We’re at the halfway mark of the Goals but we’re down at halftime, with only 12% of them on track.
At Education Above All, we believe that education is vital to sustainable development. Our work directly contributes to SDG4, which aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”
In the past decade, we have supported over 12 million learners, making major steps towards our vision of a future where children and youth have inclusive access to quality education. We approach learning as a lifelong journey that leads to employment and social development.
But the importance of education goes far beyond just SDG4. All the Sustainable Development Goals benefit from the outcome of quality education. For example, economic growth and labour market opportunities are vastly improved in an educated society (SDGs 8, 11, 16), while higher levels of education are associated with lower poverty rates and an escape from the cycle of generational poverty (SDG 1). In low-income countries, maternal education is positively associated with children’s health outcomes (SDG 3).
Education has a transformational role to play in reaching these goals: it is the key that unlocks every SDG. We are working towards unleashing that potential, through our multi-sectoral approach, unique financing models, focus on innovation as a tool for social good, and partnerships.
Reaching the SDGs is a global effort. We might be behind at halftime, but any match is won in the second half. We need to reflect on our achievements, learn from our setbacks and come up with new tactics to ensure the Goals are achieved.
That’s why we will be joining the United Nations in this critical SDG Halftime Campaign.
The UN-led campaign runs from July 2023 and culminates in the 78th United Nations General Assembly in September 2023.
Join the team at sdghalftime.org and watch this space for more news to come on the campaign!
Follow EAA on social media, to support and amplify EAA’s advocacy and campaigning.