A 2-day workshop for an intensive information exchange was participated by delegates from UNESCO IIEP Pôle de Dakar, Mr Jérôme Gerard, Expert in network animation, Platform of expertise in vocational training (PEFOP), Mr Jonathan Jourde, Focal Point Communication and Knowledge Management, Ms Lynne Sergeant, UNESCO HIV and Health Education Clearinghouse, IIEP Paris with the UNESCO-UNEVOC team, held from 21-22 March 2016 in Bonn, Germany.

The workshop identified and shared key-expertise on UNEVOC and Pôle de Dakar on vocational training highlighting the various strengths of both institutions to find a common ground for future collaborations in the area of TVET. It was also the opportunity for the newly appointed UNEVOC Regional focal points for Africa – Mr. Max Ehlers and Mr. Jean Hautier – to get a better understanding of the West-African cluster.

Participants from Pôle de Dakar introduced the Platform of Expertise in Vocational Training (PEFOP), a large-scale project for TVET in West Africa, articulated in 3 phases that combine policy review, knowledge sharing and capacity development (see the Pole de Dakar website). The UNEVOC team presented the UNESCO-UNEVOCs’ strategy, the UNEVOC Network and its activities, and the online services as part of the knowledge development and management capacities of the institution.

Pole de Dakar and UNESCO-UNEVOC share the understanding, that TVET has a key-role to play in the fight against youth unemployment and in favour of a sustainable economic growth, and that such role can only be fulfilled through intense cooperation between all stakeholders. “Network is the new resource” is the principal idea of the workshop, in which the following topics were discussed:

• Lifting the language barrier: Many west African countries counts French, English or both among their official languages, which raises a communication challenge. As of now, UNEVOC mostly communicates in English, which tends to confine to a passive role the French-speaking actors of the cluster. It appeared clear that the revitalisation of the network could only be achieved through their better inclusion. Virtual conferences and submission of promising practices in French were suggested, as well as the nomination of a second (French-speaking) cluster coordinator to complement the strong action of Nigeria’s NBTE among the English-speaking stakeholders.

• Bridging the digital divide: More and more content and activities are moved online, making it harder to include countries that cannot even secure continuous energy supply. If there is no miracle immediate solution to the problem, it should not be used as an excuse for a weaker commitment: Pole de Dakar highlighted the progress made and the popularity of smart-phones in the region, while all agree that in the long run, human relationships and positive contacts can lift most technological barriers.

• Revitalizing the UNEVOC network in West Africa: Put aside technological and language issues, keeping active a network of key-TVET players in a cluster is always challenging and requires constant attention and updating. UNESCO-UNEVOC benefited of Pôle de Dakar’s long experience in working in West Africa to better identify priorities and TVET leaders in the region.

• Linking West-Africa to the UNEVOC network: As Mr. Majumdar shared, “The UNEVOC network can become, for West-Africa, a door to the worldwide TVET community. Promising practices from the UNEVOC network could serve as a platform of knowledge interchange such as in the field of bio-technologies and agriculture which were mentioned during the discussion as examples.

The session was closed on the shared desire of translating the current momentum in favour of TVET in concrete impacts for Africa, and, in this spirit, to keep close communication on each other’s activities and progress.

Pôle de Dakar of the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP – UNESCO), founded in 2001, is a platform for expertise in education policy analysis. The Pôle works with ministries in charge of education and offers technical expertise to all African countries. It has been offering its expertise to African countries for almost 15 years as it supports UNESCO in activities focusing on development of effective and equitable education policies in Africa.

The UNEVOC network in Africa represents 67 Centres (Training centres, Universities, Research Centres, Ministries, National TVET bodies) present in 40 countries within the region.