Capacity building in Education for Health and Well-Being in West and Central Africa

Togo's capital, Lomé, hosted from 30 October to 3 November 2023 the first Regional Workshop for sharing experiences and building skills in integrating education for health and well-being into the curricula of West and Central African countries.

The workshop, organized by UNESCO-IBE and the Multisectoral Regional Offices in West and Central Africa, brought together executives and technicians from ministries of education in thirteen countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. 

The aim of this workshop was to exchange information on the curricula of the invited countries, to strengthen participants' skills in integrating education for health and well-being into curricula, and to contribute to the development of two important guides to support UNESCO member states in promoting the health and well-being of learners: 1. A Step-by-step guide to the introduction of education for health and well-being into curricula for ministry officials working in curriculum-related areas. 2. A Practical guide to making every school a health and well-being,  promoting school as part of the joint UNESCO/WHO global initiative launched in 2020.

Supported by Swedish, French, Norwegian, and Swiss cooperation and in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair in Education and Health (Clermont-Ferrand, France), this initiative contributes to the implementation of the WCA Commitment for Educated, Healthy and Fulfilled Adolescents and Youth and is part of UNESCO's Strategy on Education for Health and Well-Being, which aims to contribute to the sustainable development goals relating to education, health, and gender equality. Education for health and well-being is also one of UNESCO-IBE's flagship programs.