2024-07-11 08:50:13
These annexes were signed, on the Moroccan side, by Jamal Eddine El Aloua, Secretary General of the National Commission for Education, Science and Culture of the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Secretaries General of the National Commissions of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Niger, which are among the founding members; and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the State of Libya and the Union of the Comoros, as new member countries.
The city of Rabat saw, on September 13, 2023, the announcement of the creation of the Alliance of National Commissions and Learning Cities in Africa, as a cooperation platform, its creation being part of the implementation of the High Royal Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, aimed at strengthening effective South-South cooperation, during a meeting attended by representatives of nine African countries, namely Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Morocco, Niger, Uganda, Senegal and Togo.
The National Commission for Education, Science and Culture had initiated consultations with some African countries, particularly those that are part of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, with the aim of creating a platform for cooperation between African countries, with the aim of contributing to the promotion of common interests by strengthening cooperation and synergy between National Commissions and Learning Cities in Africa, thus realizing the Royal Vision advocating Africa as a crossroads of development and prosperity and a key economic and political player on the international scene.
This Alliance includes among its members the Secretaries General of the National Commissions of the countries concerned and the mayors of the learning cities. It is led by an Executive Council chaired by Jamal Eddine El Aloua, Secretary General of the National Commission for Education, Science and Culture of the Kingdom of Morocco, while Aboubacar Peter Diaby, Deputy Mayor of the city of Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, holds the position of Vice-President.
This Alliance will enable the launch of joint strategic actions between the National Commissions and the Learning Cities of African countries, with the objectives of structuring cooperation around programmes, taking into account the synergies to be developed within the framework of all the cooperation projects identified, promoting the operationalisation of lifelong learning in partner countries as well as exchanges between partners with a view to supporting the membership of African Cities in the various UNESCO networks.
It also advocates promoting dialogue between Learning Cities in partner countries and establishing a framework for sharing experiences, know-how and exchanging expertise between these countries in the various areas covered by UNESCO networks affecting cities, in addition to ensuring the implementation of communication activities, capacity building and programmes aimed at improving the role and action of Learning Cities.
In short, the emphasis will be on the importance of the Alliance as a platform for exchanging and sharing good practices to promote as a priority the culture of lifelong learning in Africa and as a fundamental pillar for the creation of the African Institute for Lifelong Learning, announced by HM King Mohammed VI in his message addressed to the participants of CONFINTEA VII – UNESCO, organized in Marrakech between June 15 and 17, 2022.
Similarly, the Alliance will enable the implementation of a joint action plan based around supporting Learning Cities in member countries, in addition to strengthening the African network in this area, by sponsoring and supporting African cities to apply for and obtain the UNESCO Learning Cities Label.
2024-07-11 08:50:13