Message of the Director - Unesco

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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

3

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

23

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.

5

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

10

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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