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Photo: A roundtable of women and men scientists from Cameroon and Democratic Republic of Congo, during the L'Oreal-UNESCO
For Women 2018 sub-Saharan Africa Fellowship Ceremony, 6 December 2018, in Nairobi, Kenya
NEWSLETTER ISSUE 97
Message of the Director
Dear Colleagues and Partners,
Last week I was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the high-level meeting of IGAD Ministers, in
charge of Higher Education. This was part of a broader conference, organized by IGAD to
provide policy and political direction on access to education for all, including refugees at all levels;
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review progress made in the implementation of the Djibouti Declaration on Refugees Education;
adopt a costed action plan for the implementation of the Djibouti declaration and plan of action for
the next two years; and to validate and adopt regional policy frameworks and strategies on
education for refugees, returnees and host communities.
It is important to note that in the IGAD region there are more than 3 million refugees and 4.5
million displaced persons (UNHCR, 2016). Moreover, almost all IGAD member states host internally
displaced people and/or refugees from other countries with the major refugee hosting countries
being Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda
I stressed the relentless work of UNESCO in expanding and enhancing the quality of education
through the inclusiveness of national education systems. Sufficiently inclusive national education
systems will facilitate access by refugees, returnees and host community children and youth to
primary, secondary and tertiary education, bearing in mind the need for more direct financial
support to ensure that “no one is left behind”.
UNESCO supports the efforts that lead the achievement in the IGAD countries, the harmonization
of curricula to facilitate student mobility across various levels of the system and across borders,
through the UNESCO Addis Ababa Convention on higher education, which endorses the right of
refugees to higher education.
On 10 December, Human Rights Day, I will continue in Addis Ababa to participate in the Joint
Regional United Nations Sustainable Development Group (R-UNSDG) for Eastern and Southern
Africa- Western and Central Africa and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa meeting.
During the week we had visitors! Mr. Hubert Gijzen, Director, UNESCO Regional Office for Southern
Africa, gave a talk on the importance of UNESCO, its networks and partnerships; the Better
Education for Africa's Rise project (BEAR II) continues to strike in Kenya, aiming at
influencing government policies by creating inclusive curricula that rightly brand technical and
vocational education and training for equipping young people with necessary skills for today's job
market;
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hosted the regional training on Career Development and Competency-based Interviews & Selection
for UNESCO staff; and a presentation from UNESCO HQ information session on the UNESCO
Strategic Transformation - tackling the need to respond to a fast changing environment,
challenges and new goals, with the objectives of strengthening the management culture, the
efficiency of the organization and its positioning of 2030.
I am going to Morocco for the UNESCO Forum on Artificial Intelligence in Africa, from 12 to
13 December 2018, where challenges and opportunities of freedom of expression, data privacy and
responsibility and ethical issues for the continent will be explored for the future of Artificial
Intelligence (AI) in Africa. Keep on following our social media channels: @UNESCOEast &
@unescoeastafrica
I wish you a productive week ahead!
Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta
New Team Members of UNESCO in Eastern Africa
Charles Mwaniki
Former Senior Assistant Director of Education – Kenya at the
Directorate of Policy, Partnerships and East African Community
Affairs. Initially worked as a teacher and Quality Assurance and
Standards Officer, coordinating the Peace Education programme
at the Ministry and also the Inter-Country Quality Node on Peace
Education under the auspices of the Association for the
Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), Charles joins
UNESCO in the Education sector in Nairobi to support the
implementation of a country support to Kenya, under the International Institute for
Educational Planning (IIEP) programme on strengthening Education Sector Planning for Conflict
Prevention and Crisis Preparedness as well as support the UNESCO response and intervention in
Education in Emergencies (EiE) including Refugees, IDPs and Out of School Children. He wishes
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that "the programme will positively impact target groups for posterity".
New Job Openings
World Heritage Volunteers 2019 – Call for Projects
The UNESCO World Heritage Centre announced a Call for Projects for the World Heritage
Volunteers (WHV) Campaign 2019. This Call welcomes the participation of all interested
organizations and institutions.
