The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. The IRC works with government partners and communities to deliver programs to support safety, health, economic wellbeing, education, and power outcomes to achieve meaningful change in people’s lives.
Implementing education programming in more than 20 countries, the IRC works at the intersection of humanitarian and development settings to ensure that children, youth, and adults in crisis contexts have access to consistent, safe, and quality learning opportunities. This includes both government and community-based, non-formal or alternative education opportunities that provide sufficient spaces for all out-of-school children, including those in remote or difficult to reach areas.
The IRC works across the age spectrum – from early childhood to primary school-age, to youth – to achieve three key objectives:
1. Reducing inequalities by expanding responsive solutions so ‘last mile’ children can access quality education.
2. Improving education quality so all children affected by crisis can learn.
3. Strengthening education systems to prepare for and respond to crises.
In 2023, the IRC and its partners successfully facilitated access to schooling and educational opportunities for more than 1.5 million children and youth; provided professional development to more than 20,000 teachers; and supported more than 10,000 schools/learning centers offer safe and inclusive environments for learning.
The IRC is committed to implementing programming that is based on the best available evidence, adapted to context, responsive to client needs and preferences, and set up for continuous learning and improvements – by measuring what we do, generating evidence, acting on what we learn, and influencing others to do the same. The IRC conducts sector-leading research through its in-house research and innovation center, Airbel Impact Lab, and translates research into action and use.
The IRC also leverages its technical and programmatic expertise informed by research and practice to strengthen the political and financing environment for education, mobilize commitment to education, and shape global policy and practice.
Visit the IRC’s website to learn more: