As part of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), the Education Above All Foundation (EAA) will hold four panels and a roundtable discussion to tackle a range of education-related issues.
EAA’s first session will be opened by UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini, with talks continuing throughout the week on topics such as green skills and youth-led climate action. There will also be discussions on the recognition of educational qualifications for refugees and displaced students, as well as innovative financing partnerships. Education ministers from countries under LDC including Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, will also attend.
From Potential to Prosperity
The conference will be held at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) under the theme From Potential to Prosperity. EAA panels will contribute to supporting key LDC outcomes, as per the Doha Programme of Action. These include a focus on increased enrolment, gender equality and equal access to all levels of education, as well as utilising digital tools and technologies to improve education outcomes.
The EAA sessions will include
6 March: Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict (PEIC)
With its partner UNESCO, EAA will conduct an interactive panel discussion on Transforming Education in LDCs – ensuring a focus on inclusion and gender equality.
7 March: Educate A Child (EAC)
Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) with the Islamic Development Bank, Strømme Foundation and the Ministry of Education of Burkina Faso will hold a panel discussion entitled Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships – Addressing the Burkina Faso Education Crisis in relation to the educational provision in challenging environments.
7 March: Out of School Children: Linking Across Sectors for Success
EAA and QFFD will also hold a ministerial roundtable that will be participated by Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Education of Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Ethiopia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine and Senegal. At the end of the session, the ministers of these concerned countries will sign memorandums of understanding with EAA and QFFD on existing projects in the aforementioned countries.
8 March: Unleashing the Power of Youth – Supporting youth-led climate action in LDC
Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) will hold a discussion panel with the participation of the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of South Sudan and the Cambodian Minister of Education, Youth and Sports. The event will focus on reflecting ROTA’s positioning as a key player in areas of climate change education and education for climate action.
9 March: Advancing Access to Higher Education Opportunities for the Most Marginalized
EAA’s fourth session will be opened by UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini. This panel, in partnership with UNESCO, will focus on the UNESCO Qualification Passport (UQP), and how it facilitates inclusivity in higher education for marginalised and refugee youth, particularly those displaced by conflict, climate change or natural disasters.
According to EAA’s Leena Al Derham, they are glad to be part of the conference and to be working with partners in the international community, to make sure that education is on top of the agenda.
She said that education is key to economic and social development and that a conference like this gives them the opportunity to share knowledge, explore new ways on how education can equip the next generation to better deal with today’s challenges, and help them work towards a better, healthier and safer future, especially for communities in LDC countries that are affected by poverty, conflict and disaster.
For more details about the conference, visit the #LDC5 listing on the Marhaba calendar.
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