Theme: Building Resilient Systems for Increased Access

to Inclusive Quality and Relevant Education in Africa

Deadline for submission of abstracts: June 16, 2024

Context

As part of the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX) Hub project, a joint initiative of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the African Union Commission, the UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA), and the UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), the  KIX  Africa 19 Hub in collaboration with the KIX Africa 21 Hub is organizing a continental research symposium that will bring together international, regional and national policymakers, researchers and academics to exchange critical knowledge on innovations, evidence and good practices to improve student learning outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa, notably during the African Union’s "Year of Education in Africa."

KIX operates through two main mechanisms, which contribute to strengthening national education systems through relevant and actionable data:

1. Knowledge Exchange: KIX creates spaces for GPE partner countries to share information, innovations, and best practices relevant to their needs and priorities, and disseminates knowledge generated by KIX-funded projects. Knowledge exchange is facilitated by KIX's four regional hubs.
2. Applied Research Projects: KIX projects provide evidence, mobilize knowledge, and build the capacity of education stakeholders on how to adapt and scale up innovations that meet the education priorities of GPE partner countries.

KIX brings together 70 low- and middle-income countries that are members of the Global Partnership for Education to identify common policy challenges and facilitate knowledge sharing and evidence accumulation. KIX is currently funding 36 projects in these 70 countries. To address educational challenges and bridge the gap between research, policy and practice in the region, KIX Africa 19 and 21 Hubs are organizing a joint research symposium to highlight research and evidence on improving the learning outcomes of students in their member states.

Symposium details

The symposium will take place from October 8^th through 10^th, 2024, in person at the African Union Conference Center and Office Complex in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Simultaneous online live streaming will take place on Zoom to allow more participants to join.

With a theme entitled "Building Resilient Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive Quality and Relevant Education in Africa," the symposium aims to:

• Bring visibility to research to improve student learning outcomes with national stakeholders in GPE countries;
• Promote learning and discussion among national policy actors, researchers and practitioners about evidence and research on improving learning outcomes;
• Promote the use of research in policy decision-making by national policy actors in GPE countries;
• Help bridge gaps between research, policy, and practice in GPE member countries;
• Promote the African Union’s continental theme for 2024 on the same topic.

The theme may be approached from multiple entry points, such as curriculum, assessment, pedagogy, teachers, inclusion, equity, policymaking, and practice. TVET, STEM Education, and issues around financing and strategic partnerships are also included in the focus of the symposium.

The year 2024 has been designated as the "Year of Education in Africa," providing a unique opportunity for the African Union (AU) to reignite commitment among its member states towards achieving the targets of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4). This initiative follows several key declarations and calls to action, including the STC-EST4, AU-HLSE Declarations, the Urgent Call for Action by the SDG4 High-level Steering Committee, and the UN Secretary General’s Vision Statement on Transforming Education. It dovetails with the AU Commission's proposed framework to urge governments and development partners to reevaluate educational and skills development models to create the future Africa desires in the 21st century.

Call for submission of papers

Proposals for papers are welcome on any of the following nine thematic axes of the symposium, and in connection with the main theme mentioned above.

1. Proven innovations in improving equitable access to education and inclusive education for all learners, especially girls, differently abled students, and marginalized learners, in African contexts;
2. Quality teacher education and professional development programs and support mechanisms, such as school assessments or inspections supported by data systems for improved learner outcomes;
3. Planning, budgeting, and implementing quality early childhood education (ECE) models and their impact on children and communities;
4. Best practices and cost efficiencies of re-imagining education management information systems (EMIS) for more effective data use in driving equity;
5. Development, and implementation of curriculum reforms concerning textbooks, teacher support, professional development, and information management;
6. Teacher management, deployment and utilization supported by integrated management information systems targeting equity and social inclusion;
7. Research to inform school leadership, quality assurance, and whole school development, and their impact on students’ learning outcomes;
8. Best and emerging practices for increasing access to and quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET); science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education; and higher education for the 21st century;
9. Optimizing access to and benefits of digitisation and the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR).

Papers may be submitted in one of three languages: English, French or Portuguese.

Submission document format

Full research papers/articles are the preferred type of submission. However, it is also acceptable to submit ongoing research or abstracts.

All submissions must indicate:

• Title of the article, clearly indicating it as it appears on the paper;
• The author's name(s), title(s) and institutional affiliation(s);
• The name, title, and institutional affiliation(s) of the presenter, if different from the author;
• The email address and contact details of the presenting author;
• An abstract of 250 to 300 words that covers at least the background of the study including the geographical coverage; the research methods applied; a synthesis of results; and policy recommendations and conclusions. If only an abstract is submitted, it must be between 450 and 500 words.

Articles and abstracts should be submitted by email to all three of the following addresses: info@gesci.org,  kix.iicba@unesco.org and programmekix@francophonie.org latest by June 16, 2024.

Articles should be submitted through https://www.iped.africa/news-event/gpe-kix-symposium-2024?lang=en 

Successful presenters will make an oral presentation at the conference from a PowerPoint file or a poster, and will be asked to answer questions from the audience.

In addition, please note that submitted papers may be selected for publication on the websites of GPE KIX and KIX partners.

Criteria for submitting abstracts

Papers submitted should focus on one or more of the Africa 19 and Africa 21 Hub countries, and the presentations should be on completed or ongoing research. Presentations are welcome from academic researchers, government representatives, civil society organizations and local education groups.

Papers will be evaluated for acceptance based on the following criteria:

• Relevance to the theme
• Quality of research methodology
• Importance of research results
• Strength of discussion and analysis
• Policy change recommendations

Important deadlines

Opening of submission: Abstract submission opens May 6, 2024

Abstract Submission Deadline: Abstract submission closes June 16, 2024

Abstract Acceptance Notification: All applicants will be notified if their abstracts have been selected for the symposium by July 31, 2024

Registration Deadline: All participating presenters will be required to register for the symposium by August 5, 2024. A valid, current passport (expiry date more than 6 months past Oct. 2024) is required upon registration, for in-person attendance.

Submission of Accepted Papers: Final communications and complete presentations must be submitted no later than September 2, 2022.

Questions

Any questions relating to this call may be sent by e-mail to all three of the following email addresses: info@gesci.org kix.iicba@unesco.org, and programmekix@francophonie.org

N.B.: Below are the countries participating in KIX Africa 19 and 21 Hubs:

The KIX Africa 19 Hub comprises the following 19 GPE partner countries in anglophone Africa: Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania (mainland and Zanzibar), Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The KIX Africa 21 Hub includes the following 21 GPE partner countries in francophone Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Togo, Sao Tome and Principe.