Deadline for application: 13 January 2019
News of the week
Eritrea takes a holistic approach to the conservation and management of the modernist city
of Asmara World Heritage site A platform for the Seismic Hazard Evaluation in the East African Rift System Rainwater Harvesting as adaptation strategy for Africa
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Last week's events
Second conference on IGAD Ministers in charge of Education/Higher Education on the
implementation of he Djibouti Declaration on Education for Refugees, Returnees and
Host communities
2 to 6 December 2018, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The IGAD (Inter-Governmental Authority for Development) which is spear-heading the
Implementation of the Djibouti Declaration and Plan of Action on Refugee Education, convened a
meeting of Ministers in charge of Education in the IGAD Member States on the 6 December 2018 in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where all countries present agreed to a Call for Action on the Djibouti
Declaration in four key areas which broadly include: a) Inclusion of Refugees in National Education
Systems with multi-year costed plans; b) Development of a Regional Qualification Framework with
particular attention to tackling the immediate challenges faced by refugees and returnees with
respect to recognition of prior learning and qualifications and focus on building the capacity of
existing mechanisms and bodies to coordinate the recognition of the qualifications of refugees and
returnees; c) Development of a Regional Skills Development Strategy through Technical and
Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for Refugees, Returnees, IDPs and Host Communities;
and d) Align national education policy frameworks to a regional education policy framework with
specific reference to the inclusion of refugees and returnees.
The Government of Uganda is to host a meeting on the issue of jobs and livelihoods in early 2019
for all IGAD countries, as relates to the Nairobi Action Plan.
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Sensitization of Ministry of Education and Teacher Service Commission directors on the
needs for learners living with HIV
Kenya School of Monetary Studies, 4 December 2018
UNESCO, in partnership with National AIDS and
STIs Control Programme (NASCOP), Ministry of
Education, Teachers Service Commission (TSC)
and Clinton Health Access Initiative, organized a
one day sensitization meeting for education
directors from all the 47 counties in the country
of Kenya. The meeting brought together 95
county directors of education drawn from
Ministry of Education and TSC. Presentations on
status of learners living with HIV was made
NASCOP. The documentary on learners living with HIV supported by UNESCO was also aired (click
on the link to view it).
Through group discussions, the county directors came up with key actions on how they will support
the creation of an enabling environment for learners living with HIV at the school level.
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UNESCO's Wealth - The UNESCO extended Family of Networks and Partnerships
5 December 2018
On 5 December, Director of UNESCO Regional
Office for Southern Africa, Hubert Gijzen-
Director, focused his presentation on UNESCO
Strategic Transformation- Partnership pillar,
where he stressed the importance of
communication- visibility, partnerships, resource
mobilization for programme support and
implementation. He balanced the challenges-
opportunities discourse at UNESCO, also
considering the UN wide reform and the Agenda
2063 vision for Africa. According to the presentation, there is more "wealth" than "poverty"- in
terms of UNESCO institutes, intergovernmental science programmes. international conventions,
World Heritage sites and UNESCO networks. Mr. Gijzen highlighted the need to mobilize
partnerships and networks, which can be harnessed effectively to maximize opportunities to fulfill
the broader UNESCO's mandate of Building Peace in the Minds of Men and Women. Finally, the
greater impact to deliver as One UN Family, relying on strong partners, was a good point of
discussion and debate, as well as the differentiation between branding-messaging of UNESCO-
which should be seen as One (vs. sectoral) ."Once a week, step back and look at the bigger
picture, to monitor and evaluate your work and the wider UNESCO in the world, its image and its
core programs" he concluded.
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Strengthening subregional coordination in support of the African Union and the New
Partnership for Africa’s Development & enhancing monitoring and evaluation in the
Regional coordination mechanism for Africa
United Nations and the African Union adhoc expert meeting
Nairobi, Kenya
3 to 6 December 2018
The two meetings, organized by the United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the
Regional Coordination Mechanism Secretariat,
provided a platform for participants to deliberate
on the draft study report on the subject, in
order to identify gaps, provide comments and
inputs and propose recommendations, as well as
for experts and policy makers from African
regional and subregional organizations, UN
system agencies and organizations, to share
experiences, including good practices, lessons and action-oriented recommendations for the
functioning of the regional coordination mechanism in the context of the ongoing African Union and
United Nations reforms.
