Partners of the Gender at the Centre Initiative Alliance meet in Dakar for the annual Board meeting

28/03/2022
In brief

Dakar is hosting the 3rd Annual Board Meeting of the Gender at the Center (GCI) Alliance from 29 to 31 March 2022. The  Alliance brings together all members of GCI: international organisations, public authorities and civil society. The meeting aims to reflect on the activities carried out in 2021,  define priorities and work plans for 2022, and collectively address the way forward for the Initiative after 2023. Between 60 and 85 participants are expected to attend.

GCI Board 1
GCI Board 1

Since its launch in July 2019, the Gender at the Center Initiative (GCI) has been working on its objectives in eight countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, to promote gender equality in and through education.

The meeting will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss the results achieved in 2021 and the priorities and work plans for 2022. The meeting will also be an opportunity to reflect on the strategic directions that the Initiative can take beyond 2023.

"The Board is a key moment in the life of the Initiative to bring together the strengths of our Alliance, ensure coordination, joint learning and accountability in the implementation and the alignment of our priorities. We are proud of our initial achievements in 2021 and look forward to doing even more in 2022 and beyond, to place gender equality at the centre of African education systems."

Fabricia Devignes
Head of GCI at IIEP-UNESCO Dakar

Meeting for the 3rd time since the Initiative's inception in 2019 and for the first time in person since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alliance's Board of Directors will discuss progress made in 2021, programming for 2022 and 2023, and will provide an opportunity for external partners to join the discussion to reflect on the strategic directions of GCI, on the last day.

The Initiative is being implemented with the support of several G7 donors in collaboration with the Ministries of Education of the 8 GCI countries, several multilateral organisations and civil society organisations. 

The GCI Alliance, supported by UNGEI and IIEP-UNESCO, is composed of four groups:

  • Representatives of ministries of education or 'GCI focal points' from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria and Sierra Leone
  • Civil society organisations (FAWE, ANCEFA, Plan International) 
  • Donors (Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, European Union) 
  • Technical partners (GPE, UNESCO, UNICEF and AU/CIEFFA)