About CONFINTEA
The seventh International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VII) was hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco in June of 2022. Over 1,000 participants took part in the conference, which examined effective adult learning and education policies within a lifelong learning perspective and within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Conference participants developed a new framework for action on adult learning and education which replaced the Belém Framework for Action (BFA), adopted at CONFINTEA VI in 2009.
CONFINTEA VII encouraged UNESCO Member States to put in place policies, incentives, regulatory frameworks and institutional structures and mechanisms to contribute to a human rights culture, social justice, shared values and sustainability. In recognition of continuing advancements in artificial intelligence, special attention was paid to using information and communications technologies to promote access to adult learning and education and inclusion.
Regional and sub-regional conferences took place throughout 2021 in each of the five world regions in preparation for CONFINTEA VII. These conferences provided localized perspectives; participants identified current key issues on adult learning and education in each region. The outcome documents of these consultations were used to draft the Marrakech Framework for Action, adopted during CONFINTEA VII. Learn more about the regional and sub-regional conferences below.
The International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA) is a UNESCO intergovernmental (Category II) conference for policy dialogue on adult learning and education (ALE) and related research and advocacy. The seventh International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VII) took place in Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco, in June 2022.
CONFINTEA has taken place every 12 to 13 years since the late 1940s. The first conference was held in 1949 in Elsinore (Denmark), followed by Montreal (Canada) in 1960; Tokyo (Japan) in 1972; Paris (France) in 1985; Hamburg (Germany) in 1997; and Belém (Brazil) in December 2009. In 2009, CONFINTEA VI led to the adoption of the Belém Framework for Action (BFA) which recognizes the critical role of lifelong learning in addressing global educational issues and challenges. Participating countries committed to making progress in five key areas of ALE: policy; governance; financing; participation, inclusion and equity; and quality.
See below for more information about CONFINTEA conferences through the ages.
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