Education cannot wait: enabling conditions and investment for a better future in Latin America and the Caribbean

WHEN: Tuesday, September 24, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (UTC-4)

THAT: The President of the Dominican Republic, accompanied by the Ministers of Education and Finance of Latin America and the Caribbean, a coalition of multilateral organizations and world-renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs, will launch an urgent call to increase investment to transform education in the region and ensure a better future for all.

Convened by the Dominican Republic – with the support of the Ministry of Education of Chile, UNICEF, UNESCO, ECLAC, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI), the Latin American Campaign for the Right to Education (CLADE) and the Varkey Foundation – the high-level event will feature a political dialogue and a joint call to governments and allies across the region to ensure financing solutions to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4).

WHO:

Governments:

• Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, President of the Dominican Republic
• Pavel Isa Contreras, Minister of Economy, Planning and Development of the Dominican Republic
• Nicolás Cataldo, Minister of Education of Chile

Multilateral organizations:

• Mandeep O’Brien, UNICEF Global Director for Public Partnerships
• Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education
• José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
• Ilan Goldfajn, President of the Inter-American Development Bank
• Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, Vice President of the World Bank for Latin America and the Caribbean
• Pablo Bartol, Manager of Social and Human Development, Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF)
• Mariano Jabonero Blanco, Secretary General of the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI)
• Nelsy Lizarazo, Vice President of the Global Campaign for Education, representative of the CCNGO in the High Level Steering Committee of SDG 4 and General Coordinator of the Latin American Campaign for the Right to Education (CLADE)
• Agustín Porres, Regional Director for Latin America of the Varkey Foundation

BECAUSE: Investing in education is not only a moral imperative, but a smart solution to get out of the development trap of low growth and high inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean. Moving towards inclusive and equitable quality education is a political decision. However, public spending per student is relatively low in the region compared to more developed economies, especially at the pre-school level.

WHERE: United Nations Headquarters, New York City, Room 1

Connect via UN WEB TV: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1t/k1tv63g4ku

For further information and press inquiries, please contact:

For interview requests with event speakers, please write to: Soledad Planes, [email protected]