UNESCO-ChinaFunds-in-TrustProjectPhaseIIRalliesPartnersforSynergiesin

TeacherDevelopmentinAfrica(AddisAbaba,18-22March2019)

UNESCOInternationalInstituteforCapacityBuildinginAfrica(IICBA)ishostingaweek-longeventontheoccasionoftheconcludingmeetingofphase2oftheUNESCO-ChinaFunds-in-Trust(CFIT)Project,co-organizedwiththeUNESCOHeadquartersTeacherDevelopmentSectionandtheInternationalTaskForceonTeachersforEducation2030(TeacherTaskForce).AttheopeningceremoniesonMonday,18March2019,allspeakersexpressedtheirgratitudetotheGovernmentofChinaforitsfinancialandtechnicalcontributionfortheinitiationandimplementationoftheprojectanditsimpactinthetenbeneficiarycountries.Ms.GUOWei,fromChinaNationalCommissionforUNESCO,conveyedtheappreciationfromtheGovernmentofChinaoftheresultsachieved,andtheircommitmenttocontinuesupportingqualityeducationinAfricaunderEducation2030.Dr.YumikoYokozeki,DirectorofIICBA,welcomedalldelegatesandrecalledthatIICBAiscoordinatingtheTeacherDevelopmentClusteroftheAfricanUnionContinentalEducationStrategyforAfrica(CESA2016-2025)whichhasbenefitedtremendouslyfromtherealizationofCFITproject.Ms.AnnTheresaNdongJatta,DirectorofUNESCORegionalOfficeforEasternAfrica,emphasizedtheneedstoalignallinterventionswiththeongoingreformsintheUnitedNations,thecountriesandthecontinent,whichrequiresbettercommunicationandvisibility.Dr.EdemAdubra,ChiefofSectionofUNESCOHeadquartersTeacherDevelopmentSectionandtheTeacherTaskForce,whomoderatedthesession,situatedtheseriesofmeetingsaroundtheCFITprojectwithinthe

frameworkofDeliveringTeacherDevelopmentProgrammesinAfricaasONEundertheumbrellaofCESA2016-2025.Mr.LIUXiangdong,Counsellor,PoliticalSectionandMr.ZHANGChaoyu,SecondSecretory,CulturalSectionoftheEmbassyofPeople'sRepublicofChinainEthiopia,andDr.DUYue,DirectorofInternationalCooperationandPartnershipforAfricaDivision,UNESCOalsoattendedtheevent.UNESCO-CFITprojecton"EnhancingTeacherEducationforBridgingtheEducationQualityGapinAfrica"waslaunchedin2012,withatotalsupportof12millionUSD,andimplementedin10Africancountries:Côted’Ivoire,CongoRepublic,DemocraticRepublicofCongo,Ethiopia,Liberia,Namibia,Uganda,UnitedRepublicofTanzania,TogoandZambia.TheUNESCO-CFITprojectisoneoftheinitiativesofUNESCOtoaccelerateprogresstowardstheattainmentofEducationforAll(EFA)goalsandsince2015,theEducation2030Agenda.Theaimofthisprojectwastoenhancethecapacityofleadteachereducationinstitutionsinthetargetedcountriestoprovidequalityteachereducationandtraining,withparticularfocusontheIntegrationwithICTandimprovingnetworksofteachereducationinstitutionstopromoteknowledge-sharingonsuccessfulandeffectivestrategiesandpractices.Thisweek-longmeetingaimstoreviewtheimplementationandachievementsoftheCFITPhaseIIprojectinthe10beneficiarycountries,todiscussotherongoingteacher-relatedinitiativesinAfrica,andtoreinforcecoordinationandsynergyforgreaterimpactofvariousprojectsunderCESA2016-2025framework.Inaddition,threeotherconsultationmeetingsarealsohappeningthisweek:ConsultationWorkshopandExpertGroupMeetingonDevelopinganInternationalGuidanceFrameworkforProfessionalTeachingStandards,MeetingoftheAfricanRegionalFocalPointsoftheInternationalTeacherTaskforceonTeachersforEducation2030,andMasterCardMeetingonSecondaryEducationinAfrica:PreparingYouthfortheFutureofWork.ParticipantsincludeUNESCO-CFITcountryrepresentatives,TeacherTaskForcesub-regionalfocalpoints,expertsonteachingstandards,UNESCORegionalDirectorsandprogrammespecialists,secondaryschoolteachersandCESATeacherClusterMembers.