Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – A delegation from the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE RS), led by Executive Director Dr. Martha Muhwezi, recently held a high-level meeting with the African Union’s Department of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI). The meeting took place at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa and included Professor Saïdou Madougou, Director of the ESTI Department, and Ms. Sophia Ashipala, Head of the Department.

The discussions focused on strengthening collaboration between FAWE and the ESTI Department, particularly in advancing the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase II programme. Key points of the meeting included:

Advisory Committee Participation: FAWE formally requested the ESTI Department, represented by the Commissioner, to join the Advisory Committee for the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase II programme.

Ambassadorial Role: FAWE also sought the ESTI Department’s support in championing the implementation of the programme across the 10 participating countries.

Agreed Action Points
The meeting yielded several actionable outcomes aimed at fostering joint efforts in education and gender equality across the continent:

  1. Promotion of a Continental TVET Strategy: Both parties agreed to collaborate on promoting the implementation of the Continental Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Strategy, as well as the Mastercard Foundation Phase II programme.
  2. Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA): FAWE and the ESTI Department will work together on the joint implementation of CESA post-2025. This includes a review of the gender equality strategy to ensure it aligns with the new CESA framework.

This meeting marks a significant step forward in FAWE’s mission to advance gender equality in education across Africa. By partnering with the African Union’s ESTI Department, FAWE aims to amplify its impact and ensure that its initiatives are aligned with continental strategies for education and innovation.