Earlier this month, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, hosted the monumental 1st AU Pan-African Conference on Girls and Women’s Education. With the theme “Prioritizing Girls and Women’s Education: A Strategy for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa,” the conference brought together thought leaders and advocates from across the continent to chart a path forward for girls and women’s education in Africa. During the conference, we had the opportunity to speak in a parallel session focusing on the crucial role of youth engagement in advocating for the reintegration of teenage mothers and enhancing social accountability in educational policies. Here are some key takeaways from our discussion:
🔹 Intergenerational Dialogue & Co-Leadership: We emphasized the importance of engaging diverse stakeholders—youth, educators, policymakers, and communities—in policy advocacy at global, continental, national, and local levels.
🔹 Leveraging Existing Frameworks: We explored how to build on existing frameworks and resources to advance the inclusion of childcare in educational policies and discussions. Additionally, we highlighted the role of Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) strategies to support childcare initiatives and foster community ownership of educational advancements.
🔹 Meaningful Youth Engagement: We showcased successful examples, such as #YACT’s work in Kenya, where we have empowered many youth advocates to address teenage pregnancy and girls' education, collaborating with county governments to domesticate the return-to-school policy.
🔹 Integrated Approaches: We looked at successful models like Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia’s Kefeta Project, which provides adult learning opportunities for out-of-school young mothers, focusing on literacy, numeracy, and income-generating skills.
As we move forward, these discussions and insights will be instrumental in shaping more inclusive, effective, and sustainable strategies for girls’ and women’s education across Africa.
Bitania Lulu Berhanu Winnie Olwal ,PMD Pro. AMREF
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