CEN-SAD calls on ADEA to develop a strategic policy framework for the education of nomadic people
ADEA has been called to lead the development of a strategic policy framework for the education of nomads. This responsibility was assigned to ADEA during the Regional Conference for Education in Nomadic Environments of the Sahel-Sahara region” that took place in Niamey, Niger, December 2-5, 2013.
Organized by the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) and the Secretariat of the Strategy for Development and Security in the Sahelian-Saharan Areas of Niger (SDS), the objective of the conference was to come up with relevant policies and strategies for the provision of quality formal and non-formal basic education to all peoples in the Sahel-Sahara region, especially nomadic herding and fishing peoples, who have until now benefited very little from regional development policies.
Invited to attend the conference, ADEA shared the results of its work on education for nomadic peoples and informed the participants of the support provided for programs targeting these peoples through its Working Group on Non-Formal Education (WGNFE). ADEA also chaired the panel on Policy and Strategy, which provided some of the key recommendations for the conference.
The conference issued a Declaration, in which ADEA is entrusted the responsibility of guiding the development of a “medium-term programmatic framework for action”, under the political leadership of CEN-SAD. WGNFE will lead the process of drafting the framework. The framework will outline strategies to ensure the provision of quality education for nomads, including education reforms need and actions to be taken for the channeling of investments.
ADEA was invited to participate in the CENSAD conference when it undertook a mission to Niger in September 2013. ADEA’s former Executive Secretary, Mr. Ahlin Byll-Cataria and Mr. Hamidou Boukary, currently Acting Executive Secretary met with the Prime Minister of Niger and five ministers in charge of the different sub-sectors of education (TVET, youth and culture, Primary, Secondary and Higher Education). In addition, they also met with the Director of the Executive Secretariat of the Strategy for Development and Security (SDS) in the Sahelo-Saharan Regions located within the Prime Minister’s Office. The program is part of a national and regional strategy to address the instability in the northern part of Niger where a quasi-war situation persists.
