We are pleased to present the outcomes of the Global Social and Financial Skills Conference 2023, captured in the Utrecht Declaration and Commitment to Action.
From November 1-3, 2023, youth delegates, government representatives, educators, and organisations converged in Utrecht, the Netherlands, at the invitation of Aflatoun International. Building on the principles of the Youth Declaration on Transforming Education and the United Nations Secretary General’s Vision Statement on Transforming Education, the conference served as a platform to strengthen the global commitment and action towards transforming education, specifically emphasising social and financial education for children and youth.
The declaration reflects a profound understanding of the evolving needs of today’s youth. In a rapidly globalising world, social and financial education emerges as a catalyst for cultivating responsible global citizens who comprehend the intricate links between social issues and economic challenges. We acknowledge that current education systems often fall short of effectively addressing the social, environmental, and economic challenges faced by children worldwide.
The Declaration not only recognises the positive impact of life skills and financial education but also issues a resounding call to action. Urging governments, educators, and stakeholders, it advocates for policy frameworks, inclusive curricula, and teacher support to ensure equitable access to quality social and financial education.
Furthermore, the Declaration underscores the importance of addressing gender disparities, promoting inclusivity for marginalized groups, and harnessing the digital revolution for effective education delivery. It highlights the role of social and financial education in climate action, peacebuilding, and humanitarian settings.
The Utrecht Declaration is a testament to our shared commitment to equipping the younger generation with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate an ever-changing world. Together, we advocate for a future where every child has access to quality social and financial education, fostering a more sustainable and globally aware society in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Read the declaration in French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian.
So far, over 150 organizations from over 67 countries have signed the declaration:
From the Americas
- Associação Beneficente Razão de Viver, Brazil
- SERNAC, Chile
- FinSocial Foundation, Colombia
- Fundación Coogranada, Colombia
- FUNIMOS, Colombia
- Instituto Coomuldesa, Colombia
- Fundacion Paniamor, Costa Rica
- Grupo CS, Costa Rica
- ASPIRE, Dominican Republic
- CRISFE Foundation, Ecuador
- Fundación Bien – Estar, Ecuador
- Inti-Sisa Foundation, Ecuador
- Gloria de Kriete Foundation, El Salvador
- Ak’Tenamit Foundation, Guatemala
- AMG Foundation, Guatemala
- BFB Foundation, Guatemala
- Parole et Action, Haiti
- Ficohsa Foundation, Honduras
- Ayuda en Acción, Mexico
- EDUCA C. Foundation, Mexico
- Observa C, Mexico
- CARE International, Peru
- FINCA, Peru
- VISOS, Peru
- Nuestra Escuela Inc, Puerto Rico
- Tobago House of Assembly, Trinidad & Tobago
- Children International
From Asia
- National Curriculum and Textbook Board, Bangladesh
- Shanghai Better Education Development Center, China
- Government of Andhra Pradesh, India
- MELJOL, India
- Amal Khair Yasmin Foundation, Indonesia
- Lekdis Nusantara, Indonesia
- Ekhphatthana Microfinance Institution (EMI), Lao PDR
- Sahil, Pakistan
- National Confederation of Cooperatives, Philippines
- Tagum Cooperative, Philippines
- Director Education Central Province, Sri lanka
- Network for Education Children and Youth (NECY), Sri Lanka
- Center for Education and Development (CED), Vietnam
- ASEAN – ASCC Research and Development Platform
From Europe and Central Asia
- Dorcas Albania, Albania
- Credit Union Foundation of Australia, Australia
- Reliable Future, Azerbaijan
- WSBI-ESBG, Belgium
- Aspect Works, Czech Republic
- Fiinafas, France
- Students Lab, Italy
- National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrgyz Republic
- CCF Moldova, Moldova
- Aflatoun International, Netherlands
- L-IFT, Netherlands
- StartUp4Kids Foundation, Netherlands
- Environment Foundation/ Fundacja Nauka dla Środowiska, Poland
- Pomoc Deci, Serbia
- Dorcas International, The Netherlands
- Amal İnsani Yardim Derneği, Turkey
- Horan Foundation, Turkey
- Orange Training Organization, Turkey
- ÖRAV Teachers Academy Foundation, Turkey
- Vinnytsya Regional Public Organization – School of Equal Opportunities, Ukraine
From Middle East and North Africa
- Réseau algérien pour la défense des droits de l’enfant (NADA), Algeria
