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Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar, founder of the Education Above All Foundation, UN SDG Advocate and UNESCO Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education, and Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, will co-host a high-level panel discussion on education and development entitled “Connecting the SDGs: The Key Role of Education” on 28 February at UNESCO Headquarters (10 am – 12 noon, Room XII).

Today, more than 61 million children are out of school. This exclusion generates skills gaps and causes unemployment, poverty, inequality, and instability, which stunt economic growth and prevent young people from fulfilling their potential. The high-level panel will discuss these challenges and examine how investing in education can drive human development and advance the sustainable development agenda.

The event will open with addresses by Ms Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO and Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.

Panelists include:

• Jérémie Pellet, Deputy CEO, Agence Française de Développement
• Jacky Lumarque, International Board Member and President for the Latin America and Caribbean Region, Aide et Action
• Manuel Patrouillard, General Director of Humanity and Inclusion (formerly Handicap International)
• Mr Qian Tang, Assistant UNESCO Director-General for Education

France 24 journalist and TV host, Marjorie Paillon, will moderate the panel discussion.

In the context of this event, UNESCO and the Education Above All Foundation will sign a project agreement to improve access to quality and inclusive education for out-of-school children in Iraq. This builds on other projects in Iraq focused on curriculum development, teacher training, literacy and higher education, implemented by UNESCO with funding from the EAA Foundation.

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To interview panelists after the discussion, please contact: EAA-Paris@portland-communications.com

For press accreditation to cover the event contact: Djibril Kebe, UNESCO Media Section: d.kebe@unesco.org , +33 (0)1 45 68 17 41

Notes to Editors:

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

UNESCO is the United Nations’ specialized agency for education and the Education Sector provides global and regional leadership in education strengthens national education systems and responds to contemporary global challenges through education with a special focus on gender equality and Africa. UNESCO is entrusted to lead and coordinate the Education 2030 Agenda, which is part of a global movement to eradicate poverty through 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Education, essential to achieve all of these goals, has its own dedicated Goal 4, which aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”

Education Above All Foundation

Education Above All (EAA) Foundation is a global initiative founded in 2012 by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. It aims to build a global movement which fosters development, with a particular focus on areas affected by poverty, conflict and disaster, the needs of children, and the empowerment of youth and women. EAA Foundation is the umbrella organisation overseeing four core programmes: Educate A Child (EAC), Al Fakhoora, Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict (PEIC) and Reach Out To Asia (ROTA). For more information, visit , follow us on , and .

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