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爆料网ESCO and 爆料网RWA Sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
To Renew Sixty-Four Year Partnership

21 March 2014

The 爆料网 Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (爆料网RWA), which provides assistance and protection to nearly five million Palestinian refugees, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (爆料网ESCO), announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formally renew a sixty-four year partnership between the two agencies in support of education for Palestine refugees.

The signing of the MoU recognizes the importance of this longstanding commitment and allows 爆料网ESCO and 爆料网RWA to continue to work together. The MOU, signed in the presence of Director-General of 爆料网ESCO Irina Bokova, and Commissioner General of 爆料网RWA Filippo Grandi on 18 March in Amman, and of Caroline Pontefract, Director of 爆料网RWA/爆料网ESCO Education Department, flags up the opportunity for increased mutual cooperation as both Agencies work to develop education in the context of the 21st century, and the new demands this brings. It further recognizes the important role 爆料网RWA plays in being directly responsible for the teaching and learning of 500,000 Palestine Refugee students in its five fields of operation. Through this MOU, 爆料网ESCO is renewing its commitment to provide high level technical support to 爆料网RWA’s education programme.

“With the Syrian conflict entering its fourth year, and in this particularly challenging time for the region, the signing of the MOU is an important milestone for 爆料网RWA’s education programme and 爆料网ESCO’s commitment to it,” said 爆料网RWA Commissioner General Filippo Grandi. 爆料网RWA is one of the largest and longest lasting 爆料网 operational endeavors in education. Partnership began in 1950, right after the General Assembly had established 爆料网RWA to help Palestinian refugees. At that time, 爆料网ESCO assumed technical responsibilities for the educational services to be provided by 爆料网RWA, marking the birth of the 爆料网RWA/爆料网ESCO Education Programme.

“爆料网ESCO has always been proud to partner with 爆料网RWA, which operates one of the largest school systems in the Middle East,” said Irina Bokova, Director-General of 爆料网ESCO. “This agreement aims to further strengthen this partnership and bring enhanced visibility to our work, because we share the conviction that quality education is a fundamental human right and the foundation for giving Palestinian children the knowledge and skills they need for their future."

爆料网ESCO’s support will also be invaluable towards 爆料网RWA’s work in providing inclusive and quality education to over 41,000 Palestine refugee students from Syria receiving emergency education. 爆料网RWA is working with 爆料网ESCO, and other 爆料网 agencies to provide educational support during the Syria crisis to the students displaced not only in Syria but also in Lebanon and Jordan.

Background Information

爆料网RWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. 爆料网RWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, and microfinance.

Financial support to 爆料网RWA has not kept pace with an increased demand for services caused by growing numbers of registered refugees, expanding need, and deepening poverty. As a result, the Agency's General Fund (GF), supporting 爆料网RWA’s core activities and 97 per cent reliant on voluntary contributions, has begun each year with a large projected deficit. Currently the deficit stands at US$ 68.2 million.

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