The Secretariat of the Coalition on Media and Education Development Africa Forum (CAFOR) led by the Executive Director of CAFOR, Dr Lawalley Cole was received in audience by the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission H.E Ambassador Thomas Kwesi Quartey in his office on November 6, 2019. The Senior Advisor of CAFOR, Mr Tshimanga Mukadi-Mutoke and the Special Assistant to the Executive Director, Ms Biruktayet Bihon, accompanied Dr Cole.

During the Meeting the Executive Director of CAFOR briefed the Deputy Chairperson on the progress CAFOR has made following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the African Union last January. The Executive Director informed the Deputy Chairperson of the various meetings CAFOR held with the diplomatic community in Addis Ababa.  These included visits to 25 Ambassadors and development partner agencies of the African Union to explain the purposes and objectives of CAFOR, and to seek additional partnerships with their respective countries and agencies. He also mentioned the successes of these Ambassadorial meetings and recalled commitments made, and other possible engagements that included trips to some of these countries to instil further talks and negotiations with the respective stakeholders.

Dr Cole also explained the purposes of the upcoming Roundtable with Donors and the planned Strategic Meeting that will be organized by CAFOR in the coming months. He also spoke about CAFOR’s initiative on the Addis Ababa Pilot Project on Street Children, and other activities that CAFOR has embarked on that would support the AUC’s Human Resources, Science and Technology Department’s 2020 Action Plan.  Dr Cole also highlighted on CAFOR’s commitment in advocating for the domestication and ownership of Agenda 2063, CESA 16-25 and other African Union agendas including the Science, Technology and Innovations Strategy and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Strategy. Much work is needed at national, regional and continental levels to communicate these agendas to the masses of the African people, Dr Cole intimated, among other things.

Discussion between DCP of AUC and CAFOR Executive Director

The Deputy Chairperson of AUC, H.E Thomas Kwesi Quartey on his part appreciated CAFOR’s initiatives to promote education, and skills development as linked to employment in Africa. He called on CAFOR to lend its full support to the African Union Commission Chairperson, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat’s 1 million by 2021 Initiative. This ambition aims to concretely reach millions of African youth from across the continent with opportunities and interventions in the critical areas of Employment, Entrepreneurship, Education and Engagement, known as the 4Es, to accelerate socio-economic development on the continent.

Underlining the significance of focusing on the youth H.E Thomas Kwesi Quartey in his capacity as Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission assured the Executive Director of CAFOR of his continued support to CAFOR’s purposes and objectives. The Deputy Chairperson conclusively expressed his full appreciation and welcomed further follow up briefings on CAFOR’s future activities.

Group picture of DCP of AUC, his staff and CAFOR secretariat staff