The European Investment Bank (EIB) and UNICEF announced a new partnership aimed at increasing access to quality education and reducing the impact of climate change on children.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by EIB Group President Werner Hoyer and UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, the two institutions committed to jointly investing in quality education and skills training for the most vulnerable children. EIB and UNICEF will also scale-up community-based climate adaptation initiatives in schools and health facilities.
To improve children’s climate resilience and access to health services, quality education and safe water, EIB and UNICEF will promote financial innovation including impact investments aimed at boosting financing for development across private and public actors.
The two institutions will also look to help vulnerable groups gain better access to services around the EIB’s sustainable infrastructure investments, such as those in water, sanitation and hygiene projects.
“Supporting education, providing decent jobs and tackling climate change are of great importance for young people globally. These are also strategic priorities of the EU Bank”, said EIB Group President Werner Hoyer. He continued “Leveraging the well-known expertise and operational capacity of UNICEF, the EU Bank will contribute to improve inclusive and equitable quality education for children and young people worldwide and promote lifelong learning opportunities”.
“Around 10 million young people reach working age every month and must be equipped with the foundational skills they need to succeed,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “By working with the EIB we can help make sure that children and young people have the digital, business and entrepreneurial skills needed to thrive in today’s market.”
Pilot projects will soon be initiated in countries across Europe, Central Asia and Southern and Eastern Africa.
Original source: EIB
Published on 27 January 2019