1. Regional Coordination Group on SDG4-Education 2030 (West and Central Africa) Consultation Meeting
UNESCO Regional Office Dakar, 16 June 2016

2. AGENDA Introduction Global perspective RCG4 TORs Joint activities Next1.
Introduction 2.
Global perspective 3.
RCG4 TORs 4.
Joint activities 5.
Next

3. INTRODUCTION

4. WCA-RCG4
West and Central Africa Regional Coordination Group on SDG4-Education 2030
Established
Activities so far
16 May 2016
In attendance: UNESCO, UNICEF, UNHCR, UN Women, FAWE, Save the Children, CONFEMEN/ PASEC, CONFEJES, CAMES, REESAO, Handicap International
Inaugural statement
Decision to create TORs and discuss joint activities at 2nd RCG4 meeting
Report of the first meeting
Web article
Online survey to collect elements for TORs and ideas of joint activities
15 responses to survey
Engage key agencies for membership
Development of some ideas of immediate joint activities
Meeting with GPE

5. Global perspective

6. TORs

7. RCG4 TORs
Rationale:
Synergy, collaboration and coordination in support of countries and teams
Linking global and national
Vision:
‘Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’ in WCA
Consideration of particularities, esp. CESA16-25
Partners:
Countries with ministries, LEGs, agencies’ teams, CSOs
Regional agencies
Key Functions:
regional space for dialogue and communication through regular meetings
exchange of knowledge, experiences, expertise and information, including by means of an online platform
joint regional programmes to support national education development
linking global with country-level processes

8. RCG4 Composition RCG4 Membership Plenary group: Working modalities:
Member organizations’ regional focal points responsible for education or their representatives
Secretariat: UNESCO Regional Office in Dakar, the coordinator and secretary of the group, with the support of the steering team.
Key responsibilities of WCA-RCG4 focal points
The WCA-RCG4, all UN and non-UN agencies and organizations working on education in WCA
Membership based on invitation or request, subject to majority’s approval or non-objection
Membership institutional
A steering group, comprised of five members, elected by constituencies
The WCA-RCG4 composed of a plenary group and several task teams
Working modalities:
A WCA-RCG4 work plan in light of the global directions and in line with regional priorities
A meeting at least every three months;
Annual retreat to review progress on the work plan and ways forward
One annual activity report
Regular exchange of information through a dedicated webportal, bilateral contacts and

9. RCG4 Task Teams Sub-sectoral Thematic
Basic education (including early childhood development, primary and secondary education)
Skills development (including technical and vocational education and training, literary , accelerated learning and non-formal education)
Higher education, including research
Sector-wide issues (including sector planning, integration of SDG4, financing, capacity development, crisis- and conflict informed planning to strengthen resilience and responsiveness of systems, etc.)
Governance and accountability (including local governance, inclusion, equity, right to education, etc.)
Management (sector planning, financing, information management, indicators, monitoring, etc.)
Quality of teaching and learning
Society and life skills (education for value, peace and human rights, in emergencies and transition, reproductive health, safe learning environment, climate change, etc.)
Key responsibilities and working modalities

10. SDG4 Means of Implementation
RCG4 Task Teams
SDG4 Targets
SDG4 Means of Implementation
Target 4.1 General education: all secondary education with relevant and effective learning outcomes
Target 4.1 ECD: all have access to quality ECD, care and preprimary education
Target 4.3 Post-basic: Equal access for all to affordable and quality TVET and tertiary education
Target 4.4 Skills: Relevant skills for youth and adults
Target 4.5 Equality: for gender and the vulnerable
Target 4.6 Literacy/numeracy: Youth and adults’ literacy and numeracy
Target 4.7 Relevance: All acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development
Target 4.a School facilities: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, nonviolent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all
Target 4.b Scholarships: substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries
Target 4.c Teachers: the supply of qualified teachers
Could also be a combination of all of the above three angles

11. Management The secretariat of the WCA-RCG4, with the Steering Team:
Managed by UNESCO Dakar
Convening Yearly retreat, quarterly meetings, and any other meetings of the WCA-RCG4 as necessary;
Coordinating the development, management, monitoring of the WCA-RCG4 annual work plans;
Identifying strategic or emerging issues requiring WCA-RCG4’s attention and/or action;
Compiling and disseminating information on key events, reports;
Facilitating the development of advocacy and communication tools and channels;
Dedicated webportal and electronic information exchange;
Mobilizing resources for WCA-RCG4 activities.

12. JOINT ACTIVITIES

13. Knowledge management/sharing
Web portal (news, forum, key documents
Policy briefs (esp. around SDG4 targets)
Knowledge creation (research/analytical work on key issues common to most countries in the region)
Strategic information (mapping of progress compiling available data to have a common understanding of the major issues and challenges based on available data)
Pooling of information (one-stop info, pulling together all relevant documents, news, good practices and events of all member agencies)

14. Advocacy and communication
Regional resource package/communication materials
to support national consultations on SDG4 and its integration into education sector plans
Joint events for international days:
International Nelson Mandela day, 18 July
International teacher day, 5 October
International Day of the Girl Child, October 11
Visibility of RCG4 through agencies: relay information
Mapping local education groups and joint sector reviews
Coordination and cross fertilization with the ESA RCG4 in the making (in order to benefit from cross regional synergies)

15. Capacity development Planning/integration of SDG4 Costing/financing
Development of indicators framework and training
Learning assessment
Global/responsible citizenship
Teacher policies
Lifelong learning systems
Skills training through synergy between formal and non-formal education
Harmonization and qualification frameworks for TVET and higher education

16. Resource mobilization
Support for national education development
RCG4 work
GPE: regional engagement?
GPE: quality check of education sector pans?
Education Commission ( research?
Private sector and foundations
Education cannot wait (for emergencies
Dubai Cares (
Non-traditional bilateral donors

17. Concrete examples of joint activities by task team
Teaching And Learning: Educators’ Network for Transformation (TALENT) – UNESCO-led?
International Nelson Mandela day, 18 July using his quote “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” – an NGO-led?
Results framework, planning, M&E and reporting by SDG4 target – UNESCO-led?
List of country coordination groups/leads – UNICEF-led?
Mapping of education emergencies leads/status – UNHCR-led?
Bachelor-Master-Doctorate (LMD) reform and harmnzation – CAMES-led?

18. NEXT
1. Summary of the meeting outcomes
2. Next meeting
3. AOB