Ukraine Joins The SDG4-Education 2030 High-Level Steering Committee
For the first time Ukraine has become one of the 12 countries in the world to join the SDG4–Education 2030 High-Level Steering Committee (HLSC) — the global governing body that coordinates efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education (SDG 4). In the Committee, Ukraine will represent the entire Eastern Europe region, alongside Slovakia and the Council of Europe.
Ukraine is joining the HLSC for the period 2026–2027. This opens opportunities to shape decisions for education development at the global level, build partnerships, and attract more support for Ukrainian education. Ukraine will be represented on the Committee by the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Oksen Lisovyi, and the First Deputy Minister, Yevhen Kudriavets.
“Recognition of Ukraine at this level strengthens our country’s voice in shaping global education policy. We have consistently demonstrated the development of Ukrainian education despite the war, systematically advocated for these achievements on the international stage, and built partnerships. It was this sustained and high-quality work that preceded the decision to include Ukraine in the High-Level Steering Committee,” noted the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Oksen Lisovyi.
“SDG4–Education 2030 High-Level Steering Committee is composed of 12 countries from 6 regions of the world. The Eastern Europe region is represented by only two countries. We managed to ensure that Ukraine is one of them. This significantly strengthens our country’s position on the international arena, opens opportunities for new partnerships, and, accordingly, attracts investments for the benefit of Ukrainian students and educators,” notes the First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Yevhen Kudriavets.
Why is this important for Ukraine?
Ukraine’s membership in the SDG4–Education 2030 HLSC is an important step toward enhancing Ukraine’s international role and recognizing its experience in developing education even under wartime conditions. Such participation ensures our country’s full involvement in shaping global education policy and determining strategic priorities for education development and financing worldwide. It also allows Ukraine to participate in monitoring progress toward SDG 4 and shaping goals for the period after 2030, while exchanging experiences and best practices in education development with other countries.
For reference:
SDG4–Education 2030 High-Level Steering Committee brings together 28 participants representing the global education community. Its composition includes 12 member countries representing six regions of the world: Western Europe and North America, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, Africa, as well as Arab States. In addition to states, the Committee includes regional intergovernmental organizations, multilateral international organizations, donor representatives, civil society, teacher organizations, youth and student representatives, as well as the private sector and foundations.
The Committee is co-chaired by the UNESCO Director-General and a head of state or government. The Committee is the highest global body in the field of education, coordinating joint international efforts to advance the global education agenda and support countries in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 — “Quality Education.”
UNESCO convenes Committee meetings and ensures the work of its secretariat as the specialized UN agency for education, authorized to coordinate the implementation of the SDG4–Education 2030 Agenda.