Official virtual launch of the GPE Knowledge and Innovation Exchange Observatory on COVID-19 Responses in Africa's Educational Systems

Tuesday, 17th November 2020 – from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (GMT)

Published on Friday, 13 November 2020

Abidjan/Ouagadougou, 13 November 2020 – In the midst of the COVID-19 health crisis, a Consortium comprising of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and the African Union’s International Centre for Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa (AU/CIEFFA), with technical support from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), has been setup to develop and manage the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX) Observatory on COVID-19 responses in the educational systems in Africa. 

The KIX Observatory will focus on collecting, synthesizing and mobilizing information and evidence about COVID-19 responses in primary and secondary education to inform policy and practice in 41 GPE partner countries on the African continent. 

The Consortium will officially launch the KIX Observatory on Tuesday November 17th at 12:00 p.m. (GMT) via Zoom.

“The KIX Observatory is a one-stop-shop for the learning and sharing of information and knowledge to promote policies, strategies, and practices that have been proven to effectively meet the needs created by COVID-19 and to strengthen the resilience of education systems in Africa to face possible future pandemics or crises. That is why we urge all African Ministers of Education as well as research institutions, development partners, NGOs, local education groups, and experts in education to support and promote our Observatory,” said Mr. Albert Nsengiyumva, Executive Secretary of ADEA.

The virtual meeting will be an opportunity for the GPE member countries in Africa – represented by selected Ministers of Education – to share the latest efforts and strategies undertaken towards the reopening of learning institutions. The launch also aims at providing a setting for developing partnerships that will help advance and strengthen the resilience of education systems in Africa in the face of possible future pandemics or crises.

According to Dr. Rita Bissoonauth, Head of AU/CIEFFA, “Schools typically provide safe spaces for girls and young women. When they are in school, they are less likely to be forced into marriage and be abused sexually. During this pandemic, however, schools are not there to protect girls. This crisis is likely to put them at higher risks of sexual violence and exploitation, trafficking, child marriage, forced labour, and social exclusion. In order to mitigate the harm to girls and young women, it is key to forge and foster partnerships among key education stakeholders to advance the development and implementation of policies and best practices in AU Member States”.

Approximately 200 participants are expected to attend the virtual launch of the KIX Observatory, including African Ministers in charge of education, development partners, research institutions, and representatives of the private sector, foundations, civil society organizations, and the media. 

The Observatory is part of the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX), a joint initiative with Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The goal of KIX is to strengthen national education systems and accelerate educational progress in the Global South by filling knowledge gaps, increasing access to evidence, and strengthening systems to support the generation and uptake of evidence and innovations in GPE partner countries.

For more information, please also download the Draft Agenda.

Social Media:

Join the conversation by following @ADEAnet, @AU_CIEFFA, @UNESCOstat, @IDRC_CRDI and @GPforEducation on Twitter and share your messages using the hashtag #GPEKIX

Live Broadcast:

The webinar will be accessible via the Zoom platform and simultaneous translation will be provided in English and French.

Contacts:

To learn more about the KIX Observatory, kindly contact:

Media:

For queries and interviews schedule, kindly contact:

 

 

About ADEA

The Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) is the voice of education in Africa and a key network of Education Ministries. It plays a significant role in the education space as a convener, knowledge creator and forum for policy dialogue, working through its Inter-Country Quality Nodes (ICQNs) and the Task Force on Education Management and Policy Support. ADEA contributes to the empowerment of African countries to develop quality education and training systems that respond to the countries' emergent needs and drive social and economic transformation sustainably. http://www.adeanet.org

About AU/CIEFFA

The African Union International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education in Africa (AU/CIEFFA) is a specialized institution of the African Union under the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology. The Centre aims to promote girls’ and women’s education with a view towards their full participation in the eradication of poverty and the edification of a peaceful world for sustainable human development. http://www.cieffa.org

About UNESCO-UIS

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is the official and trusted source of internationally-comparable data on education, science, culture and communication. As the official statistical agency of UNESCO, the UIS produces a wide range of indicators in UNESCO’s fields of action by working with national statistical offices, line ministries and other statistical organizations. The UIS Director serves as the Organization’s chief statistician. http://uis.unesco.org

About GPE

GPE is a shared commitment to ending the world’s learning crisis. We mobilize partners and funds to support 76 lower-income countries to transform their education systems so that every girl and boy can get the quality education they need to unlock their full potential and contribute to building a better world. GPE is currently calling on world leaders to “Raise Your Hand” and pledge at least $5 billion for the next five years to help GPE transform education in up to 87 countries, which are home to more than 1 billion children. https://www.globalpartnership.org

About IDRC

IDRC is a Canadian Crown corporation that collaboratively works with researchers from the developing world in search for their own solutions for building healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous societies. IDRC achieves this by providing developing-country researchers with financial resources, advice, and training to help them find solutions to local problems, encouraging knowledge sharing with policymakers, researchers, and communities around the world, and fostering new talent by offering fellowships and awards. https://www.idrc.ca