African Union CIEFFA and FAWE Open Meeting to Discuss the Revamp of the CESA CLESTER on Girls and Women’s Education

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September 12, 2023

African Union Commission (AUC) departments, African Union (AU) organs, United Nations agencies, development partners, and CSOs have gathered in person and online to brainstorm ways to revamp the CESA Cluster on Girls and Women’s Education. The meeting was convened by the African Union International Center for Girls and Women’s Education (African Union CIEFFA) and the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), co-chairs of the Cluster. The three-day meeting, which will be held from September 12 -14, 2023, brings together strategic stakeholders working at the nexus of gender and education under the theme, “Positioning girls and women’s education at the forefront: Curating continental action in line with CESA”.

Leaning on the AU theme of the year for 2024 on education dubbed, “Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa”, the gathering is also a platform for all participants to plan, accelerate, and curate collective action with respect to 2024.

The workshop officially opened on September 12, with Mrs. Simone Yankey calling on all stakeholders to be aware that, “It is imperative that we, as the various custodians of girls’ education on the continent, rally under the umbrella provided by the CESA to further push our agenda.”

Ms. Martha Muhwezi, Executive Director of FAWE and co-convener, was keen to point out that, “this very important gathering gives us an opportunity to address a critical issue that has far-reaching implications for the future of our great continent – the education of women and girls.”

The Norwegian Permanent Mission to the AU, one of the key partners of the AU on education-related issues, renewed its commitment to continuous support. “Norway is committed to the AU through our joint financing agreement in which also AU CIEFFA is funded. We will try our best to follow the developments of the CESA going forward as well as the programs and developments of the AU theme of the year for education”, Ms. Jenny Moller, Counsellor of Education asserted.

Among those present in the hall and online were participants from close to 19 multi-sectorial organisations.

It must be noted that the CESA cluster on girls and women’s education is one of its 12 clusters and is tasked with providing a platform to advocate for gender-sensitive, inclusive, and transformative education plans, budgets, policies, and practices at continental and national levels.

The African Union CIEFFA also intends to seize this opportunity to rally different actors behind the planning of the African Union CIEFFA 8^th High-Level Dialogue on gender equality in education and the 1^st Pan African Conference in Girls’ Education in Africa.

African Union International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education in Africa

The International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa (AU/CIEFFA) is a specialized institution of the African Union since 2004, dealing with women and girls’ education following Decision Assembly/AU/DEC.44 (III). AU/CIEFFA is a specialized institution of the African Union under the Department of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI). The Centre aims to promote girls and women’s education with a view toward their full participation in the eradication of poverty and the edification of a peaceful world for sustainable human development. http://cieffa.au.int

For further information please contact:

Ms. Faith Adhiambo, Communications Officer- Agenda 2063 Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail: ochiengj@african-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org