Stefania Giannini
Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO
Stefania Giannini was appointed UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education in 2018, becoming the top UN official in the field. She provides strategic vision and leadership in coordinating and monitoring the Education 2030 Agenda, encompassed in its Sustainable Development Goal 4. During her term, she has focused on multilateral and bilateral partnerships, education’s ethical role in providing learners with the skills to respond to 21st century challenges and on the responsibility of universities in achieving the SDGs. She affirmed UNESCO’s leadership in the COVID-19 response through global evidence, guidance, policy dialogue and collaboration with all partners, including through the Global Education Coalition. In 2022, she led the landmark Transforming Education Summit convened by the UN Secretary-General, which propelled education to the top of the political agenda. With a background in the Humanities, she has served as Rector of the University for Foreigners of Perugia, Senator of the Republic of Italy and Minister of Education, Universities and Research.