Africa Advances Education and Skills Agenda At Continental Cesa Coordination Forum

28 April 2026
African Union (Addis Ababa)

The African Union Commission, Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation and State Department for Basic Education, Government of Kenya, with participants from AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), UN Agencies, Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) Cluster Leads and Members, and Development Partners, today officially opened the Continental Coordination and Capacity Forum for CESA Thematic Clusters in Nairobi under the theme "Advancing Implementation, Resilience, and Monitoring of CESA 26-35 and CTVET-34."

Speaking on behalf of Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Education, Dr. Gichuhi, Director of Education, State Department for Basic Education, welcomed delegates from AU Member States, RECs, development partners, academia, and civil society. He reaffirmed Kenya's commitment to continental cooperation and highlighted education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as key drivers of employability, entrepreneurship, and industrial growth.

He noted that as Africa enters the Decade of Education and Skills Development (2025-2034), the focus must shift from ambition to implementation, strengthening foundational learning, empowering teachers, equipping youth with future-ready skills, and building resilient education systems.

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Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the African Union Commission, Ms. Sophia Ashipala, Head of Education Division, Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI), described the Forum as a strategic implementation platform at a decisive moment for Africa's development.

She emphasized that Africa's demographic advantage must be converted through quality education, relevant skills, productive employment, and innovation. She underscored that the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 26-35) and the African Continental TVET Strategy (CTVET-34) are flagship frameworks to reposition education systems toward learning outcomes, skills relevance, inclusion, digital transformation, and stronger accountability.

Ms. Ashipala called for greater continental coordination to address fragmented initiatives, weak indicators, and delayed implementation. She stressed five priorities for the Forum to include cluster governance, results-based monitoring, teacher transformation, equitable digitalization, and skills for employability and economic growth.

Participants are expected to validate cluster governance mechanisms, develop 2026-2027 workplans, strengthen accountability indicators, and identify financing and partnership priorities to accelerate delivery.

The three-day Forum runs from 28th to 30th April 2026 brings together key stakeholders to strengthen implementation of Africa's education and skills transformation agenda.Top of Form

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