Friday, November 9th, 2007

Kenya Joins the GDLN Family

New Opportunities for Cross-regional Knowledge Sharing with Asia

The Kenya Development Learning Centre (KDLC) was launched on November 9, 2007, becoming the 12th member of the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) in Africa. Amidst the excitement in the global community, hopes were high in Asia for greater cross regional knowledge sharing opportunities.

The launch ceremony was held at the KDLC’s host institution, the Kenya Institute of Administration, connecting to Senegal, Tanzania, and Washington, DC via videoconference. In a display of the country’s strong support for the KDLC, the Vice President of Kenya, the Minister of State for Public Service, the Kenyan Ambassador to the United States and other dignitaries attended the event.

“Welcome Kenya”. TDLC Manager Ryu Fukui joined GDLN representatives worldwide in congratulating the new Center by video. “There is a big geographical difference between Asia and Africa, so distance learning by use of ICTs has a big advantage compared to traditional methods”

Africa ranks high on the agenda of the Japanese development community in anticipation of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) due to take place in Yokohama in May 2008.

Kenya is one of the key recipients of Japan’s Official Development Aid (ODA), generating demand for knowledge sharing activities to improve the effectiveness of ODA operations and related private businesses.

The new Center in Kenya and the TDLC can capitalize on the need for Asia-Africa cooperation in both the public and private sectors. “In my view, human resources development, capacity building in the private sector, and health are some of the areas on which the GDLN should focus. Japan has accumulated experience in these sectors, and can make a meaningful contribution “, says Fukui.

The TDLC has facilitated numerous events which explore new approaches to accelerating development in Africa. In collaboration with JICA, the TDLC has disseminated 29 JICA-Net seminars to African GDLN Centers in English and more recently, in French as well. The popular blended learning course “Microfinance Training of Trainers” organized by the TDLC and Asian Development Bank Institute has accepted many participants from African countries, made accessible through the use of webcasting and on-line tutoring.

As part of GDLN in Africa, the Kenya Development Learning Centre also joins the Association of African Distance Learning Centres (AADLC), established in 2002 to unify and coordinate the activities of learning centers across the continent. The KDLC will bring new expertise and knowledge to this group and will contribute to the work of GDLN Affiliates in Africa, who reach over 5,000 participants a year through learning and dialogue-based activities.

The Kenya Center launch and the welcome video displayed at the beginning of the event is available for view on the GDLN website.