What: Second Dialogue with Traditional and Religious Leaders on Girls’ and
Young Women’s access and retention in educational systems

When: 19-20 June 2019, Kampala, Uganda

Where: Kampala, Republic of Uganda

Who: The event is organized by the African Union International Centre for Girls’
and Women’s Education in Africa (AU/CIEFFA)

Objectives: The main objective of this dialogue is to bring the key players at community level to the frontline to accelerate the desired changes Africa wants for its development and the welfare of its populations. It has become urgent to take an in-depth look at the issue of girls' and women’s education in general and their retention in educational systems in particular.

AU/CIEFFA with the traditional and religious leaders will identify ways and means to ensure girls’ and women’s education and equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to sustain Africa’s development.

Participants: The Second dialogue with traditional leaders will be attending by traditional and religious leaders from African Union member States. Some of these countries include Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Expected outcomes: The second dialogue will lead to the following outcomes:
• Diagnosis established on current Girls’ and women’s education status at community level.
• Re-setting of responsibilities of actors that can bring about change and quick wins.
• Platform for traditional and religious leaders on girls’ and women’s Education
• Proposed strategies to effectively implement girls’ education related decisions impacting the changes.
• Shared experiences on good practices for girls' and women’s education in communities.
Background:
Traditional and religious leaders play a key role in girls’ and women education as they are responsible for children’s future through the decisions they make. They cannot be absent from the discussions on key development issues, including in education. Their support and leadership is essential for sustained positive transformations. Cognizant of the importance of traditional and religious leaders in Africa, AU/CIEFFA is organizing this event to engage in a creative and constructive dialogue that will lead to durable solutions to improve the retention of girls in educational systems, no matter the context.
The first dialogue with traditional and religious leaders took place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on 26th May 2017.

Media representatives are invited to cover the meeting.

For any inquiry, please contact:
Mr. Boubacar Yougbare| International Centre for Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa| Email: boubakary@africa-union.org
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Janet Faith Ochieng| Communications Officer, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | Tel: +251(0) 911361185 | E- mail: OchiengJ@africa-union.org
Mr. Stephen Kwaku Darko, Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC E- mail: DarkoS@africa-union.org