The power of partnership

This week UNGEI welcomes representatives of more than 25 partner organizations to Ottawa, Canada for our annual three-day Global Advisory Committee (GAC) meeting (11-13 Dec). Co-hosted by Global Affairs Canada, the face-to-face meeting is an opportunity to take note of progress one year on from the adoption of UNGEI’s Strategic Directions, which reflect the partnership’s commitment to advancing gender equality in and through education and the empowerment of girls and young women.

The year 2018 has been an important and opportune period in which to progress UNGEI’s work. Key moments for galvanising political action and funding for girls’ education and gender equality at the global and regional level included the Global Partnership for Education Financing Conference, G7 Summit (under the presidency of Canada), Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Pan-African High-level Conference on Education, and the UN General Assembly. The coming year also promises strategic opportunities for the UNGEI partnership to progress its shared vision of gender equality in and through education.

Key objectives for this year’s GAC meeting therefore include taking stock of achievements and challenges in relation to UNGEI’s strategic directions, reviewing global and regional developments within the gender and education landscape, and exploring how best to build on and leverage the growing momentum for girls’ education and gender equality in education in order to advance global commitments. The meeting will be participatory and will include technical and plenary sessions, presentations, discussion groups, and panels. Key areas of thematic focus include girls’ education in emergencies and comprehensive sexuality education.