Global Campaign for Education

18/08/2026

The Southern African Civil Society Forum 2026 is taking place in Durban, South Africa, from 18–21 August under the theme: “Democratic Futures in Africa: Advancing Accountable Governance, Social Justice, Economic Transformation, and Human Dignity in Southern Africa.”

Convened by the Apex Alliance of SAf-CNGO, SATUCC and FOCCISA, the Forum brings together civil society representatives, trade unionists, youth and women-led organisations, human-rights defenders, researchers, policymakers, faith-based groups, media, and development partners from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

As part of the Forum, the GCE is convening three Education Futures policy dialogues focused on financing quality public education and protecting girls’ right to learn across Southern Africa:

📌 19 August | 09:00–10:00
Education Financing for Democratic Futures

📌 20 August | 09:00–11:00
Protecting the Girl Child’s Right to Quality Education in Southern Africa
Including the launch of GCE’s gender policy brief on Education in Emergencies.

📌 20 August | 14:00–15:00
Domestic Resource Mobilisation for Education and Economic Transformation

The dialogues will contribute to a coordinated regional advocacy agenda for increased and equitable education financing, stronger public-budget monitoring, support for education in emergencies, and gender-responsive education systems, so that every learner, especially girls and marginalised children, can access and complete quality education.

12/08/2026

🎉 It’s International Youth Day! 🌍✨

This year’s theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” reminds us that while young people’s realities may differ - from conflict and climate crises to inequality, exclusion, and limited opportunities - we share the same hopes for dignity, justice, quality education, meaningful participation, and a sustainable future for all. 💡🤝

🌟 Join the Global Youth Debate on Education Beyond 2030, convened by the GCE Youth and Students Network in celebration of International Youth Day 2026.

Theme: Our Education, Our Future: Young People Shaping the Global Education Agenda Beyond 2030

Young advocates from across the network will come together today to share visions, priorities, and recommendations for the future of education. The discussion will also contribute to the UNESCO & SDG 4 Youth and Student Network Global Consultation, helping ensure youth and student perspectives are at the heart of the global education agenda.

📅 Date: Wednesday, 12 August 2026
🕑 Time: 2:00 PM SAST (Johannesburg)
💻 Format: Online debate with regional youth interventions
🔗 Register: https://bit.ly/4fLny7F

Bring your voice. Share your vision. Shape the future. 🌎✊

https://campaignforeducation.org/event/international-youth-day-2026-global-youth-debate-on-education-beyond-2030/

The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) Youth and Students Network invites young people, students, and youth-led organisations from around the world to join a Global Youth Debate on Education Beyond 2030 on 12 August 2026, from 14:00-16:00 SAST (Johannesburg), via Zoom. Click HERE to register. Under...

07/08/2026

Education cannot wait for crises to end.

📘 GCE has launched a new study, "Protecting Education in Times of Crisis in Africa", documenting how learners, teachers, families, and communities across seven countries are navigating conflict, displacement, and climate-related disasters.

The findings show urgent gaps in financing, safe and inclusive education, infrastructure, and support for teachers, while communities continue to act as first responders to keep learning alive.

🎙️ Listen to "Learning Under Crisis", our new three-part podcast series featuring community voices from Nigeria, South Sudan, Chad, Burkina Faso, DRC, and Mozambique - in English, French and Portuguese.

Explore the study and listen to the podcasts - https://campaignforeducation.org/news/gce-launches-new-study-and-podcast-series-on-education-in-emergencies-in-africa/

ANCEFA-Africa Network Campaign on Education For All

GCE has launched a new study on education in emergencies in Africa – Protecting Education in Times of Crisis in Africa: Local realities and community voices from Burkina Faso, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan – alongside a three-part...

03/08/2026

Join us on 6 August for the online launch of GCE’s new study, “Protecting Education in Times of Crisis in Africa” – bringing together local realities and community voices from Burkina Faso, Chad, DRC, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan.

Across Africa, conflict, displacement, climate disasters, food insecurity, and economic instability are disrupting education for millions of learners, with schools closed or damaged, teachers unpaid or displaced, and marginalised groups - especially girls, refugees, internally displaced learners, and children with disabilities – facing heightened risks of exclusion and violence.

This new study offers evidence, analysis, and concrete policy recommendations to strengthen rights-based, equitable, and locally-led Education in Emergencies (EiE) responses.

📅 Date: 6 August 2026

🕒 Time: 2:00-4:00 PM SAST

🌍 Format: Zoom webinar

🔗 Registration: https://bit.ly/4pK5z6j

🗣️ Languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic

The webinar will feature country perspectives from seven African countries, a global synthesis of key findings and recommendations, and an interactive dialogue with EiE partners on what must change in international and national policy and financing to protect education in crisis.

We hope you will join us for this important conversation.

13/07/2026

At the SDG4 High-Level Steering Committee Leaders Meeting on 10 July, GCE President Refaat Sabbah spoke on behalf of the CCNGO Education 2030 constituency, calling for bold political leadership to make the right to education a reality for all.

He stressed that resilient education systems must put the most marginalised learners first, support “last-mile” communities, and work closely with civil society, youth, and teachers to ensure flexible learning opportunities at all levels.

Refaat also reminded leaders that public financing is the backbone of equitable and sustainable education systems – without sufficient, stable, and rights-based funding, there can be no real transformation.

