The new multi-stakeholders initiative developed by the Global Platform for Syrian Students of setting up a Rapid Response Mechanism for Higher Education in Emergencies (RRM) featured at the Paris Peace Forum 2019 between 11 and 13 Novemver has been announced as one of the ten projects selected to join the new cohort of scale-up projects. Our project was chosen from over 700 initial submissions and 114 projects presented at the Forum. 

President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, HE Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, visiting the stand of the Rapid Response Mechanism for Higher Education in Emergencies project | GP4SYS

The Rapid Response Mechanism for Higher Education in Emergencies (RRM) aims at boosting higher education opportunities for refugees, students in forced displacement, from conflict-affected societies and humanitarian crises. As today, only 1 to 3 per cent of refugees have access to higher education compared to 36 percent globally, the RRM aims at contributing to bridging this gap that undermines the prospect of recovery war-torn countries and erodes young´s people aspirations and hope for the future. The RRM aims at doing more, better and faster to deliver quality higher education opportunities in crises situations and no leave no one behind. Know more about the RRM here (video presentation).

It builds upon commitments made withing the SDGs Agenda, the 2016 New York Declaration and the Global Compacts for Refugees and Migration. The RRM developed by the Global Platform for Syrian Students with the support of its partners and fully endoresed by Portugal, is honoured to be selected as one of the ten selected projects seeking to develop systemic and sustainable solutions for today´s global challenges, showcased as part of the Paris Peace Forum 2019. 

 GP4SYS Team participating in the Paris Peace Forum during the anouncement of the RRM as one of the winner projects. 

Announcing the ten short-listed projects at the closing ceremony of the Paris Peace Forum 2019, Trisha Shetty said: "We will provide mentorship to these 10 new projects. We will follow up with them; we will ask them how we can be of service, what is the best marriage we can have between our team and the project members. 

Having been selected as one of these ten projects is highly motivating for our team and for our partners and supporters. We want to seize this opportunity to renew the expression of our gratitude to all of them for trusting us and our students. 

Back home, President Sampaio, our Chairman, said: "Let´s take this unique opportunity for expanding the RRM and providing it with more sustainable foundations. Let´s make 2020 the year in which we will turn the tide". 

Participants of the second edition of the Paris Peace Forum held from 11th to 13th November 2019, attending a panel.

the 2nd edition of the Paris Peace Forum broung together 7.000 participants from various walks of life representing 140 countries, 33 heads of State and Government and 12 international organisaitons. Over three days, 114 projects were presented, debates, pitches, panels and brain-dates took place as well as a big number of conversations, interactions and collaborative actions. We were encouraged to open up new avenues for cooperation and explore further new ideas and partnerships by inspiring speeches, models of collaboration and renewed commitments to make the world a better place.