Arab and regional educational networks launch the Arab House for Adult Education and Development

Beirut – On the 14th of December, 2019, the Arab House for Adult Education and Development, known as “AHAEDâ€‌ was launched in the capital city of Lebanon, Beirut. The launching took place in the presence of representatives of the four regional educational networks: Arab Campaign for Education for All (ACEA), Arab Network for Popular Education (ANPE), Arab Network for Civic Education (ANHRE) and Arab Network for Literacy and Adult Education (ANLAE), and in partnership with the DVV International. AHAED is the culmination of five years of partnership and efforts among the four major Arab networks mentioned above. The vision of this initiative is based on the right of individuals to lifelong learning and education without any type of discrimination, and is aligned with the fourth SDG 2030.

In preparation for this initiative, a series of planning workshops and consultation meetings were organized, and the Arab House for Adult Education and Development AHAED is launched, having its headquarter in Beirut, Lebanon. It will be a platform of exchange for practitioners, institutions and policy makers promoting the power of Adult Education in the Arab World towards renewal of Adult Education approaches and development of an educational renaissance and enlightenment in the region. AHAED is based on general pillars that include renewal of visions, capacity building and development, research, advocating for adult education and contribution to policy making, development of best practices, and building partnerships and networking on the regional and global levels. It will also give special emphasis on production of content and knowledge in Arabic, and on realization of the slogan “one voice to support Adult Education for developmentâ€‌.

 The partners see this initiative as a tool to enhance efforts to change the reality of the Arab countries, with focus on linking education to development. They see AHAED as an umbrella for a large number of institutions and bodies that are particularly interested in Adult Learning and Education to achieve their common goals. It is worth to mention that the partner networks and DVV International have been implementing an annual program of the Arab Academy for Adult Education and Development for 5 years. Over 150 experts, educators and practitioners from various Arab countries participated in these academies. This program is considered the first initiating seed of the Arab House of Adult Education and Development. In previous years, it focused on training of adult educators in the context of promoting learning as a lifelong approach, values of participation and critical and emancipatory thinking, exchange of knowledge, experience and inspiration to achieve development and enhanced quality of life