Translating global (SDG4) and continental (CESA 16-25) commitments at country level

25-27 April 2018 Nairobi, Kenya Pan-African High-level Conference Co-convened by UNESCO and the Government of Kenya in collaboration w the African Union other key partners including ADEA and SDG4 co-conveners Gathered multiple education stakeholders Provided an opportunity to share progress, success, lessons, challenges and opportunities for the further alignment of national education systems in view of ensuring a transformative education for Africa and towards the 2063 AU vision: The Africa We Want.

Day 1: Building skilled African citizenry as agents of change through leveraging the Demographic Dividend in Africa Advancing inclusion, gender equality, teaching and learning through a life-long learning approach to address the unfinished Education for All Agenda Leveraging 21st century technologies for the advancement of education systems as well as societies and economies in Africa Relevance of education to foster resilient, skilled, prosperous, sustainable and peaceful societies in Africa Towards knowledge-based societies through leveraging quality higher education, sciences, technology and innovation in Africa to address continental challenges and increase global competiveness

Financing education: meeting domestic and international commitments Day 2: Building a conducive environment for education transformation in Africa: promoting good governance, leadership and accountability in education management Financing education: meeting domestic and international commitments Monitoring & reporting: strengthening information systems for evidence-based and accountable education Towards lifelong learning and system-wide policies strategies and practices: fostering sector-wide articulation and inter-sectorial collaboration Strengthening mechanisms for effective partnerships and coordination at national, regional and continental levels

The Nairobi Declaration and Call for Action Reaffirming commitments to SDG4 & CESA 16-25 Lifelong learning Access to and quality of education and training at all levels early childhood development, care and education strategies for reaching the unreached sector planning addressing out of school and all forms of exclusion teacher and learning in mother tongue teacher common qualification frameworks Strengthened national / regional learning assessment systems Response education system – refugees, IDP, emergencies, crises Healthy / inclusive / safe learning and teaching environments Strategies for achieving gender equality Strengthening mechanisms for effective partnerships and coordination at national, regional and continental levels

The Nairobi Declaration and Call for Action Skills and competencies for life and work quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training Strategies for strengthening informal sector effective and relevant literacy programmes leveraging digital opportunities integrating ESD and GCED Higher education and research Ratifying the Addis Ababa Convention Promoting STEM education at all levels Inclusion of youth and youth-led organizations 

The Nairobi Declaration and Call for Action Integrated approaches to education policies and strategies in a lifelong learning perspective, system-wide articulation and inter-sectorial collaboration Improved Expenditure for Education Strengthening National Assessment & Monitoring Mechanisms for CESA 16-25 and SDG4-Education 2030 targets & commitments: public accountability, transparency and responsiveness Strengthening sector-wide and cross-sector coordination (N-RQF etc)

The Nairobi Declaration and Call for Action Towards the Future Ensuring coherence and coordination Establishing a joint CESA- SDG4 Education 2030 mechanism for coordinated consultation, joint action, capacity strengthening, review, monitoring and reporting on both the continental and global education commitments by extending CESA coordination structure to existing SDG4 regional coordination mechanisms Promoting cross-national exchange and dissemination of successful education policies & strategies, building on existing national and regional communication and knowledge-management platforms Promoting education as a public good and in the public interest. Strengthening the global-regional nexus by ensuring that the voice of Africa is reflected in the deliberations of the global SDG-Education 2030 Steering Committee, the Technical Cooperation Group on Indicators, and contribution of inputs for the UN-led annual HLPF Review process

The Nairobi Declaration and Call for Action Strengthening partnerships with and commitment of international development partners in supporting African education development around national priorities, including in low-income, fragile and conflict-affected contexts, and in promoting innovative approaches to education and training. Convening PACE biennially Adoption of Nairoi Declaration and Call for Action, and agreement to refer it to the AU Specialized Technical Committee on Education Science and Technology (STC-EST) for endorsement

Strengthening mechanisms for effective partnerships and coordination at national, regional and continental levels Establishing a joint CESA- SDG4 Education 2030 mechanism for coordinated consultation, joint action, capacity strengthening, review, monitoring and reporting Guiding Principles Building on existing mechanisms to avoid duplication and parallel processes and mechanisms Using the structures of the African Union Commission, as well as of other existing African structures and organizations (AUC, NEPAD, AfDB, ADEA) as entry points for a coordinated framework and action Improving communication, exchange of experience and peer-learning in order to avoid duplication and dispersion of efforts and to foster complementarity and more effective support to countries.

Mapping of other existing initiatives Monitoring and reporting Strengthening mechanisms for effective partnerships and coordination at national, regional and continental levels Building on these principles, the following actions may be considered: Strengthening linkages between CESA coordination structure and SDG4 coordination Mapping of other existing initiatives Monitoring and reporting Strengthening capacities for data management and reporting Linking global-continental processes Strengthening the role of Regional Economic Communities

Strengthening linkages between CESA coordination structure and SDG4 coordination Extend CESA coordination structure to include SDG4 as a foundation for a joint CESA/SDG4 mechanism at continental level, based in Addis Ababa ? Establish a Regional Coordination Group on SDG4 for East and Southern Africa, similarly to the one active in West & Central Africa (RCG4-WCA) ? The CESA Thematic Clusters and the two RCG4 groups (WCA & ESA) to report to the CESA/SDG4 coordination structure, with the RCG4 groups also reporting to the SDG global mechanism ?

Let us hear from you! l.hailu@unesco.org