The African Technology for Education and Workforce Development Initiative (AFTECH)
AAI’s African Technology for Education and Workforce Development Initiative (AFTECH) accelerates skilled workforce development in Africa in the areas of education and healthcare through innovative uses of new information and communications technologies (ICTs). AFTECH, which was launched in 2002 initially with funding from United States Government, combines elements of AAI’s African Higher Education and Training (AHET) and Educational Outreach and Policy (EOP) program pillars in order to increase African global competitiveness and economic growth.
Working in partnership with colleges and universities as well as governments and private enterprises, AAI has completed AFTECH projects in 16 African countries: Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. AAI is currently consulting with African governments, universities, and private sector enterprises to expand the scope of training and broaden AFTECH’s reach.AFTECH activities have included training programs, symposia, and Africa Perspectives roundtables and online discussions.
Training Programs
AFTECH's training programs have made use of distance learning methodologies to provide professional enhancement opportunities for teachers, school administrators and health care systems managers. To date by over 500 individuals from six countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria and Uganda have participated in AFTECH training programs. Courses have included:
- Improving Math and Science Instruction
- Educational Management and Policy Design
- Increasing Access to Education for Children Affected by HIV/AIDS
- Establishing Parent-Teacher Associations
- Project Management Training for Healthcare Planners and Implementers
The African Perspectives Series
Under the rubric of AFTECH, AAI has organized 20 African Perspectives roundtables and online forums in ten countries: Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda. The series has gathered together over 300 participants including AAI alumni and supporters. Topics to date have included:
- Education and Workforce Development - African civil servants, policymakers, and civil society leaders engaged in discussions of workforce development policy formulation and implementation. The forum provided opportunities for senior African officials to evaluate, discuss, and debate concrete policy proposals with African and American theorists and practitioners from other key sectors, including business, labor, and academia.
- Upgrading Math and Science Education in Africa - To participate effectively in the global economy, Africa needs to meet local or global market demands for technically skilled workers. This forum focused on the need to upgrade math and science training in Africa, teacher shortages in African countries due to HIV/AIDS, and the traditional exclusion of African girls from math and science courses.
- Children Affected by AIDS and the Need for a Broad-Based Response - Even as AIDS is weakening Africa’s teaching force, the numbers of African children orphaned by AIDS is increasing. AAI's AFTECH forum on this topic brought together teachers, NGO Staff and government officials to share their concerns and proposed community-based solutions.
Workforce Development Institute Roundtable Series
As part of AAI’s AFTECH initiative, AAI has also provided technical and other assistance on comprehensive workforce development policy planning and implementation, for the governments of Ghana and Namibia. In 2003, AAI convened a forum with Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula, then Minister of Higher Education, Training, and Employment Creation who unveiled plans for the Namibian National Centre for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (CIET). The proposed National Centre will inform and shape the direction of a national education and training system capable of producing Namibian workers with marketable skills. Read the forum report.
Private Sector Partnerships
Through the AFTECH initiative AAI has worked with various private secor parters including.