- Erteqa House for Exhibitions & Consultancy, Bahrain
- Coptic Catholic Diocese – Diakonia Development Office, Egypt
- Egyptians without Borders Foundation for Development, Egypt
- Life Vision for Development, Egypt
- Martyria Foundation for Culture and Development, Egypt
- Middle East Foundation for Research and Development, Egypt
- Association of Teaching and Qualifying Children in Iraq, Iraq
- Stichting Babylon, Iraq
- Al-Thoria Studies Center, Jordan
- Finn Church Aid, Jordan
- INJAZ, Jordan
- Plan International, Jordan
- Tahfeez Association for Entrepreneurship and Development, Jordan
- The Arab Foundation for Sustainable Development – Ruwwad Al Tanmeya, Jordan
- Ajialouna, Lebanon
- Dorcas Lebanon & Syria, Lebanon
- Global Steps, Lebanon
- I’m Possible, Lebanon
- Sama for Development, Lebanon
- YMCA Lebanon, Lebanon
- Bawader Foundation, Libya
- Musaed Organization for education development and women’s support, Libya
- Ajyal association for creativity and development, Palestine
- AL-Tawasol Forum Society, Palestine
- Ibtikar for Empowerment and Social Entrepreneurship, Palestine
- Palestine Save the Children Foundation, Palestine
- Palestine Sport 4 Life, Palestine
- Unlimited Friends Association, Palestine
- Education Above All Foundation / Reach Out To Asia, Qatar
- MeemAin Education, Saudi Arabia
- Arab Urban Development Institute, Saudi Arabia
- Danat Al Uloom International Schools, Saudi Arabia
- Global Organization for the Family and Child Welfare, Sudan
- Sudanese Coalition for Education for All, Sudan
- FADA Association for Development, Syria
- Mobaderoon, Syria
- Enda Inter-Arab, Tunisia
- Sustainable Development Foundation, Yemen
- Al-Amal Foundation for Training and Entrepreneurship –REYADAH, Yemen
- For all Foundation, Yemen
- Responsiveness for Relief and Development Foundation, Yemen
- Sanid for Relief and Development, Yemen
- Student Care Association, Yemen
- Yemen Peace School, Yemen
- Youth Leadership Development Foundation, Yemen
From Sub-Saharan Africa
- ONG Action Sociale, Benin
- Association Pour l’Education Financière du Public, Burkina Faso
- Cadre de Concertation des ONG et Associations Actives en Education de Base au Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso
- DEI Burkina, Burkina Faso
- PSDEBS MENAPLN, Burkina Faso
- REPAFER, Burkina Faso
- Solidar Suisse – Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso
- Programme Education Financière (PEF) du Ministère de l’Education Nationale et de l’Alphabétisation Côte d’Ivoire, Côte d’Ivoire
- Union Fédérale des Consommateurs de Côte d’Ivoire, Côte d’Ivoire
- Action des Volontaires pour le Développement Intégré, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Action Solidaire pour la Paix et le Développement Intégré, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- APPEC – DRC, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Child/Women Welfare Foundation (CWWF), Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Fondation PANDA, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Village d’Espoir DRC, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Women and Children Protection, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- National Curriculum Centre, Eswatini
- Hiwot Integrated Development Organization, Ethiopia
- Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Gambia
- Savana Signature, Ghana
- New Dawn for Social Development, Ghana
- Caritas Regional Chokwe, Malawi
- Coalition for Human Rights and Good Governance (CBOs-CHRGG), Malawi
- Lilongwe Catholic Health Commission, Malawi
- ASSCODECHA – Community Association for Human Development, Mozambique
- Rede Para o Desenvolvimento da Primeira Infancia, Mozambique
- Wona Sanana, Mozambique
- The Bridge Leadership Foundation, Nigeria
- Centre Sportif Fayda, Senegal
- Solidarity Youth Voluntary Organization (SOYVO), Somalia
- Somali Center for Women Empowerment (SOCWE), Somalia
- Findamentals, South Africa
- United Humanitarian (UHDO), South Sudan
- AFRIpads, Uganda
- Girls In Red Organisation, Uganda
- All Nations Are Families Foundation, Zambia
- I Care Organization of Zambia, Zambia
- Abantu Development Initiative Trust, Zimbabwe
- Abdullah Dzinamarira Foundation, Zimbabwe
- Bantwana Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
- Elevation Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
- Faith Foundation, Zimbabwe
- JA Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
- Masvingo Association of Residential Care Facilities Trust, Zimbabwe
- Tariro Foundation of Zimbabwe Trust, Zimbabwe
- Tariro Youth Development Trust , Zimbabwe
- Zimbabwe Network of Early Childhood Development Actors, Zimbabwe
More information on the Global Social and Financial Skills Conference can be found here.