GOAL OF THE MONTH – GOAL 4 – Quality Education
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Where We Are
SDG 4 – Quality Education – aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote lifelong opportunities for all.
Although some progress towards SDG4 has been made, the pace of change is slow and uneven, with significant disparities across geographies, gender and age. Adult women, for instance, still account for almost two-thirds of all adults unable to read, and 250 million children remain out of school. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global learning crisis: the disruption and school closures have caused learning losses in 4 in 5 countries, with 147 million children having missed over half of in-person instruction in 2020-2021. However, Sub-Saharan Africa has seen the out-of-school population at primary and secondary levels drop from 44% to 29% in 2020, and youth literacy rate increase from 66% to 77.5%.
If no additional measures are taken, only one in six countries will achieve universal access to quality education by 2030; and even if countries deliver on the target progress stated in their SDG4 benchmarks, 84 million children are still at risk of being out of school by 2030. Renewed effort is required to address persistent challenges to ensure that no one is left behind. Education systems must be re-imagined, and education financing must become a priority national investment. In Africa alone, an additional $77 billion is needed for countries to reach their educational targets and 17 million new teachers must be recruited.
Education intersects across all the SDGs enabling the cycle of poverty to be broken, inequality reduced, individuals empowered to lead sustainable lives, and tolerance and peace promoted.
Read more about Goal 4: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/education/
16-18 April | ECOSOC Youth Forum
The UN ECOSOC Youth Forum will take place at United Nations headquarters in New York from 16 to 18 April 2024. The Forum provides a platform for dialogue among Member States and young leaders from around the world on solutions to challenges affecting youth wellbeing. It also serves as a unique space for young people to share their vision and actions, as well as provide an opportunity to advance youth solutions to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Under the theme, “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions,” it will be guided by the SDGs under review at the 2024 High-Level Political Forum (8-17 July): no poverty (SDG 1), zero hunger (SDG 2), climate action (SDG 13), peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16), as well as partnerships and financing for the goals (SDG 17).
The Youth Forum will also gather young people to share their recommendations and innovative ideas in preparation for the Summit of the Future being held in September 2024, where a Pact for the Future is set to be adopted with specific youth provisions, as well as a Declaration on Future Generations that will be annexed to the Pact.
You can read the Policy Brief on Youth Engagement ahead of the Summit of the Future here.
Or follow the ECOSOC Youth Forum for updates on the agenda, side events and outcomes here.
“Our world has entered a period of dramatic challenge and change. The education system of yesterday won’t cut it. Now, more than ever, we need to move towards learning societies. People everywhere need high-quality skills, knowledge and education. Above all, they need the best teachers possible.” – António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, 26 February 2024
SDG 4 IN NUMBERS
- If no measures are taken to accelerate the recovery from COVID-19, the generation of children impacted by the pandemic could lose a combined total of $17 trillion in lifetime earnings (at current value).
- The percentage of students attaining basic reading skills by the end of primary school is projected to rise from 51 per cent in 2015 to 67 per cent by 2030. However, an estimated 300 million children and young people will still lack basic numeracy and literacy skills by 2030.
- About 40 per cent of countries have not achieved gender parity in primary education.
- Serious teacher shortages persist in all regions of the world: globally, 44 million additional primary and secondary teachers are needed to achieve the SDG4 targets by 2030.
ACTNOW for our Common Future
Recent global crises have highlighted the urgent need to work together across borders. Amidst these challenges, people all over the world are stepping up for a better, more peaceful, and sustainable future. The Summit of the Future is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to safeguard our future for present and future generations. Although the outcome of the Summit may ultimately rest with world leaders, we all have a role to play.
On the road to the Summit, we are asking everyone to #ActNow, Speak Up, and join the 1 Million Actions for Our Common Future challenge to show decision makers that people worldwide are taking a stand for a more sustainable future for all. Learn more on how you can participate and engage your networks in ActNow, and look out for the new challenge launching during the ECOSOC Youth Forum in April here.
Multimedia | Podcast
In this episode of the Awake at Night podcast, listen to UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming discuss with United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown how barriers to education prevent us from unleashing hidden talent. Read more
Multimedia | Documentary
Watch “Her Education, Our Future”, a UNESCO documentary following the lives of four young women who struggle to fulfill their right to education across three continents. Find out more
Highlights
9 April | Launch of the Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2024
Financing challenges are at the heart of the current sustainable development crisis. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing geopolitical tensions and intensifying climate shocks, financing gaps are widening in the trillions, threatening the achievement of the SDGs.
