Planned Activities and Themes for 2024
On February 21st, 2024, the KIX Africa 19 Hub unveiled its plans for the year with Hub focal points as well as its technical advisors. In the virtual meeting, national and regional stakeholders proposed and discussed KIX activities in four critical themes: improving teacher professional development; striving for gender equality, equity and inclusion; strengthening early childhood education; and addressing the education data challenge.
2024 will see a concerted effort by the Hub to foster country engagement and ownership, with a focus on mobilizing and utilizing knowledge for strategic planning in support of realizing gender-responsive, quality inclusive, and equitable education. Activities will include identifying and sharing good practices, facilitating national policy dialogues, and enhancing capacities through thematic and skill-based workshops.
Stakeholder Feedback and Priorities
At the meeting, Hub focal points from Ministries of Education and project advisors from VVOB and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) reviewed the Hub’s planned activities and shared their strategic priorities. Their feedback reflects the Hub’s collective vision for addressing educational challenges through collaborative, evidence-based approaches.
A government official from Malawi called attention to the necessity of "continuous training on digital literacy; knowledge management systems" for Malawian teachers. This highlights the urgent need for skills in digital literacy and data management to inform educational decision-making and policy development. Echoing the importance of teacher support, the same official emphasized the need for innovative strategies to enhance female school leadership and teacher motivation. He suggested “training female school leaders in project management” and "providing more ways of motivating teachers," pointing to the critical role of professional growth for school leaders and teachers in improving educational outcomes.
On the topic of gender equality, an official from The Gambia stressed "building capacities of teachers" to promote a gender-responsive educational environment, and representatives from Eritrea and Somali shared their governments’ ambitions to recruit more female teachers.
Importantly, Ministry focal points from Ethiopia, Malawi, Uganda, and Zambia reflected on the value of cross-country learning in the Hub. This sentiment reinforces the idea that South-to-South exchange can motivate local partners and drive substantial improvements in education systems. Their reflections underscore a shared dedication to tackling educational challenges through strategic collaboration, targeted capacity building, and the adoption of best practices.
The feedback the Hub received from country partners and regional advisors serves as a valuable compass, guiding the Hub's efforts to realize its goals for 2024 and beyond.
Watch the recording from the virtual meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyj7zLD759U
