The African Union Commission and the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), with the support of the German government, successfully hosted a Knowledge Marketplace Exhibition to launch the African Union Year of Education Transformation. The Knowledge Marketplace Exhibition was hosted on the margins of the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

Under the theme: “Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa”, the knowledge marketplace was held on February 17 - 18, 2024, at the Foyer of the Nelson Mandela Hall of the AUC Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Knowledge Marketplace served to socialize the theme of the Year by showcasing various initiatives in line with the thematic outcome areas of the Transforming Education in Africa Concept Note and Roadmap. The Knowledge Marketplace launched the commemorative engagements of the Theme of the Year by providing an interactive and dynamic exhibition that facilitated the showcasing of innovation, sharing best practices, and fostering knowledge exchange in Education from across the Continent.

The Marketplace included a digital exhibition that showcased strategies, operations, and activities of CESA Cluster leads, development partners, and stakeholders that utilized the Knowledge Marketplace to engage with Member States and other stakeholders. It provided visitors with an interesting virtual reality experience of education scenarios in the eye of the storm, which was facilitated by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).

Exhibiting partner institutions included: AUDA NEPAD, AU ESTI, AU CIEFFA, European Union, GPE, HP, HUMANA, IFEF, ILO, OBREAL, OECD, Pan African Initiative on the Inserejeune Tool, Pan African University, PLAN International, SIFA, STEM POWER, TVET JOURNAL, UNESCO Global Education Monitoring, UNESCO UNEVOC, UNICEF, WFP, WorldSkills Africa, World Skills Kenya, World Skills Zambia, and Young Africa.

The Knowledge Marketplace hosted a number of eminent persons and dignitaries for a walkthrough and photoshoot at the exhibition venue. These dignitaries included Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma (emeritus AUC Chairperson and incumbent South African Minister in the Presidency for Women Affairs, Youth, and People with Disabilities); Prof. Mohammed Belhocine, AUC ESTI Commissioner; H.E Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas CEO of AUDA NEPAD; and H.E Speciosa Kazibwe, the first female Vice President of Uganda.

Overall, the Knowledge Marketplace exhibitions attracted over 400 registered delegates who attended the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. These included delegates from CESA Cluster leads, development partners, Member States, and other key stakeholders, including delegates from AFREXIMBANK, NEPAD Nigeria, UNECA, and AUC liaison office in DRC, etc.