“Towards FFD4: Financing at a Crossroads” – offers concrete recommendations to scale up investments in the SDGs and recover lost ground. The Report is produced by UN DESA in close cooperation with the World Bank Group, IMF, WTO, UNCTAD and UNDP. It includes the input of the over 60 United Nations Agencies and other international institutions that form the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development. The full report will be available on: https://developmentfinance.un.org/
15-19 April | UN General Assembly Sustainability Week
With the UN Summit of the Future in September 2024 on the horizon, sustainability is more than ever key for critical sectors of the economy to meaningfully contribute to a prosperous future for present and future generations. The first-ever UN General Assembly Sustainability Week – taking place from 15 to 19 April at the United Nations Headquarters in New York – will address the key themes of: debt sustainability and socio-economic equality for all, sustainable transportation, infrastructure, tourism, and energy as critical avenues to attaining a sustainable future and deliver the 2030 Agenda. A Global stocktaking marking the completion of the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All to further accelerate the implementation of SDG 7 will also take place during the week.
Further details on the UNGA Sustainability Week and registration information can be found here: https://www.un.org/pga/78/sustainabilityweek/
SDG Media Zone Special: Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future
In this one-on-one conversation, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming and President of the General Assembly Dennis Francis will highlight the key issues that underpin the UN General Assembly Sustainability Week.
The session will be available on April 8 on WebTV.
In Focus
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22-25 April | Financing for Development Forum (New York and online)
The ECOSOC Financing for Development Forum will be held this month at UN Headquarters in New York. The Forum will bring together governments, international organizations officials, civil society, the business sector and local authorities to review the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, other financing for development outcomes and the means of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. This Forum comes ahead of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in 2025. Read more about the programme, side events and expected outcomes here. The forum will be livestreamed on UN Web TV here.
23-25 April | SDG Investment Fair
On the margins of the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development, the SDG Investment Fair will take place in and around the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 23-25 April 2024. The event will bring together participants from governments and the private sector to explore investment opportunities and discuss critical policies and regulations that support closing the SDG investment gap. Pre-Register Here
29 April- 3 May | Commission on Population and Development (New York)
The 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development will assess the status of implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and its contribution to the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Learn about the role of the Commission here and follow the discussions on UN Web TV.
Campaign | #DanceForEducation
As the African Union celebrates 2024 as Year of Education, UNESCO has teamed up with the internationally acclaimed Ivorian band, Magic System, to launch a new version of the band’s hit song ‘Magic in the Air’. Entitled ‘Education in the Air’, the song has been rewritten to promote education as the key to unlock Africa’s potential.
Education advocates around the globe dance to the to the beat of the new revisited song on Instagram and TikTok. Watch the campaign video here and submit your own, tagging @UNESCO and using #DanceForEducation.
The best videos will be featured on 25 May.
Upcoming International Days
6 April | International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
This year’s International Day of Sport for Development and Peace takes place in the special context and excitement of the upcoming Olympic Games! The global theme for 2024 is “Sport for the Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive Societies”, recognizing the positive role sport and physical activity play in communities and in people’s lives across the globe. Join athletes, sporting organizations and prominent women in sport for a special event running from 11am to 1pm EST. Find the whole programme and registration here.
7 April | World Health Day
This year’s theme, “My health, my right”, aims to shed light on the fact that despite at least 140 countries recognizing health as a human right in their constitutions, they fail to deliver that protection in practice. In 2021, 4.5 billion people – over half of the global population – are not fully covered by essential health services.
On 8 April, join WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, as well as human rights defenders, policy makers, health workers and other stakeholders for a high-level dialogue exploring how to protect the right to health. Register to attend in person or online here.
25 April | World Malaria Day
Join WHO in observing the 2024 World Malaria Day. With the latest WHO malaria report noting 249 million cases and 608 000 malaria deaths in 2022, the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control persists. Read the WHO factsheet on malaria here.
28 April | World Day for Safety and Health at Work
This year, the International Labour Organization’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work will explore the impacts of climate change on occupational health and safety. Among other hazards, the changing climate and weather patterns can cause heat stress, increased air pollution, industrial accidents or exposure to chemicals. Read more about this year’s theme and access the upcoming ILO report here.
Summit of the Future
The Summit of the Future, to be held in New York 22-23 September 2024, is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen the multilateral system to address existing and emerging challenges, improve global governance and accelerate the implementation of existing commitments, including the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The Summit will have as its outcome an inter-governmentally agreed Pact for the Future. Stay tuned for more: https://www.un.org/en/summit-of-the-future
Awake at Night Podcast
Season 8 of the UN’s award-winning podcast is now streaming! Hosted by UN Communications Chief, Melissa Fleming, Awake at Night gives exclusive insights into the inspiring lives of the extraordinary people that make up the United Nations.
Discover all the episodes here: https://pod.link/1429922419