19 February 2016: The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced a collaboration with the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) to measure progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on education, with a focus on global citizenship and sustainable development.

UNESCO and IEA have identified possible indicators for measuring progress towards target 4.7, which aims to “ensure all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.” One of their suggested indicators is contained in the proposal of the UN Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs), expected to be adopted at the upcoming 47th Session of the UN Statistical Commission (UNSC 47) in March 2016.

IEA administers the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS), an ongoing research programme on young people’s knowledge of concepts related to civics and citizenship, as well as their beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. Future cycles of the Study will be aligned with target 4.7, and UNESCO and IEA plan to produce a thematic report on Global Citizenship Education (GCED) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

UNESCO notes that it has established a Steering Committee of UN Member States, UN agencies and other international organizations, for global coordination on SDG 4 (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all). Besides ESD, SDG 4’s targets also address access to early childhood education, technical and vocational skills, gender parity, scholarships, and teacher training, among other topics. The Steering Committee will meet for the first time in May 2016.

According to Jordan Naidoo, UNESCO, Goal 4 is one of just two SDGs that currently have an “action plan.” In the case of SDG 4, this is Education 2030, the Framework for Action adopted by the global education community in November 2015, which aims to provide guidance for the Goal’s implementation. [UNESCO Press Release on IEA Partnership] [ICCS 2016 Website] [UNESCO Press Release on Action Plan for Education 2030]