The recommendations will take into account the need to ensure the optimal application of the
framework and its continuous adjustment and refinement in the light of new and emerging issues,
such as a planned merger of the Mechanisms and the regional United Nations Development Group
(UNDGs) into one coordination mechanism at the regional and subregional levels and the seamless
relationship envisaged with the United Nations Country Teams' (UNCT)- UNDAF process in
particular.
The results of these two meetings will be presented to the Joint Regional United Nations
Sustainable Development Group (R-UNSDG) for Eastern and Southern Africa- Western and Central
Africa and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa meeting to be held in Addis Ababa on
10 December 2018.
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Sub-Saharan Africa Scholarship Ceremony of the L'Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science
on the African continent
Nairobi, Kenya
6 December 2018
Fourteen emerging women scientists
from Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria
and South Africa received the L'Oreal-
UNESCO for Women in Science Award
on 6 December 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Fellowship Programme Award
recognizes the Scientific Talent of
emerging Women Researchers on a
wide variety of research and scientific
topics: From computer science to
nanotechnology, from chemistry to health sciences, from mechanical engineering to molecular
medicine, the 14 researchers are an example of women breaking the glass-ceiling, being
ambassadors and role models for other young women willing to pursue a career in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). During the ceremony, the Women For Science
fellows received research grants allowing them to support and accelerate their research. Through
the power of collaboration and scientific networking, women scientists will connect all over the
continent of Africa and will be able to find innovative solutions to today's challenges.
The L'Oreal-UNESCO sub-Saharan Africa programme was established in 2010. Since then, 140
African women scientists have been supported to conduct scientific research, with 49 countries
being part of the Africa Regional programme.
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Missions
Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta
Joint Regional United Nations Sustainable Development Group (R-UNSDG) for Eastern and
Southern Africa- Western and Central Africa and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
meeting
10 December 2018
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
&
Forum on Artificial Intelligence in Africa
12 to 13 December 2018
Benguérir, Morocco
Karalyn Monteil
Participation in the 2005 Convention Intergovernmental Committee Meeting and review of SIDA
projects
9 to 15 December 2018
Paris, France
Abdul Lamin Rahman
Presentation of UNESCO's Pedagogical use of the General History of Africa during the African Union
Cluster meeting on Curriculum Development, and consultation with Government of Ethiopia on
Youth Development
10 to 13 December 2018
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Upcoming Events
Human Rights Day
10 December
Birthdays
Saidou Sireh Jallow
11 December 2018
Videos
A snapshot on Education
#Education needs global, regional and local action. This video is a snapshot of the reflection on
progress and challenges for education.
SDG 4 Data for Lifelong Learning
Lifelong Learning is essential to reduce poverty, reach gender equality, make societies fairer and
more prosperous. How do we measure and what do we measure in education progress among the
countries? Watch the video to learn more about the work of UNESCO Institute for Statistics
UNESCO Capacity Development for Teachers & Literacy & Skills for Life in Somalia
The video portrays the two projects carried out by UNESCO in Somalia: one on
capacity development for teachers, and the second one on Literacy and Skills for Life, funded by Al
Maktoum Foundation, to improve the education and livelihood conditions to diverse groups in
Somalia.
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Publications
SDG 4 Data Digest: Data to nurture Learning
Read more on Addis Ababa UNESCO Revised Convention on the Recognition of Studies,
Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees and Other Academic Qualifications in Higher Education in African
States
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Tweet of the Week
from @UNESCOEast: "More Science to get innovative Solutions for the Future We Want #Agenda2030
#Agenda2063, we need more Women in Science" Professor Hubert Gijzen, Director of @unescoROSA
during @4womeninscience & @UNESCO press conference