CONFINTEA VII - Civil Society Forum (CSF)
14 June 2022, 10:00 - 17:00 | Marrakech
Morocco
Conference
Dear ICAE members, partners, colleagues, activists, experts and friends of ALE around the globe!
UNESCO has announced that the CONFINTEA VII conference with the theme ’Adult learning and education for sustainable development – a transformative agenda’ will be held from 15 to 17 June 2022 in Marrakech, Morocco.
This is a preliminary announcement to one of the key events that will precede CONFINTEA VII is the Civil Society Forum (CSF) that is being organised by the ICAE.
PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT
Civil Society Forum
Adult Learning and Education – Because the future cannot wait
on Tuesday 14 June 2022 from 10 AM to 5 PM (Morocco time). Venue: TBC
The Civil Society Forum will be a hybrid forum to be held in person in Marrakech and virtually, with no limit on the number of participants.
Civil society organisations from across the globe will come together to review the latest developments in adult learning and education, globally and across the regions, discuss problems and priorities, launch ICAE Spotlight Report and adopt a Global ALE Manifesto that will inform the final set of civil society recommendations for CONFINTEA VII and the Marrakech Framework for Action.
The Forum will provide a platform for discussions on the crucial challenges for ALE today and identify priorities for the coming years, including:
• Transformative ALE and its role in Agenda 2030
• ALE and the New Social Contract
• ALE as the core of the lifelong learning process
• Securing the right to adult learning and education
• Priorities areas of ALE from the civil society perspective
We will also launch the 50th Anniversary of ICAE!
The following is the PRELIMINARY Registration link for the Civil Society Forum:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSforkRLicM0mLeAgGgaa92YHOPFGaXPSCGQA0Pm5FM9eK8Lqg/viewform
Through this link you can indicate if you are planning to participate on-site or online. We will be sending a full registration form to follow-up this Preliminary Registration in early May 2022, as well as the invitation letters.
The main language of the Civil Society Forum will be English. We are continuing to explore having interpretation in Arabic, French and Spanish. This will depend on the number of participants and our own limited funds.
Please be aware that participation in Civil Society Forum doesn’t guarantee participation in the main CONFINTEA VII Conference, which is by UNESCO invitation only!
The ICAE is working closely with UNESCO and our local hosts to explore the possibility that civil society participants who are not able to take part in the main CONFINTEA VII conference, will have opportunities to follow the conversations via live streaming of the sessions and arrange “CONFINTEA VII chats” – to exchange and discuss what is happening in the conference.
Aside from engaging with the CONFINTEA VII proceedings, there will be several other civil society events on 15-17 June, such as the re-launch of the ‘Convergence’ journal, an exhibition on ALE and civic education, meetings on various ALE-relevant topics, opportunity to network with local civil society organisations and learn about their work in ALE. So, there a many more reasons to join us in Marrakech!
Participants at the Civil Society Forum will have to cover their own travel and accommodation costs, while ICAE covers other costs related to the Civil Society Forum. We will provide you with a list of recommended hotels and travel information, as well as the detailed programme of CSF and accompanying events.
We remind you to check for the latest travel requirements, for example, will you need a visa to enter Morocco. Please make sure you also check the COVID-19 related travel requirements!
Preliminary registration will close on May 15th, 2022. Don’t miss it!
We are looking forward to seeing you in Marrakech!
Yours
International Council for Adult Education Belgrade, April 2022
Cost
FreeUpcoming events
MOJA JOURNAL WEBINAR: The Role of Adult Education in Women’s Empowerment
In this webinar, two authors from Issue 3 explore how adult education strengthens livelihoods, builds communities of practice, and drives women’s empowerment and community development in Mali and South Africa.
Presenters:
- Ms SYLLA Fatoumata Cisse, National Director of Non Formal Education and National Languages
- Dr Kaylianne Aploon-Zokufa, lecturer, the University of the Western Cape
Date: 12 march 2026
Time: 14:00 -15:30 (SAST) / 12:00 – 13:30 (UTC)
Languages: English / french
Past events
Webinar: Digital Skills Unleashed - Launch of new global multi-lingual course for literacy educators
(Times are CET)
On 18 February 2026, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), together with Huawei, associate member of the Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL), will unveil a new global, multi-lingual course designed to strengthen the digital skills of literacy educators worldwide.
Literacy educators are at the heart of inclusive, equitable and high‑quality education. Their work empowers learners, supports communities and drives social transformation. Yet, despite their vital role, many continue to face persistent challenges: limited access to professional development, precarious working conditions, and insufficient policy recognition. The rapid pace of digital change and the COVID‑19 pandemic have intensified these pressures, underscoring the urgent need for digital, learner‑centred approaches to adult learning and education. In low-resource, remote or crisis‑affected settings, educators often lack continuous training opportunities, digital tools and strong professional support networks – barriers that hinder their ability to meet the evolving needs of their learners.
To help bridge these gaps, UIL, with the support of GAL and Huawei, has developed a free, open-access, multilingual course - available in English, French, Arabic and Spanish - and hosted on the UIL Learning Hub.
Grounded in UNESCO’s Recommendation on Adult Learning and Education (RALE), the Marrakech Framework for Action and the Digital Empowerment for Lifelong Learning and Transformative Andragogy (DELTA) framework, this new course offers a flexible learning pathway to advance the professionalisation of literacy educators and enhance the quality of literacy provision globally. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate supporting their ongoing professional growth and recognition.
The global launch webinar will officially introduce the new course, explore the evolving role of literacy educators in digitally transforming learning environments, and highlight regional perspectives on capacity‑building priorities. It will also encourage governments, civil society organisations and regional networks to champion the use and contextual adaptation of the course.
Languages
Arabic, English, French and Spanish
Programme
13:30–13:40: Opening Remarks
Moderator: Ms Samah Shalaby, Programme Specialist, UIL
- Ms Isabell Kempf, Director, UIL
- N.N., Huawei (tbc)
13:40–14:35
Panel session: Empowering literacy educators in the digital age: Regional and national perspectives (3 rounds)
Moderator: Ms Madina Bolly, Senior Programme Specialist, UIL
Speakers:
- Mr John Edeh Onimisi, Director of Literacy and Development, National Mass Education Commission (NMEC), Nigeria
- Mr Lazare Golo, Directeur de l'Alphabétisation et de laPromotion des langues nationales, Ministère de l'Education nationale et de la Promotion Civique, Tchad
- Mr Rajiv Kumar Singh, Director (Academic), National Institute for Open Schooling, India
- Mr Batjargal Batkhuyag, Capacity Support and Advocacy Adviser (CSAA), ASPBAE – Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education
- Mr Mauricio Velasco, Regional Project Coordinator, DVV International (Latin America)
- ANLCA Representative, Kingdom of Morocco (TBC)
Panel synthesis: Ms Rakhat Zholdoshalieva, Team Leader, UIL
14:35- 15:00: Course overview and launch
Ms Annapurna Ayyappan, Programme Specialist, UIL
Testimonial:
- Ms Blessing Anyikwa, Professor, Adult Basic Education, University of Lagos, Nigeria
Supported by HUAWEI
MOJA JOURNAL WEBINAR: Learning Across Generations: Community Learning Centres and Entrepreneurial Pathways in Adult Education
English / french
In this webinar, two authors from Issue 3 will reflect on their articles, exploring intergenerational learning and entrepreneurial pathways for older adults through experiences from Kenya and Botswana.
Presenters: Rebecca Lekoko and Salome Olesi Terah
Date: 12 February 2026
Time: 14:00 -15:30 (SAST) / 12:00 – 13:30 (UTC)