At the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2024, education was emphasized across multiple sessions, even without being a primary focus. The UN Secretary-General’s report and discussions within the forum highlighted the need for education and lifelong learning, with efforts made to secure their inclusion in the upcoming Summit for the Future. Yet, while these discussions underscore the importance of lifelong learning, specific commitments to adult learning, coordinated international actions, and actionable outcomes are still lacking.
ICAE, as a key advocate within the Education and Academia Stakeholder Group (EASG), played a central role in ensuring that Adult Learning and Education (ALE) received dedicated attention. The EASG HLPF Report outlines ICAE’s advocacy to position ALE as a fundamental component in fostering peace, human rights, and sustainable development, while the EASG Sectoral Paper goes further by explicitly calling for ALE programs to equip learners with critical skills such as literacy, vocational training, intercultural dialogue, critical thinking, and media literacy. This advocacy emphasizes the transformative potential of ALE in addressing systemic issues and promoting inclusivity.
These documents also underline the need for increased funding and policy support for ALE, emphasizing ICAE’s ongoing work to champion ALE as a key driver for achieving global targets like Agenda 2030. With ICAE’s active involvement, EASG continues to advocate for ALE-specific initiatives that empower adults to contribute meaningfully to societal resilience and progress.
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