During Global Citizen Live event, EU pledges € 140 million for research in sustainable food and € 25 million for Education Can’t Wait
The President of European Commission – Ursula von der Leyen, today, i.e., Sunday, September 26, 2021, announced € 140 million to support research in sustainable food systems and € 25 million for Education Can’t Wait, a global fund for the education of children in emergencies.
The announcement was made during the Global Citizen Live event. Global Citizen is a movement of engaged citizens who are using their collective voice to end extreme poverty by 2030.
She also said that Europe needs to step up, to help end this Coronavirus (COVID-19) globally, end hunger and give children all over the world equal chances.
Taking it to twitter, Ursula tweeted,
We must join forces to end the pandemic, combat hunger, give children around the world equal chances in life and stop global warming.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 25, 2021
Europe is ready.
Global citizens, make your voice heard!
#GlobalCitizenLive pic.twitter.com/03ZoOivKzB
Announcing € 140 million to support research in sustainable food systems, she tweeted,
To build back a better world, we must fight hunger relentlessly.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 25, 2021
I'm very pleased to announce a new EU contribution of €140 million to @CGIAR for food security around the world.#GlobalCitizenLive pic.twitter.com/CnZm6x1ln2
This research would be supported via CGIAR, formerly also known as Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research. Founded in 1971, CGIAR is a network of 15 research centres around the world with about 8,000 scientists conducting research into food systems in Africa, Asia, Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean.
She said that the global climate crises, depletion of natural resources and biodiversity loss are existential threats to humankind and the defining global challenges of the century. They are leading threats to providing sustainable food and nutrition security for all. Together, they propel poor health, inequalities, social upheaval, and conflicts. If managed and governed differently, food systems can be part of the solutions and a champion of change, leading other sectors with solutions and inspiration.
A radical realignment of food systems around the world could accomplish an end to hunger and malnutrition in all its forms, thereby leading to gender equality, job creation, prosperous livelihoods, opportunities for youth, climate solutions, and environmental health.
She further tweeted,
Children should have the same chances in life, wherever they are born.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 25, 2021
Today I am pleased to announce that Europe will donate €25 million to @EduCannotWait
An investment in education is an investment in a better world! pic.twitter.com/Z5LFCNvgcO
ECW is a global fund for the education of children in emergencies and protracted crises that enables Governments, multilateral institutions and the private sector to finance comprehensive education programmes for crisis-affected children and youth. It was designed to be agile and to reach the most vulnerable, excluded and hard-to-reach, including girls, children with disabilities, minorities and other marginalized children.
Established in 2016, the fund has helped over 4.6 million vulnerable girls and boys living in fragile situations and crisis contexts to access inclusive, quality education in a safe and protective environment. The fund’s COVID-19 education in emergency response has provided distance learning, life-saving health messages and other support to an additional 29.2 million vulnerable girls and boys.
The infusion of € 25 million to Education Can’t Wait (ECW) brings E.U.’s total contribution to ECW to € 52.5 million, accelerating its impact, scope and reach across the globe. The aim is to support the right of even the most vulnerable children to a safe, quality education and leave no one behind.
