host country and partner UNHCR gave their opening remarks.
During the opening ceremony, Mr. David Lowela Lodu Modi, Director General of education and instruction for Republic of South Sudan disclosed that South Sudan Ministry of general education has taken up the costed education response plan of action for the implementation of the Djibouti Declaration in South Sudan by mobilisation of resource for refugees, returnees and host communities.
On his opening remarks, Mr Arafat Jamal, UNHCR Representative to South Sudan explained that the Republic of South Sudan is a generous host for refugees. As of June 2022, the population of conflict affected population in South Sudan stance at; Refugee 337,120 and SRR 579698. More than half of the population are children of the primary and secondary schools going age.
Furthermore, Mr Arafat, emphasised that for UNHCR, this year IGAD national Consultation on the Costed Education Response Plan of Action, is timely and fitting to UNHCR’s own initiative of Pockets of Hope which is a solutions-oriented, multi-sectorial, area-based initiative that works alongside returnees, host communities, and government authorities to enhance living conditions in high-return areas.
“I am heartened by the positive steps taken by the government of South Sudan which has supported the inclusion of education as key component of its national durable solution strategy and has also enthusiastically embarked on the development and revision of national costed action plan for the implementation of the Djibouti Declaration.” Mr. Arafat stated.
At the end of this meeting, the implementation status of the action plan, asses achievements, identify opportunities to accelerate progress and address gaps reviewed. The national consultation meeting in South Sudan brought together partners from UNHCR, experts from IGAD and participants from South Sudan relevant government offices, including Ministry of Education, higher education and training institutions.
IGAD has been working with closely relevant partners and stakeholders, including the Government of Germany through GIZ, UNHCR, UNESCO, UNICEF, ECW and the European Union to implement the various actions outlined in the Djibouti Declaration.
Budget for the various activities funded from the IGAD – GIZ/SIMPI Financing Agreement.
IGAD has been supporting member states to develop and implement costed plans for national education response plans towards the implementation of the Djibouti Declaration. The Djibouti Declaration amplifies the need to accelerate inclusion of refugees into national education systems and ensuring that no one is left behind with regard to access to education, skills development and building competencies.
The Djibouti Declaration Action Plan derives from the Declaration of the Regional Ministerial Conference on Refugee Education in IGAD Member States held in Djibouti from 12th to 14th December 2017; and previous commitments made by the IGAD Member States that are signatories to the 2016 New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants, especially the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework, as well as the specific commitments made by countries in the region, including the Nairobi Declaration on Durable Solutions for Somali Refugees and Reintegration of Returnees in Somalia and its accompanying Plan of Action, as well as the implementation of SDG 4.
