Libreville, Gabon

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‘As lifelong learning is a factor of sustainable development, it is up to us to effectively mobilize our resources to make this concept a shared reality.’

Ms Christine M’Ba N’Dutume

Mayor

Capital of Gabon and a melting pot of cultures

Capital of Gabon, Libreville is a melting pot of cultures. It represents 45 per cent of the total urban population and 39 per cent of the total population of the country, with most of its resources deriving from trade and services related to its political functions.

Vision and Strategy

Libreville has identified two major challenges to address through its learning city strategy: reducing poverty and high unemployment, especially among young people. By setting up a framework for the validation of educational activities while mobilizing the necessary resources and actors, the city hopes to refine and adapt the learning city concept to its local context. In the long term, Libreville aims to establish schools and vocational training centres and equip existing institutions with the capacity to use new learning techniques.

Policies, Plan and Implementation

Sustainability and health

• The city promotes Education for Sustainable Development and the importance of lifelong learning for well-being.

Equity and inclusion

• Libreville integrates the concepts of equality and inclusion in its learning city strategy by increasing the accessibility of children, young people, adults and older people to education and training. The city takes into account all social strata in their strategy, ensuring that every citizen has the same opportunities and access to education and training.

Decent work and entrepreneurship

• Libreville is increasing access to meaningful work for all and by creating a favourable climate for entrepreneurship and for citizens to take the initiative in creating new jobs. The city also places great emphasis on well-being at work and entrepreneurial freedom.

Good practices

Reduction of school-dropouts through awareness-raising

• The city supported actions through awareness-raising, particularly for parents and caregivers, to encourage them to take more responsibility in monitoring their children’s schooling and to help learners with difficulties. This has enabled many learners to succeed in their studies and thus reduce the rate of school failure; community activities have also been initiated to address learners’ ownership of their schooling.

Targeting marginalized and disadvantage groups

• The city has been involved in the creation of adult schools and vocational training centres for school dropouts and teenage mothers. The city encourages on-the-job learning to enable lower-level employees to acquire skills and thus move up the career ladder. Numerous agreements have been signed between certain higher education establishments and the Libreville City Council, as well as with other schools and vocational training centres.