Andorra hosts first Intergovernmental Council meeting of Ibero‑American global citizenship programme

Andorra is hosting the Intergovernmental Council meeting of the Ibero‑American programme Global Citizenship for Sustainable Development (CGpDS) this week, the first time the Principality has convened this gathering. The meeting, organised by the Ibero‑American General Secretariat (SEGIB), runs through Thursday and brings together representatives from a number of member countries to advance work on national implementation.

Delegations present include Portugal, Spain, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Ecuador. Ministers and officials will discuss how to translate the programme’s educational and social approach into national policies that foster informed, active citizens.

Created during Andorra’s presidency of the Ibero‑American Conferences in 2020, the CGpDS aims to go beyond classroom instruction. Participating countries are being encouraged to build interministerial strategies that connect existing initiatives across education, civic engagement, human rights and sustainability. Andorra itself joined the programme two years ago.

Foreign Minister Imma Tor welcomed the participants and described the initiative as a “transformative” agenda aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. She said the programme seeks to equip children and young people to understand complex global challenges, think critically and take part in democratic life to help build fairer, more equal societies.

A central objective of the council is to support each member state in drafting a coherent national agenda for global citizenship. Discussions emphasise critical thinking, citizen participation, community involvement and the role of youth as agents of change.

Alongside plenary sessions, the meeting includes exchanges with Andorran institutions to explore practical routes for implementing the programme at national level — from schools and local councils to interministerial coordination mechanisms. Organisers say the aim is to ensure that new strategies complement and give coherence to existing policies rather than duplicate them.

Those attending will leave with recommendations and a roadmap for advancing national strategies, although specific timelines for adoption and rollout will depend on each government’s internal processes. SEGIB continues to act as the regional coordinating body for the initiative and will support participating countries as they design and implement their plans.