Abstract

To consolidate gains made over the past few years, the countries of the Sahel need to significantly reduce illiteracy rates to allow a higher percentage of the population to participate actively in development activities. More specifically, they need to increase productivity: do what they are capable of doing, but in a better way. All studies show that formal education systems, because of their orientation and limited capacity, cannot eradicate illiteracy on their own. The Fondation pour l'appui aux politiques d'éducation non formelle was designed as an ongoing means of standardizing the efforts of four countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Sénégal) in their fight to eradicate illiteracy. The foundation's primary goal is to establish effective non-formal education policies providing most people with access to the knowledge they need to control their future. The project's main objective is to defray the costs involved in preliminary planning and organize joint action on the part of the countries in question and finalize documents for CIDA co-funding. The project will make it possible to finance initial research by the national teams of the Education Research Network for West and Central Africa (ERNWACA) in three countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Sénégal); develop concept papers on the foundation's organizational structure and operating mechanisms; schedule discussions between ministers, contacts, IDRC and CIDA; and produce funding application documents.

Post-Project Summary

A postproject abstract could not be written due to lack of documentation (final report) in the IDRC library.

Recipient Institution(s)