Reimagining Education in Emergencies in a Polycrisis World

21 Oct 2026
Workshop Room 3

Education has become one of the greatest humanitarian challenges of our time. As conflict, displacement and climate shocks continue to disrupt learning for millions of children, the sector faces a difficult question: is restoring access and improving schooling enough, or do we need to rethink what education should look like in a world of permanent crisis?

This panel brings together leaders from global financing, community-led innovation and frontline implementation to explore how education systems can become more resilient, locally owned and fit for the future. Rather than asking how to deliver more of the same with fewer resources, the discussion will examine how communities, governments and international partners can work together to build learning systems that foster agency, adaptability and long-term resilience.

Drawing on perspectives from global policy, grassroots leadership and crisis-affected communities, the panel will aim to challenge conventional assumptions and explore practical ideas for the next generation of Education in Emergencies.