AU CIEFFA Conducts #AfricaEducatesHer Monitoring and Evaluation Visit to Namibia

The African Union International Centre for Girls' and Women's Education in Africa (AU CIEFFA) has concluded a three-day field visit to the Republic of Namibia under its flagship #AfricaEducatesHer Campaign, aimed at strengthening inclusive education and advancing girls' and young women's access to quality learning opportunities. The mission was conducted from 9 to 11 September 2026 in Windhoek, Namibia, under the theme: "Strengthening Inclusive Education and Advancing Girls' and Young Women's Access to Quality Learning."

The field visit brought together representatives from Namibia's education and gender sectors, civil society organisations, development partners, and AU CIEFFA stakeholders to assess progress, share experiences, and identify opportunities for strengthening educational outcomes for girls and young women, particularly those in vulnerable and marginalised communities.

The delegation, led by AU CIEFFA's Coordinator, Mrs Simone Yankey, was welcomed by the Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Hon. Dino Ballotti. In her opening speech, the Director for Programme and Quality Assurance, Ayesha Wentworth, highlighted national efforts being undertaken to promote equitable access to education, including ongoing programmes that support girls' and women's participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

As part of the visit, AU CIEFFA delegates engaged directly with learners and educators through field visits showcasing innovative STEAM initiatives, including demonstrations by young learners participating in the "Minds in Action" programme. These engagements underline the importance of empowering girls with skills for the future and encouraging their participation in STEM-related fields.

To gain deeper insights into inclusive education practices, the delegation visited educational institutions and community-based initiatives, including the Centre for Communication and Deaf Studies, Windhoek Technical High School, the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre, the Physically Active Youth (PAY) initiative, and the One Economy Foundation premises implementing the #BeFree Campaign. These visits spotlighted efforts to promote inclusive learning, technical and vocational education, and youth development beyond the classroom.

As part of the programme, the delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry for Gender Equality and Child Welfare and was received by Ms Lydia H. Indombo, Executive Director.

Other participants included the Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Education and Training of Burundi, officials from the Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare and the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWENA), a UN Women representative, and representatives from Women Action for Development (WAD), One Economy Foundation, and the Namibia Women in Engineering (NAMWIE).

Throughout the visit, participants identified promising practices and agreed on recommendations and next steps for accelerating girls' and young women's retention within quality, inclusive education frameworks in Namibia.

The visit is supported through the World Bank Group's EAGER (East Africa Girls' Empowerment and Resilience) project.

For further inquiries, please contact:

Azwe Success Barbara Viof, Communications Officer | African Union International Centre for Girls & Women's Education in Africa | African Union Commission WhatsApp: +226 64 90 44 95 | E-mail: [email protected]| Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso