UAE Ambassador to Benin meets Minister of Nursery & Primary Education – Tribune India

Report on UAE-Benin Bilateral Cooperation in Education Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

A high-level meeting was held between representatives of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Republic of Benin to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in the educational sector. The dialogue, which took place at the Ministry of Nursery and Primary Education in Cotonou, centered on mutual interests and the vital role of education in achieving sustainable development. The discussions directly align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

2.0 Meeting Details and Participants

• Location: Ministry of Nursery and Primary Education Headquarters, Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
• Key Participants:
  1. Mohammed Saeed Al Kaabi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Benin.
  2. Salimane Karimou, Minister of Nursery and Primary Education of Benin.

3.0 Alignment with SDG 4: Quality Education

The core of the discussion was centered on advancing inclusive and equitable quality education, a primary objective of SDG 4. Key points included:

• Commitment to Human Capacity Building: Ambassador Al Kaabi reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to educational cooperation, emphasizing its critical role in national development and building human capacity, which is fundamental to achieving SDG 4.
• Enhancing Educational Partnerships: Minister Karimou highlighted Benin’s desire to enhance its partnership with the UAE. This collaboration aims to improve educational outcomes through targeted initiatives.
• Focus on Training and Expertise Exchange: Both parties identified the exchange of educational expertise and professional training as key areas for future collaboration. These activities are essential for improving teaching quality and educational systems, directly supporting the targets within SDG 4.

4.0 Strengthening SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The meeting exemplifies the principles of SDG 17, which calls for revitalizing global partnerships for sustainable development.

• Bilateral Cooperation: The dialogue between the UAE and Benin serves as a model for international cooperation to achieve shared development objectives.
• Recognition of Development Efforts: Minister Karimou commended the UAE’s significant development efforts and its support for educational initiatives throughout Africa, acknowledging the UAE as a key partner in the region’s progress towards the SDGs.
• Future Collaboration: The mutual keenness to enhance the partnership underscores a shared commitment to leveraging international cooperation as a means to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  This goal is central to the article, which focuses on a meeting between officials from the UAE and Benin to discuss “ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation… in the educational and academic fields.” The text explicitly mentions “nursery and primary education” and the role of education in “development and human capacity building,” directly aligning with SDG 4’s mission to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article is fundamentally about a partnership between two nations, the UAE and Benin. Phrases like “strengthen bilateral cooperation,” “advancing cooperation,” and enhancing “partnership with the UAE” highlight the collaborative effort. This directly reflects SDG 17, which aims to “strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.” The UAE’s support for educational initiatives in Benin is a clear example of such a partnership in action.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. Target 4.2: Ensure access to quality early childhood, pre-primary education

   The meeting was with Benin’s “Minister of Nursery and Primary Education.” This specific focus on the foundational stages of learning directly connects to Target 4.2, which aims to “ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.”

2. Target 4.c: Increase the supply of qualified teachers

   The article states that Benin is keen to enhance its partnership with the UAE in “the areas of training and the exchange of educational expertise.” This points to Target 4.c, which seeks to “substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries.” The exchange of expertise is a form of international cooperation aimed at improving teacher quality and capacity.

3. Target 17.9: Enhance international support for capacity-building

   The UAE’s “commitment to advancing cooperation” and its “support for educational initiatives in Africa” are mentioned. This aligns with Target 17.9, which is to “Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all the Sustainable Development Goals.” The cooperation discussed is a form of capacity-building for Benin’s education sector.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

• Implied Indicator for Target 4.2: Participation rate in organized learning

  While no specific numbers are given, the cooperation in “nursery and primary education” implies an effort to improve outcomes in this area. Progress towards this target could be measured by Indicator 4.2.2: “Participation rate in organized learning (one year before the official primary entry age).” The partnership’s success would be reflected in an increase in this rate in Benin.

• Implied Indicator for Target 4.c: Proportion of trained teachers

  The discussion on “training and the exchange of educational expertise” directly implies a goal of improving teacher qualifications. Progress can be measured by Indicator 4.c.1: “Proportion of teachers with the minimum required qualifications.” The partnership’s initiatives would aim to increase this proportion through training programs.

• Implied Indicator for Target 17.9: Value of financial and technical assistance

  The article mentions the UAE’s “support for educational initiatives.” This support, a form of South-South cooperation, can be quantified. An implied indicator is Indicator 17.9.1: “Dollar value of financial and technical assistance committed to developing countries.” The amount of resources the UAE dedicates to this partnership would be a measure of progress.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: tribuneindia.com