IICBA and UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa facilitated the first planning meeting for the project "Teacher Training and Development for Peace-building in the Horn of Africa and Surrounding Countries" in Nairobi, Kenya from 26-28 April, 2017. Mrs. Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta, the UNESCO Regional Director and Representative for Eastern Africa and Dr. Yumiko Yokozeki, Director of UNESCO IICBA attended the meeting and warmly welcomed the delegates. The main goal of the planning meeting was to promote countries ownership through full information sharing of the project content, thus ensuring that project implementation in the targeting countries will be driven by common principles and standards. The meeting also aimed at launching this project which is supported by the Government of Japan.

In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Incheon Declaration and Education 2030 Framework, as well as the spirit of the Tokyo International Conference of Africa's Development, this project maps out an overall framework which is to create a critical mass of teachers who can implement effective teaching and learning, producing economically productive and peace-loving youth. Six countries including Eritrea, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and South Sudan are targeted, where the project is expected to have the outcomes including peace and resilience building, social stability and industrial diversification incorporated in teacher development program.

Delegates from six targeting countries presented at the meeting and shared the experience of current interventions on peace building and education from their countries. The meeting discussed the challenges, possible solutions and generated some innovative ideas, leading to countries' work plans for the implementation of the project at both national and regional level.

Link to the full report