First of all I would like to thank you for inviting me to this meeting on the very important issue of education in emergencies. Having visited "schools in a box" in Angola and other places this topic is very close to my heart.

The importance of this cause is, unfortunately, illustrated by the current situation on the ground. Many humanitarian crisis- and relief-operations around the world are unable to prioritise education sufficiently. Operations are under-funded and available means barely suffices in order to keep people alive. Then education suffers. People have to survive first and foremost.

However, in my view - when planning for humanitarian operations we cannot afford to neglect education. The costs of neglecting education in terms of lost opportunities for capacity building and post-crisis reconstruction are high. Education must always be part of the equation. This is not only a question of scale in terms of operations, but of time – and timing, - and sustainability.

Education is part and parcel of the transformation from crisis to reconstruction and sustainable progress. John F. Kennedy eloquently drew attention to the inseparability of education from societal progress when he stated that:

" Liberty without learning is always in peril, and learning without liberty is always in vain."

As you all probably know, education is very high on the agenda in Norwegian development assistance. Why? Not only because education is a basic human right for every individual. Education is also part of building a country – of a country’s infrastructure. Education is a precondition for development.

This is reflected in our Action Plan for Combating Poverty, where the goal is to increase the education share of our development budget from just under 9 per cent to 15 per cent over a three-year period. This will constitute a substantial amount since my government’s aim is that our development assistance reaches 1 per cent of our GNI by 2005.

The attention and priority given to education in general is also reflected in our funding of crisis- and relief-activities. Supporting education is one of the guiding principles of our humanitarian assistance, notably education in emergencies and conflict situations.

Afghanistan is the most recent example: 15.4 million Norwegian kroner – that is approximately USD 2 million - has been allocated this year to UNICEF, Norwegian Save the Children and Olympic Aid in support of emergency education in Afghanistan. From the transitional aid budget (GAP), 12 million Norwegian kroner has been allocated to Norwegian Church Aid for the rehabilitation of schools and quick impact educational activities. A further 20 million has been allocated to Afghanistan over the development budget. A substantial part of this is support for educational activities.

Norway also initiated the process that led to the establishment of a special rapporteur on the right to education under the Commission of Human Rights in Geneva. In addition to funding Junior Professional Officers (JPOs) working for UNHCR on the issue of children and education, we are also currently funding a JPO who is about to start work at the International Institute for Educational Planning at UNESCO.

I have cited these examples to illustrate the importance we attach to education in all contexts. As I said - It is a matter of principle for us that education represents a substantial component in the humanitarian activities supported by Norway.

A considerable share of our support is channelled through several of the agencies present here today, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the tireless work you are doing to make education available for children and adults under extremely difficult circumstances.

We are in the process of developing a specific educational strategy for Norwegian development assistance. Our assistance is based on a rights perspective: everyone has the right to education. In spite of this right there are more than a hundred million children around the world without education and more than 880 million adults are illiterate. This is a gross violation of human rights. It is also a grave obstacle to the eradication of poverty - our number one priority.

Education is not just a right. It is a basis on which individuals build their lives, their future, and their families. It is the basis on which one builds a country. For many children the school represents the only continuity in a life disrupted by war, conflict and traumatic experiences. The psychological importance of education must be kept in mind. Moreover - schooling has an important protection aspect. In conflict situations and refugee contexts, it is less difficult to recruit children to armies when they are not enrolled in basic schooling. And for those who have just been demobilised, education is a must if they are to get back on track and have a chance of leading a meaningful life.

Education will also prepare refugees better for the often difficult task of rebuilding the country they are returning to.

Norway has recognised, as you have, that education must not be interrupted or halted because of war and conflict. It can, and should, be carried out in all circumstances: during crises, in camps, in emergencies. Education is just as important in emergency situations as in stable conditions - perhaps even more important. Education is - in fact - the only kind of infrastructure that never will be destroyed by war – infrastucture in people’s heads, - in their minds.

Based on the present situation on the ground, - a situation far from satisfactory: what can we do to ensure that adequate priority is given to education in emergencies?

1) This is first of all a question of understanding:

The international community, especially donors, needs to understand that after the survival stage is reached, people need to feed their brains. They need to fill their days. They need the foundation to build their future.

The leading international humanitarian agencies and NGOs must communicate their priorities clearly to donors. Norway agrees that education should be the fourth pillar of humanitarian assistance: after food/water, health and shelter, priority should be given to emergency education. Heads of agencies must be clear on this. And if they are not, it is your job, as education specialists, to make sure they understand the indisputable importance of education in all circumstances, particularly in emergencies.

Of course, major donors must also insist on this issue. Although we do not like to earmark our assistance in order to get education prioritised, we will ensure that funds allocated to emergency situations also support emergency education.

2) Secondly, there is the visual factor:

Donors need to see that education is important, we need to see that education works. We need videos and news articles about education in emergencies. On CNN, the BBC and other channels we always see how food and water are being distributed and that shelters are being built for people in need. But we rarely see footage from educational activities.

I think you have to insist more strongly. I think you have to make your actions and the results of your actions more visible. Develop your web-site and promote it!

Use the relevant venues to insist on this, such as the governing boards of the major humanitarian and development agencies.

3) And lastly - continue to further promote the important collaboration represented by the Inter-Agency network. Avoid gaps and duplications. Do not fight over scarce resources. Turfs hardly attract donors.

To indicate how important we consider this initiative, I am happy to announce that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to grant 298 000 Norwegian kroner to the Norwegian Refugee Council. The grant is allocated towards the development and production of an INEE brochure, the development and running costs of your Website and costs related to the NRC Chairmanship of the INEE Steering Group.

We hope this will be a small contribution to this cause -, to creating the understanding, facilitating visibility and stimulating the collaboration you need to make educationinemergenciesimperative – to everyone.

Thank you!