African Union International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa

What African Union International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa does

The African Union International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa (AU CIEFFA) is a specialized institution of the African Union, established in July 2004 under Decision Assembly/AU/DEC.44 (III) and hosted by the government of Burkina Faso at its headquarters in Ouagadougou. Operating under the AU Commission's Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, it coordinates continental advocacy and policy action to advance girls' and women's education across all 55 AU member states. Its core service portfolio is program-based rather than product-based: flagship advocacy campaigns (notably #AfricaEducatesHer, currently in Phase II targeting all 55 member states), annual Youth Capacity Building Workshops (now in their 7th cohort with 240+ alumni since 2017), the Pan-African Conference on Girls' and Women's Education series (PANCOGEd1 held in 2024 with 800+ delegates, PANCOGED2 scheduled July 2026), the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI), Online Capacity Building Training (OCBT — pilot trained 479, scaled to 7,543 participants), and the CESA 2026-2035 Cluster on Gender, Equity, Inclusion and Disability. Underlying infrastructure includes the KIX Observatory knowledge platform for education financing monitoring, multilingual digital outreach in all six AU official languages, and field-assessment operations in member states.

AU CIEFFA is an intergovernmental body, not a commercial enterprise. It generates no product or service revenue; operating funds are drawn from AU member state contributions and earmarked support from multilateral partners including UNESCO, UN Women, the World Bank East Africa Girls' Empowerment and Resilience (EAGER) program, and Norway. Programs are delivered through three distribution layers: (1) AU member state ministries of education and gender, (2) UN agencies and regional economic communities such as COMESA and AUDA-NEPAD, and (3) civil society implementation partners including FAWE, Girls Not Brides, CAMFED, Oxfam, and VVOB. Customer segments are governments, civil society, and youth advocates; ultimate beneficiaries are African girls and women. Governance is via a Steering Committee comprising member state representatives plus UNESCO, UNICEF, and Save the Children, with executive leadership currently held by Acting Coordinator Simone Yankey-Ouattara.

Name

African Union International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa

Legal name

African Union International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa

Website

https://cieffa.au.int

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The African Union International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa (AU CIEFFA) is a specialized AU institution headquartered in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, coordinating continental advocacy, policy, and capacity-building programs to advance girls' and women's education across all 55 AU member states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Education Advocacy and Gender Equality Coordination

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDADALAF

Education Partnerships for Equity, Inclusion & Gender

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Partnerships, Intergovernmental & NGO Programs

SECONDARYEDADALAA

Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Partnerships, Intergovernmental & NGO Programs

SECONDARYBPAGABAE

Education Access & Quality (International Development)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYBPAGABAF

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYBPADAKAI

Inclusive Education (Disability, Gender Equity, Marginalized Learners)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Education & Skills Development Programs

SECONDARYEDADALAJ

STEM, Digital Skills & Innovation Partnerships

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Partnerships, Intergovernmental & NGO Programs

Keywords

• Girls education advocacy
• Women empowerment programs
• Continental education coordination
• STEAM education initiatives
• Gender-responsive education policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Ouagadougou

HQ country

Burkina Faso

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Intergovernmental Funding: AU CIEFFA is a specialized institution of the African Union established under Decision Assembly/AU/DEC.44 (III) in 2004. The organization receives funding through African Union member state contributions, hosted by the government of Burkina Faso.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AU CIEFFA coordinates continental advocacy and policy work to promote girls' and women's education across the 55 African Union member states. It delivers flagship programs including the #AfricaEducatesHer campaign, an annual Youth Capacity Building Programme for young African advocates, the Pan-African Conference on Girls' and Women's Education (PANCOGEd), digital literacy training through the African Girls Can Code Initiative and Online Capacity Building Training (OCBT), and convenes the CESA Gender, Equity, Inclusion & Disability Cluster to align member state education policies.

