UNICEF and Save the Children have developed El Niño Practical Guidance for the Education Sector to help education systems prepare for and respond to the potential impacts of El Niño-related hazards, including floods, droughts and extreme weather.
The guidance provides practical recommendations for integrating climate risks into education planning, identifying vulnerable schools and learners, strengthening emergency preparedness and maintaining learning continuity before, during and after climate-related disruptions.
It highlights the importance of anticipatory action, enabling education authorities and partners to use forecasts and early-warning information to prepare for risks before they escalate into emergencies.
Key Areas of Focus
- Risk-informed education planning: Integrating climate hazards and disaster risks into education policies and sector plans.
- School preparedness: Identifying at-risk schools and learners and strengthening contingency planning.
- Learning continuity: Developing arrangements to minimise disruptions to teaching and learning during emergencies.
- Anticipatory action: Establishing forecast triggers, coordination mechanisms and financing to support early interventions.
- Emergency response and recovery: Strengthening the education sector's capacity to respond to climate-related hazards and restore learning.
- Equity and inclusion: Recognising the heightened risks faced by vulnerable children and ensuring preparedness measures address their needs.
Relevance to Inclusive Education
Climate-related emergencies can disproportionately affect children with disabilities and learners from marginalised communities by disrupting access to schools, learning materials and essential support services.
This guidance can help education policymakers, school leaders and implementing organisations strengthen inclusive disaster preparedness, protect vulnerable learners and develop more resilient education systems that safeguard the right to education during emergencies.
Who Should Use This Resource?
The publication is relevant to education policymakers, ministry officials, school administrators, teachers, disaster risk management practitioners, humanitarian organisations, development partners and organisations working in inclusive education and climate resilience.
Access the Resource: Download the guidance from UNICEF