On 22 September 2021, UNESCO Regional Director for Eastern Africa, Prof. Hubert Gijzen, accompanied by UNESCO Liaison Officer, Ms. Louise-Agnès Mackongo, paid a courtesy call to Prof. George Magoha, Kenya Cabinet Secretary for Education. Present at the meeting were Dr. Margaret Mwakima, Principal Secretary, State Department of Vocational and Technical Training, Dr. Julius Jwan Principal Secretary, State Department for Early Learning and Basic Education and Dr. Evangeline Njoka, Secretary-General of Kenya National Commission for UNESCO.

UNESCO and Kenya enjoy a long-time strong cooperation in all areas of mandate of UNESCO, including in the field of Education and Science, Technology and Innovation. Currently, UNESCO co-chairs the Education Development Partners Coordinating Group with the Ministry of Education. In the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, UNESCO has supported Kenya in preparedness and response to ensure learning never stops. Examples include the STEM Mentorships Programme for Girls, dissemination of learning materials through community radios, and strengthening of ICT facilities in TVET colleges, among others.

Prof. Gijzen appreciated Prof. Magoha for taking time to meet with him. This being his introductory meeting with the Cabinet Secretary, he acknowledged his leadership acumen especially at the time he was the Chairperson of African Network of Scientific and Technological Institutions (ANSTI). ANSTI is a UNESCO network that aims in developing an active collaboration among African scientific institutions so as to promote research and development, and pool resources available in the region to provide quality training and research in various scientific disciplines. Both agreed that ANSTI needs to be further strengthened to ensure a strong impact in the area of STI in the continent.

Prof. Gijzen highlighted that, “we must strengthen our solid cooperation post COVID-19, to build forward better, including through improved, affordable and widely accessible connectivity for a future of uninterrupted learning in Kenya and the region at large.”

He further added that improved connectivity could also help to ensure that Kenya benefits from stronger collaboration and networking with regional and international partners to facilitate joint initiatives, exchange of best practices, expertise and innovations.  He advocated for a strategy to combine the introduction of ICT and renewal energy to rural off-grid communities as a game changer and a new model to bring those left behind to the fore front. In fact a model to accelerate local SDG achievement.

Both the Principal Secretaries present informed the Cabinet Secretary of the valuable support the Ministry has received from UNESCO in recent years, both technical and financial in a wide range of areas. The Principal Secretary for Basic Education recognized the vital role UNESCO played in the establishment of the Competence-Based Curriculum in Kenya while the Principal Secretary for TVET acknowledged the support under the UNESCO BEAR II project, which is strengthening ‘Green TVET’ capacities for six TVET institutions The Secretary-General of Kenya National Commission for UNESCO added further that the National Commission enjoys a good working relationship with UNESCO.

Prof. George Magoha, acknowledged with gratitude the support of UNESCO and challenged his Principal Secretaries to find ways to sustain and expand the work with UNESCO. He also promised to follow up on the plan to strengthen ANSTI.

At the end of a fruitful meeting the Cabinet Secretary and the UNESCO Regional Director promised to continue actively engaging and work together. Prof. Magoha confirmed his participation in the upcoming 41st Session of the General Conference of UNESCO in Paris, which will present another opportunity for bilateral engagement.