As governments and partners shape the post-2030 global education agenda, we join his call for education systems that are inclusive, collaborative, progressive, and liberating, helping build more peaceful and sustainable futures for everyone.

10/07/2026

The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2026 is here, and the clock to 2030 is ticking.

As global leaders meet at the UN (July 7-15), this is an important moment to push for real progress on and the right to education. We cannot afford slow action - education movements must keep the pressure on.

Education is not standalone. It connects to everything:

▶ Clean water in schools keeps children learning

▶ Electricity powers digital education

▶ Skills drive green and digital economies

▶ Cities must be inclusive learning spaces

▶ Partnerships and financing make it all possible

GCE members are on the ground, highlighting civil society voices. From Brazil to Burkina Faso, Burundi to Jordan, our network is shaping key discussions.

GCE members are actively engaging on the ground to elevate civil society voices, including:

⦿ Cecilia "Thea" Soriano (GCE)

⦿ Andressa Pellanda (Brazilian Campaign for the Right to Education / CLADE - Campaña Latinoamericana por el Derecho a la Educación

⦿ Tahirou Traore (CN-EPT/BF, Burkina Faso)

⦿ Denise Kandodo (BAFASHEBIGE, Burundi)

⦿ Macarena Álvaro (Fe y Alegría / GCE Spain)

⦿ Abeer Tamimi Darwazeh (Jordan Coalition for Education / ANCE)

Highlights:

⦿ Andressa Pellanda led discussions on Middle-Income Countries

⦿ Denise Kandodo and Abeer Tamimi Darwazeh will present Civil Society VNR statements

The message is to accelerate action, fund education, and deliver on the promise of .

10/07/2026

At the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2026), taking place from 7-16 July at United Nations Headquarters in New York, global leaders, civil society, and stakeholders have come together to review progress on the Sustainable Development Goals . Learn more: https://hlpf.un.org/2026

During a thematic session, Andressa Pellanda of the Brazilian Campaign for the Right to Education called for a new development paradigm for middle-income countries.

Speaking on behalf of CLADE - Campaña Latinoamericana por el Derecho a la Educación and the Education and Academia Stakeholder Group, she stressed that GDP alone cannot measure true development and called for tax justice, debt relief, and stronger public financing for education. Andressa also urged that reducing inequalities and prioritising public education must be at the heart of sustainable development.

Click to watch her full intervention and read more on the GCE website - https://campaignforeducation.org/news/andressa-pellanda-of-the-brazilian-campaign-for-the-right-to-education-calls-for-a-new-paradigm-for-middle-income-countries-at-the-un/

At the UN High‑Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2026) in New York, Andressa Pellanda demanded tax justice, debt relief, and a renewed priority for education. On Wednesday, 8 July, at United Nations headquarters in New York, Andressa Pellanda, General Coordinator of the Brazil...

08/07/2026

The regional workshop for GenerationDigital! participants in Francophone Africa on Education Technology is underway in Grand-Bassam, Côte d’Ivoire (8-10 July).

Bringing together national education coalitions from nine countries - Côte d’Ivoire (Réseau Ivoirien Pour la Promotion de l'Éducation Pour Tous Rip-Ept), Cameroon Education For All Network - CEFAN, Cosydep Sénégal, Tunisia, Madagascar, Benin, Togo, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as ANCEFA-Africa Network Campaign on Education For All and representatives of Ministries of Education, this workshop will reflect on achievements and shape the future of digital learning across Francophone Africa.

The workshop aims to go beyond a simple review by consolidating progress, showcasing national initiatives, and developing strong policy recommendations to advance equitable and inclusive education systems through EdTech.

Over the next three days, discussions will focus on knowledge-sharing, analysing on-the-ground challenges, and strengthening strategic alliances for civil society advocacy.

A key outcome will be a knowledge-sharing document to highlight best practices and support the wider adoption of effective digital education solutions across the region.

08/07/2026

Education Coalition of Zimbabwe - ecozi convened a dissemination meeting to share key findings from the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Responsiveness Audit, an important step toward strengthening inclusive policy, planning, and programming across the sector.

The meeting deepened understanding of GESI gaps, promoted ownership of recommendations, and strengthened coordination among partners.

07/07/2026

Francophone Africa is coming together in Grand-Bassam, Côte d’Ivoire, for a regional Education Technology (EdTech) learning and exchange workshop under the GenerationDigital! programme, from 8-10 July.

Over the past six years, GCE and its partners have been building strong EdTech advocacy and partnerships across Africa. This workshop will:

⏩ Share real experiences and success stories from Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia.

⏩ Look at key challenges such as internet access, infrastructure, and digital skills.

⏩ Co-create policy proposals and advocacy strategies to improve digital education at national and regional levels.

Hosted by GCE, GIZ (German International Cooperation), ANCEFA-Africa Network Campaign on Education For All, and the national education coalitions RIP-EPT (Côte d’Ivoire) Réseau Ivoirien Pour la Promotion de l'Éducation Pour Tous Rip-Ept , CET (Tunisia), Cosydep Sénégal, and Cameroon Education For All Network - CEFAN, this three-day event will focus on how digital technologies can make education more inclusive, equitable, and resilient, especially for marginalised learners.

The programme will bring together youth and women leaders, Francophone coalitions, academics, government representatives, and regional and international organisations.

Visit the GCE website at - https://campaignforeducation.org/ - for more information about the event in Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.