The Director General of the Panafrican Intergovernmental Organization CAFRAD, Dr. Coffi Dieudonné ASSOUVI, conducted an official mission to Gabon from February 18 to 24, 2025, at the invitation of the Tamkine Foundation from Morocco and the Gabonese NGO “HOSEA.” This mission served to strengthen the presence and visibility of CAFRAD, while highlighting the challenges and opportunities for the Panafrican Organization in a context where it remains largely unknown in some of the founding countries. Below is an overview of the key points of this official mission:

Meetings with Gabonese Authorities

The mission began with a series of meetings at the Gabonese presidency, led by Mr. Paul Ulrich KESSANY ZATEGWA, Special Advisor to the President, His Excellency General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema. The Director General of CAFRAD then engaged with officials from the Ministry of Communication and Media, as well as the Ministry of Social Affairs, in work sessions dedicated to presenting CAFRAD. These discussions helped remind the participants of the existence of this organization, founded over 63 years ago, and underscored its crucial role in the transformation of administration and good governance in Africa.

Universities at the Heart of Discussions

The delegation also engaged with the Gabonese academic world, visiting institutions such as the Sophie NTOUTOUME EMANE University Institute of Sciences and Organization (IUSO), the National Institute of Post and Information and Communication Technologies (INPTIC), and the Higher College of Paris. These discussions helped strengthen the ties between CAFRAD and Gabonese universities, which are crucial for the training of future African leaders.

International Conference on Digital Learning Environments

The highlight of the mission was the international conference held on February 22, 2025, titled “Digital Learning Environments: Building Effective and Inclusive Educational Ecosystems in Africa.” This event brought together officials, academics, and international experts to discuss the challenges of education and digital technologies in Africa. The Director General of CAFRAD opened the debates by emphasizing the importance of an inclusive and sustainable approach to digital environments in Africa. The conference also marked the launch of a strategic partnership between the Tamkine Foundation and the NGO HOSEA, followed by training focused on generative artificial intelligence, a key area for the future of the continent.

A Noted Lack of Awareness: CAFRAD Still Too Little Known

Despite the importance of its mission and its status as a founding country, Gabon, like many other African nations, remains unfamiliar with CAFRAD. This lack of awareness, observed during the official meetings, highlights the insufficient communication regarding the activities and potential of the organization. The Director General emphasized the need to intensify awareness efforts and to re-engage the member states, particularly regarding their financial contributions to the organization.

Recommendations from the Director General: An Ambitious Roadmap

At the conclusion of this mission, the Director General of CAFRAD made several strategic recommendations:

• Tour to Re-engage Member States: A series of visits to African countries to strengthen knowledge of CAFRAD and increase member state involvement in its activities.
• Active Participation from Key States: The involvement of strategic countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, and Angola is crucial to catalyze regional engagement.
• Decentralization of Activities: Establishing regional CAFRAD offices in strategic areas of the African continent to enhance local impact.
• Creation of an African Competency Development Fund: A fund dedicated to training African talents in key sectors such as agriculture, industry, and information technologies.
• Post-Master and Post-Doctoral Internships: CAFRAD should offer training opportunities for young African leaders to prepare them for decision-making roles in their countries.
• Regular Follow-up Meetings: The Director General proposed the establishment of periodic meetings with the President of the Board to review priority issues.

Conclusion: A Call for Collective Action

The Director General of CAFRAD expressed his determination to reform the organization to make it more useful to member states and more responsive to their needs. However, he stressed that the success of this transformation would largely depend on the active support and financial contributions of the member states. He also reminded participants of the importance of restoring the trust and credibility of CAFRAD after a period of inaction, which had led to the demotivation of some countries.

In conclusion, CAFRAD is more than ever ready to play a key role in the development of Africa, but for this to happen, it must be supported by a strong and collective action from its member states. The challenges are many, but with coordinated mobilization, the organization can fully assume its responsibilities toward Africa and its international partners.