On the 18th and 19th of November, 2020, FAWE hosted the 2nd International Conference on Girls’ Education in Africa. Owing to Covid-19 restrictions, the conference, hosted every three (3) years was held virtually under the theme “Towards Effective Approaches for girls’ engagement and excellence: Preparing African girls for the 21st century skills”.

The conference discussions were based on themes such as: Increasing girls’ participation in STEM; Closing education – market skills gap through provision of market responsive trainings; Gender Responsive Pedagogy for STEM and Education Policies for STEM. The main objective of the conference was to provide an opportunity for aesthetic experiences and artistic interventions to explore alternative ways for thinking about preparing African Girls for the 21st Century skills and strengthening STEM uptake among girls and women.

The panelists led discussions sharing experiences from different parts of Africa including East, West, and Southern Africa pointing out to the increasing need to incorporate technology in education as has been witnessed during the ongoing pandemic. The highlight of the conference however was the launch of the FAWE online portal as well as the STEM booklet. Further, a communique informed by the discussions, views, concerns, commitments, and recommendations raised in the conference plenaries and breakout sessions was developed.

Distinguished guests who graced the occasion included: the Chief guest Prof. Sarah Agbor, Commissioner AU Human Resources, Science and Technology, Ms. Hendrina Doroba Chalwe-Division Manager, African Development Bank (AfDB), Ms. Dana Amro (Dubai Cares), Hon. Irere Claudette, the Minister for State in Charge of ICT and TVET in Rwanda, Hon. Claudiana A. Cole Minister for Basic and Secondary Education from Gambia, Dr. Yumiko Yokozeki the Director of UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA), Hon. Dr. David Moinina Sengeh Minister for Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Sierra Leone and Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-FAWE Africa Board among others.