Product overview

The African Union International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa (AU CIEFFA) operates as a specialized institution of the African Union focused on coordinating the promotion of girls' and women's education across Africa. The organization delivers a portfolio of flagship advocacy campaigns, capacity building programs, and conferences centered around the #AfricaEducatesHer Campaign and the Continental Youth Capacity Building Programme. Key initiatives include the Pan African Conference on Girls' and Women's Education (PANCOGEd), the African Girls Can Code Initiative, Online Capacity Building Training, and the KIX Observatory for monitoring education policies. AU CIEFFA also produces strategic publications including the CESA 2026-2035 framework, CIEFFA Bulletins, and research studies. The organization works with partnerships including UN Women, World Bank, and FAWE to implement programs targeting STEAM education, digital literacy, and policy advocacy across 55 African Union member states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• #AfricaEducatesHer: Strategic advocacy campaign to protect girls' right to education during emergencies and advance girls' education in hard-to-reach areas of Africa. Currently in Phase II, targeting all 55 AU member states.
• African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI)
• Girls at the Center Initiative (GCI)
• SWEDD (Sahel Women's Empowerment and Demographic Dividend)

Products and services

• #AfricaEducatesHer Campaign Strategic advocacy platform mobilizing action across 55 AU member states to protect girls' right to education during emergencies and ensure learning recovery. Phase II engages boys and men as partners.
• Youth Capacity Building Programme Annual program convening 55+ young African women and men as in-country advocates of girls' and women's education, focused on advocacy, policy literacy, digital literacy, and STEAM education skills. Now in its 7th cohort.
• Pan-African Conference on Girls' and Women's Education (PANCOGEd) Major continental conference series on girls' and women's education in Africa. The 1st edition was held in 2024 and brought together 800+ delegates; the 2nd edition (PANCOGED2) is scheduled for July 2-4, 2026 in Bujumbura, Burundi.
• African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) Program empowering young African women with essential digital, coding, and financial literacy skills, part of AU CIEFFA's Strategic Axis 3 on STEAM and Skills Development.
• Online Capacity Building Training (OCBT) Digital training program delivering online capacity building to young people across Africa. Pilot phase trained 479 young people and the expanded program has trained 7,543 Africans.
• Research Study on Role of Religious and Traditional Leaders in Girls' Education Commissioned research study to develop analysis on the role of religious and traditional leaders in promoting girls' education in Africa, including mapping analysis and recommendations.
• Gender-Responsive Education Sector Planning Training Training program for gender and education experts on gender-responsive education sector planning, with a second cohort trained in Lomé, Togo.
• ImpactHER Partnership Training Partnership with ImpactHER delivering online digital literacy and AI education training to women and girls across Africa.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ delegates engaged at 1st Pan-African Conference on Girls' and Women's Education
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Women's Peace Group (IWPG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026IWPG collaborated with AU CIEFFA to organize a CSW70 high-level side event on girls' education as a lever for peace and leadership. IWPG Chairwoman Nayeong Jeon showcased peace education impact. Historic consensus established on girls' education as strategic lever for African reconstruction.
• Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2026FAWE is a key partner in the CESA Gender, Equity, Inclusion & Disability Cluster. FAWE's Executive Director Dr Martha Muhwezi participates in cluster meetings. FAWE and AU CIEFFA co-convened CSW70 side event on legislative frameworks for girls' education.
• UN WomencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2025UN Women collaborates with AU CIEFFA on the Continental Youth Workshop on Digital Innovation and Girls in STEAM Education. Joint efforts empower young women leaders in STEAM fields with digital and financial literacy skills. UN Women Kenya Office (represented by Joshua Musyimi) participates in workshops and policy advocacy.
• UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO IICBA participates as a member of the CESA Gender, Equity, Inclusion & Disability Cluster. Contributes to continental education coordination and capacity building initiatives.
• Girls Not BridescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGirls Not Brides participates in the CESA Gender Cluster and was represented in the Malawi delegation for #AfricaEducatesHer Campaign assessment visit. Works on ending child marriage and promoting girls' education.
• Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAMFED participates in CESA Gender Cluster meetings. Supports girls' education programs and empowerment initiatives across Africa through partnership with AU CIEFFA.
• Oxfam InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxfam participates in CESA Gender Cluster as a member organization. Contributes to gender equality and education advocacy across Africa.
• VVOB Education for DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVVOB participates in the CESA Gender, Equity, Inclusion & Disability Cluster. Supports education development programs.
• Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOMESA participates in CESA Gender Cluster as a regional economic community member. Contributes to regional coordination on education and gender equality.
• AUDA NEPADcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUDA NEPAD participates in CESA Gender Cluster meetings. Contributes to continental development frameworks and education coordination.
• African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACHPR participates in CESA Gender Cluster meetings. Provides human rights perspective on gender equality in education.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAU CIEFFA maintains a specific working relationship with UNESCO for program implementation. UNESCO is a permanent member of the CIEFFA Steering Committee. Co-organized 2024 Conference on Transforming STEM in Africa with AU in Addis Ababa.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF is a member of the CIEFFA Steering Committee. Participates in country-level assessments and provides technical support for girls' education programs.
• Save the ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSave the Children is a member of the CIEFFA Steering Committee representing civil society.
• UNICEFcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUNICEF participates in stakeholder engagement sessions in Ghana, sharing ongoing initiatives and collaborative efforts to promote girls' and women's education.
• UNESCOcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUNESCO participates in Ghana stakeholder engagement session, sharing initiatives for girls' education collaboration.
• FAWE (Forum for African Women Educationalists)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFAWE participates in Ghana stakeholder engagement session for girls' and women's education promotion.
• All-Africa Students UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in stakeholder engagement sessions, representing student voice in girls' education advocacy.
• UN WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN Women partners with Malawi through community-led financing by HRH Fumukazi Kamgundanga, who spearheads the late Chief Kachindamoto's fund for girls' education support.
• OxfamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxfam works cross-sectorally with Malawi on girls' education initiatives and community support programs.
• CAMFEDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAMFED (Campaign for Female Education) partners with Malawi on girls' education through cross-sectoral collaboration.
• Pan-African ParliamentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPan-African Parliament plays key role in harmonizing and enforcing education laws across African countries. Parliamentarians participate in CSW70 events and AU CIEFFA initiatives. Women's Caucus engaged in advocacy.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• UN Women: UN entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. AU CIEFFA partners with UN Women on the Continental Youth Workshop on Digital Innovation and Girls in STEAM Education and on community-led financing. Overlaps on gender-equality advocacy and convening, but UN Women's scope is much broader than education alone.
• UNICEF (Education): UN agency for children with a large global education portfolio including girls' education, school safety, and learning recovery. Sits on AU CIEFFA's Steering Committee and is a co-implementer in country-level programs (Ghana, Malawi). Operates a much broader child-focused mandate but overlaps directly in girls' education programming.
• Global Partnership for Education (GPE): Multi-stakeholder funding platform and partnership that mobilizes financing for education in lower-income countries, with explicit gender-equity objectives. Comparable as a continental-to-global coordination and financing mechanism for education, though GPE is principally a funder rather than an advocacy/program operator.
• UNESCO: UN specialized agency for education with global mandate, working through Education 2030 framework. AU CIEFFA maintains a permanent seat relationship with UNESCO on its Steering Committee, and both co-organized the 2024 Conference on Transforming STEM in Africa. Comparable as an intergovernmental body coordinating education policy at supranational level, though UNESCO's scope is global rather than Africa-specific.

