EAA appointed to the UNESCO 2030 Education Steering Committee
Education Above All (EAA) Foundation has been invited to be a member and join the influential UNESCO 2030 Education Steering Committee to represent the efforts of foundations around the world in working to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on education. They have also been invited by the President on the UN General Assembly to participate in the High-Level Meeting on Education.
EAA will join representatives from member states, civil society and convening agencies, including UNICEF, UNHCR, UNDP, and UNFPA among others. The UNESCO committee will make recommendations on how to achieve quality education for all.
The meetings are being held ahead of the G20 Summit where world leaders are being urged to re-affirm their commitment to the SDGs.
To date, EAA, has provided opportunities in education by enrolling 7.1 million of the most marginalised out of school children to enable them to access quality education. EAA is the only global foundation solely focused on supporting those out of school and is targeted to reach 10 million. The Foundation focuses on partnering with UN Agencies and local and global organisations that break down the barriers children face in accessing quality education such as poverty, conflict and gender discrimination.
Educate A Child, a programme of the EAA, Executive Director Dr Mary Joy Pigozzi, said:
“We are proud to be part of the General Assembly High-Level talks and take up a position on the SDG Education 2030 Steering Committee to represent the voice of philanthropic efforts worldwide.
“At a time when the impact of development is under increasing scrutiny, our local implementation model, which works with local and international partners, driven by a global vision, is proven to work. We are providing opportunities in education by enrolling 7.1 million of the most marginalised out of school children around the world, ensuring they receive a quality education. We look forward to sharing our methods and demonstrating the obvious: education is a driver of human development.
“Ahead of the G20 meeting, we urge global leaders to reaffirm their commitment to ensuring all children have access to quality education, especially as education is the driver of several SDGs. This can only be achieved through appropriate funding, protection of education as a human right, and collaboration.”
The invitation to join the High-Level Meeting on Education was issued by the UN General Assembly President in light of EAA recently being recommended for Special Consultative Status in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This is awarded by the United Nations Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations as an acknowledgement of an organisations outstanding role in promoting education.
The UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting takes place on June 28, 2017 and the UNESCO‘s SDG Education 2030 Steering Committee meeting on June 28-30, 2017.
