Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is governed by representatives from Member States, other multilateral funds, UN agencies, private sector organisations, and civil society organisations. These different entities each have their own ‘constituency’, and the civil society constituency now includes a formal way for youth/student-led organisations to have a protected space for participation.

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The civil society constituency is divided into four 'sub-groups':

• International NGOs/northern networks

• National/local/regional NGOs/CSOs/networks

• Teacher organisations

• Youth/student-led organisations

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If your organisation becomes a member of the youth/student-led sub-group, you will be able to:

• participate in ECW governance and accountability, including electing an organisation from within your sub-group to represent you on ECW's High-Level Steering Group (HLSG) and Executive Committee (ExCom)

• receive documentation in advance of ECW’s meetings, and have the opportunity to feedback and make recommendations to your elected representative

• take part in advocacy work to support ECW.

 

No other global multilateral fund includes representative young people in this way - ECW is offering a groundbreaking opportunity. If youth/student-led organisations get involved - particularly organisations run by young people with knowledge and experience of emergencies - it can make a huge difference to the children and young people whose day-to-day reality is life in an emergency setting. It is a huge step forward for organised, representative, youth-led movements to be recognised as the valid voice for young people in global policy and decision-making.

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WHO CAN JOIN THE SUBGROUP?

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• To join ANY of the civil society sub-groups, your organisation must not be a corporate or for-profit entity.

• For the youth/student-led sub-group any youth or student-led organisation is welcome to join, as long as your work involves education OR emergencies, or you are based in an emergency context.

• Individuals cannot be members of the sub-group: membership is only open to organisations, but your organisation can be any size, and it does not have to be legally or formally registered.

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WHO CAN STAND FOR ELECTION TO REPRESENT THE SUBGROUP?

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Please note that the current representatives, the Global Student Forum have just been elected and will be in post until 2025, when the next election will be held.

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No voice is more powerful for the rights of marginalised young people than the voice of marginalised young people themselves. This is a principle to which 100 Million works, and this standard will be used to make sure that there is genuine representation of young people who understand the dire situation of education for children forced to live in emergency contexts.

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If your organisation wants to stand for election, it must work on education in an emergency context(s) – although this does not have to be the ONLY area you work on.

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In practice, the elected organisational representatives (the individuals who will sit on ECW’s governance bodies) must have an understanding of the challenges in the field of education in emergencies to be as effective as possible. This will mean they are in the best position to respond to questions and issues that are raised by members of the sub-group, as well as ensure their credibility in formal meetings of ECW’s High-Level Steering Group and Executive Committee.

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Elected organisations serve a two-year term, renewable once by re-election should they wish. Your organisation cannot stand for election to represent this group unless it is a member of the youth/student-led sub-group - but you can join the sub-group and submit your nomination form at the same time.

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At present, organisations wishing to stand for election must ensure their proposed representatives can work in English, as this is the only working language of ECW. 100 Million will continue to advocate for additional languages and language support, and will source or provide translation where possible.   

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES:

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CONTACT US:

100 Million is committed to supporting genuine youth/student-led participation in ECW's governance. If you have any questions regarding the sub-group or standing for election, please feel free to contact Georgia Potton, Head of Activism: georgia@100million.org  

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