Ei-iE

Health and well-being hub Education International’s resource center

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Region: Africa
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Continental strategy on mental health and psychosocial support for teachers in Africa

Guides

The Continental Strategy on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for Teachers in Africa is a landmark initiative aimed at addressing the mental health challenges faced by educators across the continent. Recognizing that teachers are central to Africa’s development, the strategy provides a harmonized, context-specific framework to promote, protect, and restore their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. It is structured around four strategic pillars: enabling environments, teacher training and community sensitization, school-based interventions, and specialized care and reintegration. By placing teacher wellbeing at the heart of resilient education systems, the strategy seeks to empower educators to thrive despite adversity, and to ensure they are supported through policy, training, and care.

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Publisher
UNESCO IICBA
Year of publication
2025
Region
Africa
Topics
Job satisfaction Mental health Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Downloadable file

Webinar: The influence of school leadership and governance on teachers’ mental health and wellbeing in Africa

Webinar and conference recordings

This webinar is part of a joint series by AFTRA, IICBA, and the KIX Africa 19 Hub. It explores how leadership and governance structures within schools across Africa impact the mental health and wellbeing of teachers. Held on June 6, 2024, the session brings together experts and stakeholders to discuss challenges, share research findings, and propose strategies for creating supportive school environments that prioritize teacher wellbeing.

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Publisher
UNESCO IICBA
Year of publication
2024
Region
Africa
Topics
Leadership Mental health
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers School leaders
Resource type
Video

Assessment of the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on teachers, teacher educators and learners and psychosocial support needs in selected Sub-Saharan African countries

Research

The 2023 UNESCO IICBA study assesses the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on teachers, teacher educators, and learners across selected sub-Saharan African countries. It highlights the growing recognition of mental health and well-being in education, emphasizing the interconnectedness between education, health, and psychosocial support. The study identifies key challenges faced by educators, ranks the severity of COVID-19’s negative effects, and explores innovative strategies adopted by governments. It also provides recommendations for building resilience, improving infection control, and enhancing psychosocial support systems, aiming to inform policy and advocacy efforts across Africa.

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Publisher
UNESCO IICBA
Year of publication
2023
Region
Africa
Topics
Mental health Pandemics and epidemics
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Downloadable file

Mental health: A great investment for teachers in Africa?

Webinar and conference recordings

This webinar explores systemic approaches and promising practices that strengthen mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions for teachers in Africa, with the goal of improving learning outcomes. It presents key issues that teachers currently face which may impact their mental health and wellbeing, showcases evidence-based MHPSS interventions for educators, and identifies strategies for creating linkages with various stakeholders to support teachers. By highlighting the critical connection between teacher wellbeing and educational quality, the webinar promotes collaborative and informed responses across the education and mental health sectors.

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Publisher
UNESCO IICBA
Year of publication
2023
Region
Africa
Topics
Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Physical health
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Video

Teachers in crisis and emergency contexts: Challenges and promising practices in Africa

Webinar and conference recordings

The overall goal of the webinar is to create an opportunity for education authorities, partners in education, school leaders, teachers, and teacher educators to explore and deliberate on the various strategies that can strengthen education sector interventions for teachers in crisis and emergency contexts through the sharing of best practices that have been implemented by the various partners in Africa. More specifically, the webinar will provide a platform to: (i) Deliberate on the persistent challenges and promising practices for teachers in crisis contexts and refugee settlements in the Horn of Africa; (ii) Share how best countries in Africa can improve and manage the well-being of Teachers in crisis and refugee settlements in Africa; (iii) Discuss strategies for promoting teachers' well-being, management, and school leadership in crisis settings; and (iv) Share innovations, resources, and best practices that have worked around teachers' management, motivations, and data systems and their linkages with the national overall programming of teachers.

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Publisher
UNESCO IICBA
Year of publication
2023
Region
Africa
Topics
Leadership Resources and conditions Safety
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers School leaders
Resource type
Video

West Africa – Investing in Teachers and School Leaders: Professional Standards, Working Conditions, and Teacher Education

Research

This document outlines a study conducted by UNESCO IICBA on the state of teacher professionalism in West Africa, focusing on professional standards, teacher education, and working conditions. It emphasizes the urgent need for countries to adopt and implement professional standards and competencies for teachers and school leaders. It highlights how inadequate professional support, poor working conditions, and lack of career development opportunities negatively impact teacher motivation, job satisfaction, and retention. Detailed case studies for Sierra Leone and The Gambia illustrate country-specific progress and challenges. The study highlights that while some countries like Sierra Leone and Nigeria have aligned with international frameworks, most are still in early stages, lacking formal regulations, national standards, and professional teaching councils. Teacher education remains weak, with many teachers insufficiently qualified, and continuous professional development is underutilized.

