Aligned with the focus of the Brazilian G20 presidency – placing the issue of equity and inclusion at the center - the 2024 Global Education Meeting (GEM) convened by UNESCO aims to foster multilateral, cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder dialogue, recognizing education as a social equalizer and driving force of sustainable development.

GPE is taking an active role in discussions on critical cross-cutting issues to accelerate system transformation in education.

Objectives of 2024 GEM

• Take stock of country progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) and showcase transformative actions that have accelerated progress with emphasis on inclusion and equity.

• Strengthen multilateral, cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder engagement and commitment to advance and transform education in light of the milestone events of the year and to pave the way to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development and the World Social Summit in 2025.

• Agree on a set of strategies to increase investments in education and scale innovative financing instruments for the education sector, to improve access to more and better financing aligned to country needs, aiming at fighting inequalities and closing the financing gap for achieving SDG 4.

GPE will participate in the panels and events listed below. See the full agenda and details

All panels are taking place at the Centro de Eventos do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil. 

Questions regarding participation should be directed to the UNESCO 2030 Secretariat. 

Exhibition Space

GPE will have a presence at the Accelerator Fair in the networking zone, at the booth on the “Global Platform for Gender Equality in and through Education”. The booth will showcase various partner efforts, including GPE’s, to advance gender equality and inclusion.

All times are Fortaleza, Brazil local time (UTC/GMT -3 hours).

Thursday, October 31

Digital transformation for education: Multistakeholder collaboration and sustainable financing

• Location: Room A
• Time: 14:00-16:00
• Overview: UNESCO’s Global Education Coalition came together during the Transforming Education Summit in 2022 to the launch the Digital Transformation Collaborative (DTC). The first task was to develop a common framework to work together – across sectors and stakeholders – to steer technology towards improving quality, equity and inclusion in education. After two years of iteration, the framework has been finalized by UNESCO, GPE, UNICEF, ITU, as well as the diverse multilateral, CSO, NGO, private sector and academia partners of the DTC. This panel brings together key partners to explore the challenges and opportunities to advancing the digital transformation of education, with a specific focus on the need for holistic, balanced and human-centered approaches grounded in transparent, sustainable partnerships and diverse financing models.

Cross-sectoral perspectives on education: Gender equality

• Time: 14:00-16:00
• Location: Room 4
• Overview: The UN Secretary-General’s 2022 Transforming Education Summit launched a Call to Action on Advancing Gender Equality in and through Education, and a multi-stakeholder Global Platform for Gender Equality in and through Education. This session will delve into gender-related barriers to education and encourage the exchange of effective practices and initiatives inspired by the priorities outlined in the Call to Action. By uniting diverse stakeholders through an intersectional lens, we aim to enhance the dialogue on strategies for accelerating educational progress in the years leading up to 2030.

Reviewing and accelerating progress towards SDG 4: Quality early childhood care and education and foundational learning for all

• Time: 16:30–18:30
• Location: Room 1
• Overview: Ensuring that all children develop foundational, cognitive and transversal skills will help them navigate and thrive in an increasingly technologically, socio-economically and geopolitically complex world. Considering that inequalities and disparities in learning and personal development begin early and persist throughout life, it is vital to redouble our efforts to give all children the opportunity to flourish. This panel will address how ECCE programs can be strengthened to provide all young children with a strong foundation for learning, in formal schooling and for out of school children and youth, including a discussion on strategically leveraging assessments and increasing teachers’ and educators’ capacity to support struggling students and students with disabilities starting in early years.

Friday, November 1

Side Event: SDG 4 Scorecard – The new way of monitoring SDG 4

• Time: 13:30-14:30
• Location: Room A
• Overview: As of 2024, 8 in 10 countries have now set benchmarks against at least one indicator, a demonstration of the recognition of this new global way of monitoring progress towards SDG 4. This side-event will unpack the process and progress that countries have been making towards achieving their 2025 and 2030 national benchmarks. Framed by a presentation from the GEM Report and UIS Directors, the session will feature reflections from country champions alongside external representatives with a stake in supporting this new global way of monitoring progress towards SDG 4.

High-level dialogues on financing of education: Innovative financing

• Time: 15:00-16:30
• Location: Room 2
• Overview: Achieving SDG 4 requires substantial financial investments, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where educational infrastructure and quality are often inadequate. However, traditional financing mechanisms have proven insufficient to bridge the substantial funding gap. Innovative financing approaches have thus emerged as critical instruments to mobilize additional resources and enhance the effectiveness of investments in the public education sector. This panel will focus on how to accelerate progress towards SDG 4 by looking beyond traditional funding sources for education (expansion of domestic revenue and ODA streams), including the use of innovative financing approaches, and how to ensure that funding is effectively targeted to address the most pressing needs in the education sector.