August 28, 2022 (Wad Medani, Sudan): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Government of Sudan (Ministry of Education) conducted a two-day Consultation meeting on Sudan’s Costed National Education Response Plan for the implementation of the Djibouti Declaration on Education for Refugees, Returnees and Host Communities.
The objective of the national consultation meeting was to review the progress in the implementation of Sudan’s Costed National Education Response Plan for inclusive education and to strengthen the development of Sudan’s Education Response Plan.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of IGAD, H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, and Mme. Fathia Alwan, the Director for Health and Social Development of IGAD, Dr. Usman Bilail, IGAD Head of mission to Republic of Sudan welcomed the participants and lauded the efforts of the Ministry of Education in promoting access to inclusive and quality education for refugees, returnees and host communities.
“We are working to map out future areas of support in strengthening the ministry’s capacity to ensure inclusive access to education for refugees, returnees and host communities.” he added
On her opening remarks, Dr. Ibtisam Mohammed Hassan Director General for Education planning MOE, Republic Sudan, said that Sudan still to commitment the Djibouti declaration and representing this in the National strategy costed plan during the period from 2020 to 2023 at National level.
She also expressed appreciations to the financial and technical support of partners and donors working on refugees and host communities to strengthen the capacity of IGAD and its Member States.
IGAD Regional Qualification Frame work (RQF) was presented by Mr. Fisseha Meseret IGAD, Inclusive Education, Program Officer, to the participants and discussed about how the National Qualifications will be aligned with the IGADRQF. It has been agreed that Sudan will prepare a National Qualification Framework and it will be harmonized with the IGADRQF.
IGAD, regional qualification frameworks in IGAD member states with the objective of developing a comprehensive Regional Education Qualification Framework (RQF). This consultation process was adopted by the Addis Ababa Call for Action of the IGAD ministers in charge of education for the implementation of the Djibouti Declaration on education for refugees, returnees and host communities.
At the end of the meeting, the implementation status of the action plan, asses achievements, identify opportunities to accelerate progress and address gaps reviewed.
On the closing ceremony, senior program Coordinator for Education, Science, Technology and innovation, Dr. Kebede Tsegaye said that IGAD National Consultations on the Costed Plan implemented 175% of its Action plan for the Implementation of the Djibouti Declaration.
“We implemented National Consultations on the Costed Plan in Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, south Sudan, Uganda and now in Sudan. We are organising for the Republic of Kenya.” Dr Kebede said.
The national consultation meeting in Sudan brought together partners and experts from IGAD and participants from Sudan relevant government offices, including Ministry of Education.
Budget for the various activities funded from the IGAD – GIZ/SIMPI Financing Agreement.
IGAD has been supporting member states to develop and implement costed plans for national education response plans towards the implementation of the Djibouti Declaration.
In 2017, IGAD Member States jointly signed the Djibouti Declaration where, among other areas of action, the development of a Regional Qualifications Framework (RQF) was identified as one of its five strategic interventions.
