The global education community is gathering in New York this week and next for the Transforming Education Summit. Many side events, meetings and celebrations will take place during and on the margins of the main program.
Here, we highlight the events where GPE is taking a leading or active role. All times below are in US Eastern Time (New York).
You can watch the summit live on UN Web TV, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram during the summit for the latest updates and conversations.
Friday, September 16
CLIMATE ACTION FOR INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
- Organizers: GPE, UNESCO
- Time: 12:00 –13:00
- Location: UNHQ - Room CR-12
Nearly 40 million children a year have their education interrupted by disasters and disease outbreaks following extreme weather events. Without immediate action to address the impacts of climate change, the global learning crisis is likely to intensify, especially for the most vulnerable children.
Led by GPE Chief Technical Officer, this session will spotlight the experiences of young activists from around the world and hear solutions to build resilient education systems.
Saturday, September 17
FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS - EXPANDING THE FISCAL SPACE FOR EDUCATION TO FINANCE LEARNING RECOVERY
- Organizers: Education Above All, Qatar, Sierra Leone, World Bank, GPE
- Time: 11:45–12:45
- Location: UNHQ - Room CR-11
GPE Acting CEO Charles will attend this session, which supports the summit’s Action Track Five - Financing of Education. Funding education requires going beyond existing commitments to find universal, sustainable and systemic solutions. In particular, the issue of debt servicing will be addressed, as it represents a considerable obstacle to development in general, and to funding education in particular.
EDUCATION AND LEARNING IN TIMES OF EMERGENCIES AND PROTRACTED CRISES
- Organizers: UNESCO, UNICEF, UNHCR, ECW, GPE
- Time: 13:00–14:30
- Location: UNHQ - Room CR-4
The world is witnessing an alarming increase in the number of people affected by armed conflict, forced displacement, and other crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, education received only 22% of the funds requested, far less than other sectors. This session will present the Commitment to Action: Education in Crisis to transform how education services are provided during and after emergencies.
GENDER TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION: FROM RHETORIC TO ACTION
- Organizers: El Salvador, Niger, Plan International, UNGEI, Transform Education, GPE
- Time: 13:00–14:30
- Location: UNHQ – ECOSOC Chamber
- View speakers
This session will focus on practical and impactful examples of gender transformative education and demonstrate how the power of education, from pedagogy to policy, can address and undo harmful gender norms and stereotypes and promote gender equality in schools, communities and societies. A multi stakeholder panel will share various facets of gender transformative education in practice and make a case for the kind of investments necessary to leverage the gender transformative power of education.
TOWARD A NEW GLOBAL COMPACT FOR FINANCING EDUCATION (ACTION TRACK 5)
- Organizers: Belgium, Fiji, Global Campaign for Education, GPE, World Bank, UNESCO
- Time: 14:45-16:15
- Location: UNHQ – Room CR-4
This session will identify and discuss flagship interventions or policy options to enhance available financing for education globally under the perspective of the universal right to quality education in a lifelong learning perspective. Speakers will also highlight synergies for ways to allocate funds more equitably and efficiently.
Monday, September 19
EDUCATION IN SITUATIONS OF CRISIS (Main program – Spotlight session)
- Organizers: UNESCO, UNICEF, UNHCR, ECW, GPE
- Time: 11:45–13:15
- Location: UNHQ
Despite increased levels of educational needs, education appeals receive less than 2.5% of humanitarian funding; aid to education is stagnating and declining globally. At this session, the Commitment to Action: Education in Crisis will be launched. GPE Board Chair, President Jakaya Kikwete, will participate.
FROM POLICY TO ACTION ON GENDER TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION (Spotlight session)
- Organizers: Plan International, Girl Up, UN Foundation, GPE
- Time: 13:28–13:58
- Location: Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice
This session will amplify the voices of youth activists from around the world on the importance of gender transformative education and their experiences in their different regions and contexts.
TRANSFORMING THE FINANCING OF EDUCATION (Main program - Spotlight session)
- Time: 16:45–18:15
- Location: UNHQ - Room CR-4
The UN Secretary-General is issuing an urgent call to action to finance education, urging all countries and partners to invest more, more equitably and more efficiently. This session will allow world leaders to demonstrate their commitments to financing education, and generate a new momentum for action following the summit. The GPE Board Chair, President Jakaya Kikwete, will speak during the session.
