A major new initiative, valued at $17 million, has been launched in South Sudan to build climate resilience within the education sector, promising to directly support over 200,000 children—half of whom are girls—as the nation grapples with intensifying floods, droughts, and heatwaves.
The project, called Building the Climate Resilience of Children and Communities through the Education Sector (BRACE), is a pilot program led by Save the Children with crucial funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
It aims to reform education policies, rebuild vital school infrastructure, and train young people to safeguard learning despite recurrent climate disasters.
South Sudan is recognized as one of the most vulnerable countries globally to climate change. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe, routinely destroying school buildings, displacing thousands of children, and disrupting access to education.
Currently, over 1 million people across six states are affected by flooding, with nearly 355,000 displaced, particularly in Jonglei and Unity states. Additionally, back-to-back heatwaves have forced widespread school closures for weeks at a time over the past two years.
“Recurrent floods, droughts, and extreme heat are leaving communities with little time to recover between crises, displacing families, and crippling vital services, including education,” said Chris Nyamandi, Save the Children Country Director in South Sudan. “The climate crisis is threatening every child’s right to a quality, safe education. Through this project, we are helping children learn, adapt, and lead in a changing climate.”
The BRACE program will help thousands of children stay in school by adapting educational infrastructure to a changing climate. Key improvements include: Better ventilation to combat extreme heat, installing solar panels for power and implementing water harvesting and robust water and sanitation systems.
The launch was met with strong commitments from national leaders.
H.E. Josephine Lagu, Vice President for Service Cluster, emphasized the project’s significance. “We are not only launching the BRACE project, it is a promise to the children of South Sudan. As our schools get affected, as our people, communities are displaced, our young girls suffer the most. Let us be reminded that they need our protection from the government and parents.”
For his part, Hon. Dr. Kuyok Abol Kuyok, National Minister of General Education and Instruction, thanked the partners.
“Your co-funding is more than financial support; it is an investment in stability, opportunity, and in breaking the cycle of climate-induced vulnerability. The Ministry reaffirms its commitment to ensure that every child, no matter the climate challenges they face, enjoys access to quality education.”
The importance of empowering youth was highlighted by Hon. Agot Alier, Deputy Speaker of the Child Council, who said, “If resilience is about bouncing back, then let’s make sure every child has a reason to rise. Let this BRACE project not just build assets in our land, but also make confidence in our hearts.”
Meanwhile, a representative from the Green Climate Fund/GPE underscored that while international financing is crucial, the ultimate success of BRACE depends on national leadership and domestic investment.
UNESCO will also support the program, continuing its work on policy, planning, and curricula reform to prepare learners for climate challenges.
The BRACE project aims to ensure that education systems not only survive climate shocks, but emerge stronger, protecting the right of every child to learn, grow, and thrive in an increasingly changing world.
