Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA P. O. Box 3243 Telephone: Fax: Website:

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1 AFRICAN UNION UNION AFRICAINE UNIÃO AFRICANA Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA P. O. Box 3243 Telephone: Fax: Website: TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEETING TO PREPARE THE SUMMIT FOR THE COMMITTEE OF TEN HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT (C10) CHAMPIONING EDUCATION, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGYAND INNOVATION 14 th September 2018 Dakar, Senegal MEETING REPORT 1

2 Technical Committee Meeting to Prepare the Summit for the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government (C10) Championing Education, Science, Technology and Innovation 14 th September 2018, Dakar, Senegal MEETING REPORT 1. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT In June 2015 the AU Assembly committed to the establishment of a team of ten Heads of State and Government (two from each geographic region) as African champions of education, science and technology to set high-level platform for pursuing the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals and to advance the implementation of the African Union Agenda High level consultations were undertaken by the Commission and the chair of the committee to propose ten Member States of the champion team of ten. Northern Africa Egypt Tunisia Central Africa West Africa East Africa Southern Africa Chad Senegal Kenya Malawi Gabon Sierra Leone Mauritius Namibia The African Union Assembly of January 2018 endorsed the Committee often Heads of State and Government (C10) championing Education, Science and Technology in Africa.The C10held its inaugural meeting in Addis Ababa, on January 27 th, 2018 on the sidelines of the African Union Summit. The key outcome of the meeting was adoption of a bureau and the rules of procedure for the Committee and agreement that the first Extra- Ordinary Summit for the Committee of Ten Heads of State Championing Education, Science, Technology and Innovation be hosted by the Government of the Republic of Malawi. To facilitate the preparation of the Summit for the Committee of Ten Heads of State, a Technical Committee Meeting was held indakar, Senegal on14 th September 2018organized by the African Union Commission Department for Human Resources Science and Technology (HRST) in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Senegal. The preparatory technical meeting aimed to discuss and propose key issues to be brought to the attention of the C10 Summit that will be held in Lilongwe, Malawi. It will to also 2

3 agree on the date for the Summit and deliberate on all other issues relevant to the successful holding of the summit. The main objectives of the preparatory meeting were to: i. Discuss the preparedness for C10Summit including logistical arrangements. ii. iii. Review the draft agenda and concept note for the Summit. Agree on the date and way forward for the C10 Summit in Lilongwe, Malawi. 2. PARTICIPANTS The meeting was attended by technical focal persons from C10 Member States (Egypt, Gabon, Tunisia, Malawi, Kenya, and Senegal), STC-EST Bureau members (Egypt, Senegal, Sudan and South Africa), representatives of the Academic Stakeholders Association of African Universities (AAU), African Academy of Sciences (AAS), Commonwealth Association of Polytechnic in Africa (CAPA), Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), African Development Bank (AfDB) and Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture(RUFORUM) as well as the HRST Department of African Union Commission. The list of participants is attached. 3. PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING The Technical Committee Meeting started with welcoming remarks from H.E. Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST) of the African Union Commission and followed by an opening speech from H.E. Prof. Mary Teuw Niane, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of the Republic of Senegal who was also chair of the meeting, alongside the HRST Commissioner. The Representative of Malawi Organizing Committee briefed on the logistic arrangements and preparations undertaken so far including venue of meeting, accommodation arrangements, transportation facilities, and issues concerning security and protocol. A Draft Concept Note and Agenda of C10 Summit were presented by the HRST Department of the AU Commission. Focal Experts from C10 Member States, STC-EST Bureau, and the Academic Stakeholders provided their comments and made their respective suggestions for further input. The Technical Committee had in-depth deliberations on the objectives of the Summit, the date, agenda, concept note, exhibitions and concretization of the outcomes. The meeting also discussed the way forward for effective accomplishment of the C10 Summit. In a group session, the Technical Committee was divided into four sub-committees namely; Exhibition Committee, Recommendations Committee, Agenda Day I Committee 3

4 and Agenda Day 2 Committee. The objective of these sub-committees was to come out with concrete action and implementation strategies for the successful organization and follow-up of the Committee of Ten Heads of StateSummit declaration. 4.OUTCOMES The following were the outcomes of the Technical Committee Meeting: i. It was noted that the Committee of Ten Heads of State is crucial for advancing the implementation of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA), the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA), and the TVET Continental Strategy towards attaining the aspirations of Agenda ii. iii. iv. The meeting highlighted that investment in education, science and technology is imperative in order to raise Africa s knowledge based economic growth. The meeting was briefed by the Government of Malawi representatives that all necessary logistic arrangements are proceeding well towards hosting the C10 Summit successfully. The date for C10 Summit is agreed to be on 3 rd of November 2018 in Lilongwe. A ministerial technical meeting will be held on 2 nd November prior to the Summit. v. The Committee agreed that the President of Senegal who is the President of the C10 and the President of Malawi, who is the host of the Summit will co-sign the invitation letters. vi. vii. viii. It was agreed that the list of participation shall be determined in joint consultation by HRST Department and organization committee of Malawi. The meeting recognized the important role of the Committee of ten Heads of State in promoting Education, Science and Technology in Africa. It was suggested to prepare a poster of the ten Heads of State Champions with their latest photos and flags of their respective countries to promote visibility. ix. The importance of organizing an exhibition was highlighted. The hosting country Malawi was requested to set up a sub-committee on Exhibition that would identify and invite relevant organizations to exhibit. Exhibitors particularly start-up innovators would be given a platform to discuss their ideas with interested investors/companies. 4

