2011 HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT

UN Emblem
Date: - Location: Geneva

The High-level Segment, held at the United Nations Office in Geneva from 4 to 8 July 2011, focused on a broad range of issues relevant to the implementation of the UN development agenda (Programme):

  • The Annual Ministerial Review (AMR) focused on "Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to education".
  • Eleven countries made National Voluntary Presentation (NVPs)and presented an assessment of progress made towards the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals (IADGs), including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs);
  • The Thematic debate on “Current global and national trends and challenges and their impact on education” is based on inputs from the entire UN system, with special contributions from UNESCO and UNICEF.  It links the assessment of education progress to current global vulnerabilities.  Specifically, it discusses the potential risks to educational access and quality posed by the uneven global economic recovery, rising food prices and climate change. As a result, the report includes recommendations for managing the impacts – both short- and long-term – of these trends, and highlights opportunities for advancing progress on the education related MDGs and the broader Education for All goals. 
  • At the High-level policy dialogue, the Executive Heads of the international financial and trade institutions discussed the state of the world economy and its implications for the achievement of the United Nations development agenda.
  • A series of special policy dialogues focusing on education challenges was organized during the segment. Among them, the dialogues on “Accelerating education for all (EFA): mobilizing resources and partnerships”; “Education for sustainable development”; and the “Education challenges in Africa and LDCs”.
  • The Face to Face debate on “Education, human rights and conflicts” informed the public of the challenges surrounding access to education, particularly in high-risk environments. It also introduced new ideas about how to improve the educational system and achieve human rights and educational access, as a contribution to the Millennium Development Goal 2.
  • The Council also organized a panel discussion on "Promoting sustained, inclusive and equitable growth for accelerating poverty eradication and achievement of the MDGs", held on 6 July 2011, and a panel discussion on “Education for the Future - changing needs”, that took place on 8 July.
  • The Innovation Fair on the theme, “Education For All” showcased innovative practices, approaches and projects in education from around the world. A wide range of institutions, NGOs and private sector companies took part in the Fair.
  • Ministerial roundtable breakfasts were organized from 5 to 8 July. A series of side events, organized by Member States, international and civil society organizations, took place take place at lunch time or in parallel to the panel sessions.

The outcome of the 2011 AMR session was the Ministerial Declaration on "Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to education". 

The reports presented at the High-level Segment were:

  • World Economic and Social Survey, 2011 (E/2011/50)
  • World economic situation and prospects as of mid-2011 (E/2011/113)
  • Report of the Secretary-General on implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to education (E/2011/83)
  • Report of the Secretary-General on current global and national trends and challenges and their impact on education (E/2011/82)
  • Relevant part of the report of the Committee for Development Policy on its thirteenth session (E/2011/33)
  • Relevant part of the report of the Secretary-General on regional cooperation (E/2011/15 and relevant addenda)
  • Report of the Western Asia regional preparatory meeting on education for the 2011 annual ministerial review of the Economic and Social Council (E/2011/84)
  • Voluntary national presentation of Qatar on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals concerning education (E/2011/93)
  • Voluntary national presentation of Mauritius (E/2011/94)
  • Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments, including the Millennium Development Goals, in regard to education: Bangladesh national report (E/2011/96)

Contact

For information on the High-level Segment, please contact Mr. Alberto Padova, Deputy Chief, Policy Coordination Branch, Office of ECOSOC Support and Coordination/DESA, @email or write to @email.