The Department initiated a partnership with the Foundation for Education and Development in Africa (FEDA), chaired by Dr Cheikh Modibo Diarra, an American scientist originally from Mali, designer and chief navigator of the NASA Mars space mission. Appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1998, Dr Diarra is engaged in fund-raising to support action on behalf of education in Africa, and in particular to promote science teaching.

FEDA/UNESCO cooperation will be concerned with scientific activities in Africa on the lines of “Learning without borders” (go to unesco.org/education/lwf/index.html), in particular the establishment of regional centres for teacher training in science subjects, and providing support for young people and small independent entrepreneurs setting up in business by training them in informatics and the new communication technologies. An international FEDA conference will be held in Gabon at the end of 1999 on earth observation by satellites, which should promote the possibilities of using such observations for development purposes.