6 days ago - With the youngest population on Earth, "Africans must come together and ensure that the ... an important in
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Photo: Piloting
of the 1st electronic-assessment system in 10 Rwandan schools, within the framework of the UNESCO-Korean
Funds-in-Trust project Various locations in Rwanda, from 27 August to 17 September 2018
NEWSLETTER ISSUE 87
Message of the Director
Dear
Colleagues
and
Partners,
This week I am taking part in the E-Learning Africa 13th International Conference on ICT for Development, Education and Skills in Kigali, Rwanda, from 26 to 28 September 2018. Over 230 speakers will attend the conference to tackle the digital transformation of education, skills development and training in Africa (to follow on Twitter, the main hashtag is #eLA18). The
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themes will cover both basic and digital literacy, examining a range of new, digital solutions to assist adult literacy and inclusion; artificial intelligence, connectivity in schools, and open-source learning platforms for equal access to and sharing of technology-based initiatives to provide young people the skills they need for the job market In a nutshell, it is about how technology can break down barriers, enabling Africans to share knowledge, learn and prepare for the future together. The main conference theme is "Uniting Africa", where big opportunities lie ahead for Africa to leapfrog its competitors. With the youngest population on Earth, "Africans must come together and ensure that the whole continent is fit for the future": this means opening up access, communication, supporting diversity and giving all Africans a chance to learn and acquire the skills they need to succeed". (from conference organizer, Rebecca Stromeyer, on Business Ghana). UNESCO will have a demonstration and hands-on-experience of how SimSchool- simulation of Rwanda schools - can be used in pre-service and in-service teacher training, based on the UNESCO Rwanda
ICT
Essentials
for
Teachers
Training
Course.
The 5th Africa Engineering Week and the 3rd Africa Engineering Conference, from the 17 to 21 September in Mombasa, Kenya was a success. UNESCO, in partnership with the Institute of Engineers of Kenya, discussed about the importance of Blue Economy for the Economic Growth of the African Continent, in view of the upcoming High-Level Conference on Sustainable Blue Economy, that the Government of Kenya will host from 26 to 28 November 2018. This constitutes an important initiative in light of the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (20212030), supporting efforts to reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health and gather ocean stakeholders worldwide behind a common framework that will ensure ocean science can fully support countries in creating improved conditions for sustainable development of the Ocean. I commend the performance of all staff of the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, all the national, liaison and antenna offices for the good work, reviewing results and achievements during our Quarterly
Review
Skype
meeting
of
UNESCO
in
Eastern
Africa
on
21
September, where we evaluated the development and monitoring of activities and projects in our Region. Keep up the excellent job of instilling Peace in the Minds of Men and Women, by acting and proactively Ann
making
a
difference Therese
in
the
lives
of
People! Ndong-Jatta
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Announcements
WIKI
LOVES
MONUMENTS Participate
in
Wiki
Loves
Monuments, the largest photography competition in the world, and help Wikipedia document monuments and heritage buildings. The only thing you have to do for that is to upload a freelylicensed image of a monument in one of the participating countries to Wikimedia Commons, submit your photo here! Deadline: 30 September 2018
UNESCO
ICT
IN
EDUCATION
PRIZE
If you have a project that uses innovative technologies to ensure education for marginalized and excluded vulnerable communities, apply for the Online
applications
and
Africities
nominations
are
2018,
now
prize, by clicking on the link open.
Call
Deadline:
31
October
for
here. 2018
Youth!
Africities is the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa’s flagship pan-African event that is held every three years in one of the five regions of Africa. From November 20 -24, 2018, the Africities 8 Summit will be hosted in Marrakesh, with over 5000 participants. Imagine a Sustainable Future for Africa and its cities and territories for 2030 and 2063, enter the competition by registering Deadline
here. for
application:
30
September
2018
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African
Union Kwame
Continental
Nkrumah
&
Awards
Regional
for Scientific Awards
Excellence (AUKNASE): 2018
Edition
The AUKNASE programme targets young researchers, women scientists and all scientists in Africa. The Award aims at recognizing outstanding African scientists for their achievements and discoveries in science, technology and innovation, thus promoting scientific development in Africa and highlighting the importance of research in Science, Technology and Innovation. Rules of procedures, in EN and FR. Deadline for submission: 10 November 2018. Consult the website for additional information here.
Funded PhD Opportunity Maritime Cultural Heritage and Sustainability in East Africa As part of the Global Challenges Research Fund/Arts and Humanities Research Council project titled, Rising from the Depths: Utilising Marine Cultural Heritage in East Africa to help Sustainable Social, Economic, and Cultural Benefits, Ulster University is offering a fully-funded PhD studentship in Maritime Cultural Heritage and Sustainability in coastal eastern Africa. This is an international studentship for suitability qualified applicants from Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Madagascar. To read more and apply, follow the link here.
News of the Week
Eritrea establishes a National Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage
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Last week's events
Annual 19
Retreat to
21
Madagascar
September
2018
2018
Antananarivo,
Madagascar
The retreat tackled both programme and administrative issues, and how to well synergize and work together with the Government of Madagascar, as well as with NGOs, and with UNESCO Regional Office
for
Eastern
Africa.
