By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
FINN CHURCH AID (FCA) has launched the Building Resilience, Inspiration, and Growth Holistically for Teachers (BRIGHT) project, specifically designed for teachers in crisis contexts, in Uganda and Ethiopia.
Finn Church Aid, (FCA’s) new EU-funded project will address the critical shortage of qualified teachers by enhancing professional development and education systems, ensuring schools have skilled and motivated educators to provide high-quality education in crisis contexts.
According to a statement issued by FCA today, Monday, 17th March, 2025, this initiative aims to strengthen education systems by enhancing the recruitment, onboarding, and retention of teachers. It also focuses on improving their career development and overall well-being.
Additionally, the project seeks to increase the recognition and integration of refugee and internally displaced person (IDP) teachers within formal education systems in both countries.
Teachers play crucial role in refugee settings.
Mr. Wycliffe Nsheka, Country Director of FCA in Uganda and Ethiopia, stated, “Teachers play a crucial role in refugee and IDP settings, serving as pillars of stability and hope for their communities. We are excited to introduce the BRIGHT project, which will support educators in pre-primary, primary, and lower secondary education in crisis-affected areas.”
“Our focus will be on leadership, motivation, teachers’ well-being, and the development of their pedagogical skills, all of which underscore our commitment to ensuring high-quality education for all,” he added.
“Supporting teachers is essential not only for their professional growth but also for fostering an environment where both educators and learners can thrive.”
Africa-wide programme tackling critical shortage of qualified teachers
The BRIGHT project is part of the Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa programme, implemented by Expertise France and funded by Global Gateway and the European Union. In Uganda, FCA will lead the project, while in Ethiopia, FCA will collaborate with a partner, The Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
It will be implemented in the Kyangwali refugee settlement in western Uganda, as well as in the Debre Berhan and North Shoa Zones of the Amhara Region in Ethiopia.
Over the next 24 months, the project aims to reach a total of 121,719 individuals – 96,735 in Uganda (53,249 women and 43,486 men) and 24,984 in Ethiopia (12,501 women and 12,483 men) in pre-primary, primary, and lower secondary education.
The BRIGHT Project aligns with and contributes to key national strategies, including the Uganda Country Refugee Response Plan, the Uganda Education Response Plan II priorities, the Ethiopia Education Cluster Strategy 2024-2025, the Education Sector Development Plan (2021-2025), and the Ethiopia Education Transformation Plan (EETP).
About the Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa (RTIA)
The Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa (RTIA) is a partnership between the European Union, UNESCO, and the African Union Commission, designed to address the critical shortage of qualified teachers in Sub-Saharan Africa.
By supporting teacher governance, professional development, and education reforms, the initiative ensures that schools have enough skilled, motivated, and inclusive teachers to deliver high-quality education for all. With 15 million new qualified teachers needed by 2030, the RTIA tackles persistent challenges such as improving teacher training, working conditions, and professional development.