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Publisher
UNESCO IICBA
Country
Gambia Sierra Leone
Year of publication
2023
Region
Africa
Topics
Salaries and remuneration Working conditions
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers School leaders
Resource type
Downloadable file

In their words: Teacher well-being amidst displacement and fragility in Uganda and South Sudan

Research

This article is part of a compilation of case studies that detail promising practices in teacher well‑being, teacher management, and school leadership. This text explores the well-being of teachers in Uganda and South Sudan amidst displacement and fragility. It highlights the challenges faced by teachers, including the impact of displacement on their professional and personal lives. The study emphasizes the importance of teacher well-being for effective teaching and learning, noting that teachers often struggle with stress, lack of resources, and the need for professional development.

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Publisher
Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Teachers College Columbia University
Country
Uganda South Sudan
Year of publication
2022
Region
Africa
Topics
Cross-cutting resource Peer relationships Resources and conditions Safety Self-efficacy Workload
Available in
English French Spanish, Castilian Portuguese Arabic
Categories of staff
Teachers
Specific communities
Migrants and refugees
Resource type
Downloadable file

Teacher wellbeing: Findings from a scoping literature review and case studies in Cambodia, Kenya, and Qatar

Research

The report presents a global exploration of teacher wellbeing, combining a systematic review of 102 academic articles (2016–2020) with original fieldwork. It includes case studies based on interviews with 90 teachers and 16 principals from high-performing schools in Cambodia, Kenya, and Qatar, along with 11 policymakers. These case studies helped infer the underlying processes that promote teacher wellbeing by analyzing participants’ reflections on their behaviors and conditions during their most fulfilling teaching experiences. The report identifies key factors that foster wellbeing, such as feeling valued, supportive environments, and emotional regulation, while also highlighting risks like burnout. Despite contextual differences, common themes emerged across countries, emphasizing the importance of supporting teachers’ mental health and professional fulfillment.

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Publisher
World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) The Wellbeing Project Center for Health Policy & Inequalities Research (CHPIR) at Duke University ACE Africa Kenya Development for Cambodian Children (DCC)
Country
Qatar Cambodia Kenya
Year of publication
2021
Region
Africa Asia Pacific Arab Countries
Topics
Mental health Working conditions
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Downloadable file

Multi-Agency report on effects of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on education: Mitigation measures, analysis and recommendations on reopening of schools, colleges and universities

Guides

The document outlines strategic recommendations for safely reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. It places a strong emphasis on the wellbeing and protection of teachers, recognizing them as central to the education system’s recovery. The report addresses the need for mental health support, adequate personal protective equipment, and clear communication to ensure teachers can return to classrooms safely and confidently. It also advocates for inclusive decision-making, where teachers' voices are considered in shaping policies that affect their working conditions and professional responsibilities

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Publisher
Kenya National Union of Teachers Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU)
Country
Kenya
Year of publication
2020
Region
Africa
Topics
Pandemics and epidemics
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Downloadable file

Let’s unionize to strengthen our organizations during the crisis

Guides

This guide addresses the impact of COVID-19 on schools and the importance of unionization during crises. It consists of two parts: one focusing on COVID-19-related concepts and the other on trade unionism in the context of the pandemic. The guide aims to provide essential information that authorities have overlooked and to emphasize the critical role of unions in advocating for teachers' rights.

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Publisher
Syndicat des Enseignants du Congo Fédération nationale des enseignants du Congo Centrale de l’Education Nationale et de la Recherche Scientifique
Country
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Year of publication
2020
Region
Africa
Topics
Pandemics and epidemics Physical health
Available in
French
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel
Resource type
Downloadable file

Strategies to end school-related gender-based violence: The experience of education unions in Africa

Guides

The document focuses on the pervasive issue of gender-based violence in and around educational settings, particularly in Africa. It draws on the experience of nine EI member organisations in seven African countries committed to combatting SRGBV in their contexts. The first section focuses on actions these unions have taken internally to adapt decision making structures, update policies and deploy resources to empower their members to act. The second section looks at how education unions have reached out to other stakeholders (legislators, ministries, civil society organisations, traditional leaders, parents, media and learners) to pursue coordinated strategies for change.

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Publisher
Gender at Work Education International (EI) United Nations Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI)
Year of publication
2019
Region
Africa
Topics
Safety Violence and harassment Women’s psychological and physical health
Available in
English French Spanish, Castilian
Resource type
Downloadable file