On January 31, 2024, the Residence of the Ambassador of the European Union to the African Union provided the setting for a reception which highlighted the collaborative efforts between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) in Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI).
The reception, co-hosted by H.E. Mr. Javier Niño Pérez, Ambassador-designate of the European Union to the African Union and H.E. Professor Mohammed Belhocine, African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, brought together esteemed guests, including AU and EU Ambassadors, and senior colleagues from the United Nations and the International Livestock Research Institute.
Commissioner Belhocine opened the event with remarks emphasizing the pivotal role of education, science, and technology in driving human development across Africa. He highlighted the significant progress made through AU-EU collaboration and outlined key upcoming programs aimed at furthering Education on the continent. Commissioner Belhocine also celebrated the success of designating 2024 as the AU Year of Education, emphasizing the importance of addressing the diverse educational needs of the continent.
Ambassador Niño Pérez echoed Commissioner Belhocine’s sentiments, emphasizing the shared commitment to cooperation in education and innovation between the AU and EU. He emphasized the significance of harnessing collective efforts between the AU and the EU, alongside member states, to tackle the evolving challenges and opportunities in these crucial sectors.
Ms. Sophia Ashipala, Head of Education Division, ESTI at the AUC, elaborated on two key initiatives aimed at advancing education across Africa. She discussed the Teacher Development in Africa program, which focuses on revitalizing the teaching profession and promoting digital skills development for teachers. Ms. Ashipala shared with the audience the development of three instruments for the teaching profession in Africa, including a Continental Framework of Standards and Competences, a Teacher Qualification Framework, and a Teacher Mobility Protocol and Management endorsed by the STC-EST4 in 2022. She briefed on the AU Continental Teacher Award, celebrating outstanding teachers in Africa and promoting teaching as a profession across all levels of education. Secondly, Mrs. Ashipala discussed the Innovating Education in Africa (IEA) program initiated in 2018 to identify innovative practices in education and training across AU Member States. She highlighted the program’s achievements, including the identification and promotion of over 190 education innovations through the IEA Platform.
Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, Head of Science, Technology, and Space Division, emphasized leveraging technology for the conservation and sustainable use of Africa’s vast mineral resources. Dr. Ouattara highlighted the African Outer Space Programme as a flagship initiative of Africa Agenda 2063 aimed at harnessing space technologies for socio-economic development. Dr. Ouattara also mentioned collaborative initiatives with Europe, such as the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES Africa) program, which contributes to the Earth observation domain of the African Outer Space Programme. Additionally, he outlined the African Union Research Grant funded by the European Union, which promotes excellence in research and development through partnerships with African scientists and institutions.
Dr. Laurent Bochereau, EU Science Counsellor to the African Union, further enriched the dialogue by highlighting the outstanding partnership between the AU and the EU in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI). He underscored the tangible outcomes of this collaboration, including the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, the ARISE programme and the Africa Initiatives within the Horizon Europe programme. Dr. Bochereau mentioned the expansion of the Euraxess Africa initiative to promote international collaboration and trans-national mobility between Africa and Europe (https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/worldwide/africa).
We look forward to further strengthening the bonds between the AU and EU for the prosperity of our shared future. Stay updated on our collaborative efforts in ESTI as we continue to work together toward our common goals.