UNICEF and Japan partner to reopen schools for 80,000 conflict-affected children in Sudan

Port Sudan, 17 November 2025 – UNICEF, in partnership with the Government and people of Japan, announced the launch of an education initiative to support reopening schools and restoring learning for over 83,600 conflict-affected children across five states in Sudan.

The Project for the Reopening of Primary Schools in Conflict-affected Areas, funded with US$ 5 million from Japan, will help to rehabilitate 220 schools, provide essential learning materials, train 1,760 teachers, and establish adolescent-led clubs to promote life skills and psychosocial support. The initiative also includes a pilot programme to enhance foundational numeracy using localized materials developed by Japan International Cooperation Agency.

This critical intervention comes at a time when Sudan is facing an unprecedented education crisis. Over eight million children are out of school due to conflict, displacement, and the collapse of basic services. Schools have been damaged, looted, or repurposed for emergency shelter, leaving children without safe spaces to learn and grow. Girls and children with disabilities are disproportionately affected, risking a lost generation unless urgent action is taken.

“This initiative is more than just rebuilding classrooms. It is about restoring hope, dignity, and opportunity for children who have lost so much. The support from the Government and people of Japan is helping us turn despair into possibility,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative for Sudan.

This initiative builds on Japan’s continued engagement in supporting education in Sudan. It also reflects shared priorities under Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) 8 and TICAD 9, which emphasize human security, peacebuilding, and inclusive development.

“Depriving children of educational opportunities robs them of their future, and by extension, the future of Sudan. We hope that this project, implemented by UNICEF with Japan’s cooperation, will help to mitigate, and even avert, such a tragedy,” said Mizuuchi Kentaro, Charge d’affaires, Embassy of Japan in Sudan.

This project marks a vital step in bridging humanitarian and development efforts under Sudan’s Transitional Education Plan (2025–2027). UNICEF Sudan extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for their unwavering support in helping Sudanese children reclaim their right to learn.