The Goethe-Institut and the Secretariat of the New Partnership for Africa´s Development (NEPAD) have signed a cooperation agreement.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on Thursday 23 July between the NEPAD Secretariat (represented through Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, CEO of NEPAD), the Goethe-Institut Sudafrika and the Goethe-Institut Nord Afrika/Nahost (both represented through Dr Katharina von Ruckteschell-Katte, Director of the Goethe Institutes sub-Sahara Africa).
The MOU represents a statement of intent by the two organizations to work together. It also provides a framework within which they can develop and implement projects and activities of common interest, and pursue other forms of cooperation.
Both expressed hope for a long and fruitful partnership, which will enable each organization to fulfil its individual mandate, and to play an important part in promoting sustainable development in Africa.
The role of culture in Africa´s development can be vital.
Culture is one of the seven focus areas of the African Union´s Plan of Action on Education for Africa (2006 – 2015) in order to ensure among others:
• the mainstreaming of culture into all the priorities,
• the use of education as an effective tool for entrenching peace, justice and equity, to empower men and women to participate to their full potential in society,
• and the role of education in re-establishing the dignity of Africans, and engendering pride in positive African values and heritage.
Priority to achieve this is to increase synergies between culture and education. The agreement is a statement of intent to work together, and provides a framework within which the Goethe-Institut as well as the NEPAD Secretariat can develop and implement projects and activities, and pursue other forms of cooperation.
Such projects may include but not be limited to:
• Applied research on African Culture and Education issues
• Research in support of culture education training methodologies
• Knowledge management
• New and improved project management and evaluation techniques
• Design and development of training and capacity-building-related activities, including conferences, workshops and seminars, which produce results and give rise to future research projects and agendas.
