African Union International Center for Girls & Women's Education in Africa

The International Centre for Education of Girls and Women in Africa of the African Union (AU/CIEFFA) is a specialised agency of the African Union since 2004 and is mandated to work on women and girls’ education following Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.44 (III). The center is based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The AU/CIEFFA was established under the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology of the African Union Commission to coordinate the promotion of girls’ and women education in Africa for achieving their economic, social and cultural empowerment. The center works closely with the African Union Member States and Governments, Civil society organizations and international partners in order to implement its program and activities and equally maintains a specific working relationship with UNESCO for a strong partnership in the implementation its programs. The AU/CIEFFA aims to develop the necessary policies, lines of actions, strategies and guidance to all relevant stakeholders in addressing gender equality, equity, leadership and advocacy in the learning environment in order to develop gender responsive schools to increase girls’ access and their retention within the educational systems in Africa in view of a broader analysis on the situation of girls and women’s education and training across the continent.