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Group of Friends for Education and Lifelong Learning

Championing advocacy and outreach on the global commitments on education

Launched on 24 January 2019, the Group of Friends for Education and Lifelong Learning champions advocacy and outreach on the global commitments on education, including through concrete contribution to intergovernmental processes as well as organization of high-level and expert-level meetings. Its significant contribution to education has been acknowledged by various education stakeholders, including the .

The Group played a pivotal role in the lead-up to the  and is now fully committed to transforming the commitments made at the Summit into actionable plans. The Group has successfully advocated for education's central role in the , and the . It remains committed to promoting education and lifelong learning, ensuring its continued importance on the global agenda, including in the preparatory processes leading up to the , as well as the in 2025.

PM of Czechia to the UN

The co-Chairs

The Group is co-Chaired by the Permanent Representatives of Argentina, the Czech Republic, Japan, Kenya and Norway to the United Nations. It operates with a rotating co-chairpersonship among the five countries, with each country leading for a six-month period. The current Chair is H.E. Mr. Jakub Kulhánek, the Permanent Representative of Czechia to the UN, who will serve in this capacity from October 2024 to March 2025.
Argentina

Japan

H.E. Mr. Yamazaki Kazuyuki, Permanent Representative to the UN

Kenya

H.E. Mr. Erastus Lokaale, Permanent Representative to the UN

Norway

H.E. Ms. Merete Fjeld Brattested Permanent Representative to the UN