Emerging players

• Education Cannot Wait (ECW): UN-hosted global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. Directly aligned with AU CIEFFA's #AfricaEducatesHer Phase I (COVID learning recovery) mandate and emergency education focus. Competes for the same donor and AU member state attention on education-in-crisis response.
• Malala Fund: Global girls' education advocacy and grant-making organization founded by Malala Yousafzai. Operates in multiple African countries with policy advocacy, funding of local education activists, and Assembly engagement. Comparable as a high-profile girls' education advocacy brand, though without AU CIEFFA's intergovernmental authority.

Direct peers

• CAMFED (Campaign for Female Education): Pan-African NGO supporting girls' education and young women's empowerment in sub-Saharan Africa. Member of AU CIEFFA's CESA Gender Cluster and co-implementer in Malawi. Operates comparable grassroots programs targeting out-of-school girls and is a direct delivery alternative for funders.
• Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE): Africa-based pan-African NGO focused on girls' and women's education across the continent. Co-convenes the CESA Gender Cluster with AU CIEFFA and co-organized the CSW70 side event. Operates similar programs (gender-responsive education sector planning) and serves the same African Ministries of Education customer base, making it the closest functional peer.
• Girls Not Brides: Global partnership of civil society organizations committed to ending child marriage and supporting girls' education. Member of AU CIEFFA's CESA Gender Cluster and present in country-level mission delegations. Overlaps on the child marriage / girls' education intersection that AU CIEFFA explicitly addresses in Malawi and elsewhere.
• UNGEI (UN Girls' Education Initiative): UN-led multi-stakeholder partnership explicitly focused on gender equality in education, hosted by UNICEF. Directly comparable in mission (girls' education, gender equity in schools), constituency (governments, UN agencies, civil society), and advocacy model — and is a direct functional alternative for funders targeting African girls' education outcomes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AU_CIEFFA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/AfricanUnionCIEFFA
• Facebookfacebook.com/AUCIEFFA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aucieffa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about African Union International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa