Africa Programme

Africa Programme Objectives 2021-2023 

Phase two of the Africa Programme (AP), taking place from 2021-2023, is building on the efforts attained in the first five years of the Programme. During this phase, the AP is focusing on 2 objectives: to develop sustainable knowledge exchange initiatives and to develop training and trainer competencies.   

The objectives for this second phase are designed to be shared between francophone and anglophone Africa to enhance uniformity and equality across the continent whilst remaining cognizant of the similarities and differences between the two regions. Where possible, the objectives will strive to ensure engagements between the two regions since both share significant common challenges regardless of language and cultural specificities.  

The two objectives are aligned to Africa’s development strategies as well as the Programme’s strategy. Advocacy and adequate knowledge and skills among archival professionals will be critical to position records and archives management at the heart of sustainable development being pursued by all African countries.  

For more details about the objectives for 2021-2023, please check the “Downloads” section below (available only in English and French).  

If you would like to know who the AP coordinators are, click here. 

Origins of ICA Africa Programme 

In 2012, the ICA's Programme Commission made Africa a priority area for its professional programme work to support: 

• the development of record-keeping capacity in Africa,  
• the needs of African archivists and records managers, 
• ICA strategic objectives and priorities, and 
• the delivery of archival education. 

This led to the development of the Africa Strategy and the related Workplan during 2014 and 2015.  

Africa Programme 2015-2020: Strategy and Workplan 

The Africa Strategy created a high-level mandate for supporting advocacy and training in Africa. Pitching the Strategy at this level enabled the ICA and its members to engage with international and local partners and to support local needs at the project level. 

The Strategy was developed in consultation with ICA members, and in particular, African members. It was supported by a Workplan with priorities, projects, and tasks for the ICA and the Africa Working Group from 2015-2020. 

The version uploaded below of the Africa Strategy was adopted by the ICA Programme Commission and endorsed by the ICA Executive Board in Reykjavik in September 2015. 

This first phase of the Africa Programme was led by James Lowry, who worked as a volunteer under the role of Secretary of ICA’s Africa Programme.