Regional coordination is key to implementing the agenda at regional and national level. It is also important in informing the Global Education 2030 Agenda Steering Committee of regional and national priorities and realities and harmonizing efforts at global and country levels.
UNESCO and partners aim to create a common regional understanding of the Global Education 2030 Agenda through a series of consultations in the five specific regions. In some cases, sub-regional groupings provide a more appropriate forum for discussion. These consultation exercises will make recommendations for regional mechanisms for coordination, partnerships, review and follow-up.
Africa
The West and Central Africa sub-region held their consultation between 23-25 November 2015.
On 19 May 2015, The West and Central Africa Regional Coordination Group on SDG4-Education 2030 (WCA-SDG4) was established to support the integration and implementation of SDG4-Education 2030. In June 2016, the coordination group adopted terms of reference and agreed on regional activities to support of national education development. A SDG-4 Education 2030 country readiness survey was conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa.
East Africa is due to hold its consultation later in Dar es Salaam, in November 2016, preceded by national consultations.
Arab States
The Arab States held their regional consultation meeting on 14-15 December 2015.
An Education 2030 Partners Group was then set up in the Arab States region and met on 30-31 March 2016 in Beirut. A follow-up meeting is planned for 19-20 July 2016 in Amman.
Asia and the Pacific
Asia and the Pacific region held its first regional consultation from 25-27 November 2015, a second consultation is planned for 16-18 November 2016.
A Regional Thematic Working Group (TWG) on Education for All has also been renewed and adapted to support implementation of SDG4-Education 2030. It is now called the “Asia-Pacific Regional TWG on Education 2030+” (TWG for Education 2030+). The group, co-chaired by UNESCO and UNICEF, met on 1 March 2016 and again on 18 May 2016. The TWG for Education 2030+ also serves as the Thematic Working Group on Education of the Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) in Asia and the Pacific convened by the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). The next meeting is planned for 15 November 2016 in Bangkok.
European and North America
Europe and North America is due to hold its first regional consultation between 24 - 25 October 2016.
Latin American and the Caribbean
Latin America and the Caribbean plans to hold its first consultation in early 2017.
In preparation of that Consultation Meeting, several multi-stakeholder high-level technical meetings have been organized together with partners, co-convening agencies, education experts and country stakeholders: Global Citizenship Education regional meeting (September 2015); Lifelong Learning and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (November 2015); Gender (April 2016); Quality of Education and Decision Making (May 2016). Further meetings have been planned for 2016: Teachers and Learning within SDG4-Education 2030 (August); Quality of Education (November).