ADEA participates in the 2nd International Conference on Learning Cities

Published on Wednesday, 4 November 2015
2nd Global Conference on learning cities: Conference panel
(on the right) Mr. Aliou Sow, focal point of the Working Group on Books and Learning Materials (WGBLM) at the podium during the presentation of Mexico Declaration
(on the left) Mr. Ibrahima Bah-Lalya, Coordinator of the Working Group on Non-Formal Education (WGNFE), during his presentation on the contribution of ADEA to the Mexico conference
ADEA’s delegation (from left to right) Mr. Aliou Sow, focal point of the Working Group on Books and Learning Materials (WGBLM) and Mr. Ibrahima Bah-Lalya, Coordinator of the Working Group on Non-Formal Education (WGNFE)

Along with many other regional and international organizations working in the area of education and social welfare all over the world, the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) took part in the deliberations of the 2nd International Conference on Learning Cities held in the Mexico City (Mexico) from September 28th to 30th, 2015.

The ADEA delegation which was composed of Mr. Ibrahima Bah-Lalya, Coordinator of the Working Group on Non-Formal Education (WGNFE) and Mr. Mamadou Aliou Sow, Focal Point of the Working Group on Books and Learning Materials (WGBLM), greatly contributed to the facilitation of the sector meetings and the deliberations of the Drafting Committee of the Mexico Declaration.

The meeting brought together delegates from more than 76 countries, from all over the continents, including the Africa Group which was represented by about fifteen participants from Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Togo. The meeting which was marked by the effective presence of high-level personalities (Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Directors-General, the Mayors of Banjul and Bujumbura, etc.), was a follow-up to the first International Conference on Learning Cities held in Beijing  (China) from October 21st to 23rd, 2003 on the theme “Lifelong Learning for All : inclusion, prosperity and sustainability in cities”.

During the conference, intensive work sessions, presentations and discussions have been held, with a special focus on 3 key thematic areas of reflection:

  1. developing sustainable learning cities all over the world ;
  2. consolidating partnerships/networking in order to develop sustainable learning cities ; and
  3. implementing the benchmarks (key characteristics) for sustainable learning cities.

During the Forum on Africa, Mr. Ibrahima Lalya-Bah made a presentation on the theme “African Cities and Education: What alternatives for disadvantaged groups?”. For his part, Mr. Aliou Sow made a contribution as a member of the Drafting Committee which drew up the Mexico Declaration adopted at the end of the Conference.

This Declaration is essentially an appeal for regional partner organizations such as ADEA to get actively involved in establishing learning cities and implementing benchmark principles of sustainable learning cities in every part of the world. This appeal will be taken into consideration since ADEA will be a special partner for the organization of the first African regional conference on learning cities in partnership with UNESCO and UIL in 2017.

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