5 It was agreed that winners from the Dakar Expo on Innovating Education in Africa should attend the exhibition. Exhibitors may be awarded certificates of recognition or money prizes if resources could be identified. The engagement of private sector is encouraged. All exhibitors shall meet their own costs. For start-ups, their countries should be asked to assist them. x. The draft agenda was reviewed and finalized for both Day One (Ministerial and Experts Meeting, 2 nd November) and Day Two (Ten Heads of State Summit, 3 rd November). The revised agenda is attached. 5. RECOMMENDATIONS The Technical Committee came out with draft recommendations that could be input for the C10 Summit on the following priority areas. Investing in Education, Science and Technology Operationalize the African Education Funds in collaboration with AfDB Explore effective resource mobilization strategies by engaging the private sector and donors Urge Member States to meet the original commitment of 1% GDP on Research and Development (R&D) in order to facilitate industrialization and socio-economic development of the continent. Member States shall submit report on their annual budget allocation on R&D. A Reporting template shall be provided. Integrate ICT in all programmes of education, at all levels. Promote linkages between research institutions and the private sector Strengthen the capacity of universities to promote applied research, knowledge generation, and innovation at post-graduate levels Provide knowledge sharing platforms in STI and advance digital technology Promoting Education in Africa Early Childhood Education and Development Provide free and compulsory ECED in all Member States Train, supply and remunerate care givers and teachers Provide relevant teaching and learning material for ECED 5

6 Teacher Development Increase supply of qualified teachers at all levels particularly in STEM fields Promote motivation of teachers for improved performance, and establish Annual African Union teacher awards for best performing teachers at all levels Train all teachers on ICT skills and digital technology at all levels Promote Continental Teacher Mobility to ensure optimal utilization of the teacher resource in Africa TVET and Skill Development Provide practical attachment programmes and strengthen incubation of business Fortify training on entrepreneurship and skill development for employment Rebranding for enhanced access, quality and equity in TVET Capacity building through targeted training of TVET trainers and stakeholders Incorporation of Life Skills Development in the TVET curriculum Enhance access to quality TVET at secondary and tertiary levels Harmonization and Quality Assurance Initiate the development of African Qualification Frameworks and set-up of the Continental Accreditation Agency Advance the implementation of Pan African Quality Assurance and Accreditation Framework and its domestication at regional and national levels Expedite Ratification of the Addis Convention on recognition of Qualification Underscore the central role of harmonization and quality assurance to facilitate the movement of students, academics, labor and skills across borders for Universal Quality Inclusive Education Provision Undertake building of school infrastructure and upgrading existing ones towards an agreed AU Model School Ensure access of underprivileged communities and girls through social interventions including robust Home Grown School Feeding programmes, and scholarships at all levels Establish libraries in communities to promote lifelong learning and a culture of reading 6

7 Engaging Private Sector Promote Public Private Partnerships in bridging the financial gap in Education Science and Technology Link innovation to the existing industries and promote value addition Develop innovation to suit existing industries Promote legal instruments to facilitate education taxation from the private sector Assist innovators to acquire trademarks and protect their intellectual property Provide education tax break to industries that fund education Involve industry in development of education, training and research programmes and policies Proposed recommendations would be endorsed by Ministers of Education as input for C10 Summit declaration for approval of the Committee of Ten Heads of State. A followup action plan on the activities of the C10 shall be prepared. Activity Actions Timeframe Responsible It is expected that the C10 Heads of State will provide feedback to the AU Assembly during the January Summit every year. 6. CLOSING SESSION Closing remarks were given by H.E. Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, HRST Commissioner and H.E. Prof. Mary Teuw Niane, Minister of Higher Education and Innovation of Senegal. The Technical Committee adopted the outcomes of the preparatory meeting and urged the Secretariat and all partners involved in the organization of the C10 Summit to put in all their best efforts to the success of the event. The need to support the C10 Heads of States in their quest to advancement of Education, Science and Technology in Africa was emphasized. Participants appreciated the guidance of the African Union Commission in facilitating the preparedness for the C10 Summit. The HRST Commissioner was commended for her input to the successful preparatory meeting. 7