Kenya National Commission for UNESCO 3rd National Cultural Celebrations, under the theme 19
"Enhancing to
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National
Cohesion,
September
Identity
2018
and
Pride'
Kisumu,
Kenya
The 3rd KNATCOM (Kenya National Commission for UNESCO) National Cultural Celebrations, which were held at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds, in the lakeside city of Kisumu on 19 to 23 September
2018
were
characterized
by
vibrant color, rhythmic music and energetic dance and an all round rich diversity of creativity, culture and expression. More than thirty
counties
participated
in
this
years’
celebrations, exhibiting their material culture, traditional assets, art and craft, traditional and contemporary music, herbal medicine, and many other aspects of culture. Universities, civil society organisations and private sector participated too. The celebrations themed "Enhancing National Cohesion, Identity and Pride, were held in close collaboration with the County Government of Kisumu, the National Museums of Kenya and UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, and demonstrated the important role culture plays in building peace and fostering social cohesion in society.
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Launch
of
18
to
the
National 19
Teacher September
Management
Information
2018
System
Kampala,
Uganda
On Wednesday, 19th September 2018, and
during
the
Annual
Education
Sports and Sector Review meeting, Her Excellency, Hon. Janet K. Museveni, the First Lady of Uganda and also the Minister
of
Education
and
Sports
launched the Teacher Management and Information presence
of
System over
(TMIS) 200
in
the
government
officials, Education Experts, Education development
partners,
MPs
and
all
Ministers
of
Education
in
Uganda.
The development of the system was supported by UNESCO through its CapEFA/CapEd project. This is a comprehensive electronic database for registering teachers to be used by the various Departments in the Ministry of Education and Sports (Human Resource, Teacher Instruction Education and Training (TIET), Early Childhood Development, Basic and Secondary Education and BTVET),
Education
Service
Commission
and
Ministry
of
Public
Service.
The functions for this online teacher registration and information management platform include the following: registration, recruitment, deployment, transfers, appraisals, appointments, leave entitlements and attrition records and will be used as at all levels of teacher management including the public service. UNESCO also procured 15 computer sets, scanners and printers for the various units in the MOES and Ministry of Public Service to support the implementation of the system. The system
has
been
piloted
in
29
districts
in
Uganda.
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Partnership in the Development of University of Nairobi Health Literacy App 20
September
2018,
Nairobi
Kenya
On 20 September 2018, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, in partnership with University of Nairobi and "I choose Life Africa", presented a demo of a mobile application focused on Health Literacy. The Mobile App focuses on awareness-raising and disseminating information on issues related to HIV and AIDS prevention, HIV & AIDS treatment, reproductive health, drugs and substance abuse. The Mobile App demo was developed by the students of University of Nairobi, will be open-licensed and will allow students and learners to learn, seek and disseminate useful information for their health and well-being, thus unleashing their potentials for the future they Want to Create. A Future of Hope, Education, Employment, fulfilling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, and Sustainable development Goal 4: Ensuring Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for
all.
In the words of the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, Ms. Ann Therese Ndong Jatta, "Governments, NGOs, UN agencies and private sector should come together and make strategic investments to secure the future of the population of Africa".
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Upcoming Events
Consultative meeting on the development of a Health Mobile App for University of Nairobi 24 to 25 September 2018 UN Compound, Nairobi Kenya 13th International Conference & Exhibition on ICT for Education, Training Skills and Development 26 to 28 September 2018 Kigali, Rwanda Life skills training through sports in Uganda organised by United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 26 September 2018 Kampala, Uganda A two-day consultative workshop to design appropriate interventions to promote HIV prevention and sexual and Reproductive health (SRH) services and sexuality education for young people in universities and other institutions of higher learning. 27 to 28 September 2018 Kampala, Uganda
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UNESCO International Days
International
Day
for
the
Universal
Access
to
Information
28 September
Birthdays
Gaia Paradiso 25 September
Missions
Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta E-Learning Africa 13th International Conference on ICT for Development, Education and Skills 26 to 28 September 2018 Kigali, Rwanda Jayakumar Ramasamy Scoping mission for Biosphere Reserves 24 to 27 September 2018 Mahe, Seychelles
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Abdul Rahman Lamin Follow-up mission on the outcome of the National Youth Conference, and consultations with relevant stakeholders 24 to 26 September 2018 Juba, South Sudan
Publications
Global Citizenship Education, taking it local
Culture for the 2030 Agenda
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Visit of the week!
Ms. Rebeen Rasheed from UNHCR Iraq/Dahuk and Mr. Bilal Al-Hamaydah from UNESCO Education in Iraq paid a courtesy visit to Director of UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, Ms. Ann Therese NdongJatta (in the centre). UNESCO partnered with University of Geneva, InZone and UNHCR to co-teach the University of Geneva's first Summer School session in Kenya, both at Kenyatta University and United Nations Compound in Nairobi, Kenya on Higher Education in emergencies and crises.
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Tweet of the Week
From
@UNESCOEast
UNESCO is holding the 5th #Africaengineeringconference2018 in Mombasa, #Kenya, with @TheIEK. "Engineers have an important role to play in harnessing blue economy for sustainable economic growth" @UnescoEast Mika Odido @IocUnesco Coordinator in Africa
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