On September 10, 2025, the President of IFLA, along with two members of the IFLA Management of Library Associations Section, spoke at a webinar in French organized by library associations from Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Benin, and Gabon. Here is a report from the event written by IFLA MLAS Information Coordinator, Adama Kone, who organized the event. As a global organization, IFLA supports multilingualism and the engagement of libraries and institutions from different regions of the world. Therefore, IFLA MLAS is very proud to support these types of efforts.

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Report: Webinar on Leadership and Engagement of African Librarians and Archivists in a Changing World
Date: 10 September 2025
Platform: Microsoft Teams
Language: French

Recording available via YouTube

On 10 September 2025, a francophone webinar titled “Engagement and Leadership of African Librarians and Archivists in a Changing World” brought together around 130 participants from across Africa and beyond. The session was organized with the support of professional associations from Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Benin, and Gabon, and aimed to foster dialogue, knowledge sharing, and capacity building around leadership in the library and archives sector.

Objectives

The webinar sought to:
• Encourage leadership and professional engagement among African librarians and archivists;
• Share inspiring professional and associative experiences;
• Strengthen participants’ capacities in leadership and professional development;
• Promote intergenerational and interinstitutional exchanges;
• Foster a francophone dynamic of cooperation in the field of libraries and archives.

Programme and Speakers

The session was moderated by Adama Koné (Head of the Documentation and Archives Department, National Assembly of Côte d’Ivoire & MLAS/IC) with technical coordination by Mamadou Dia (AUF Dakar).

• Leslie Weir, IFLA President and Librarian and Archivist of Canada, opened with a keynote message highlighting IFLA’s vision and a call to African colleagues to play an active role in shaping the future of the profession.
• Jean-Philippe Accart, consultant and author, spoke on leadership and professional competencies, stressing the importance of adaptability and lifelong learning.
• Marie-Laure Angoran, Senior Librarian at the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, shared her extensive experience in professional development and emphasized the need for mentorship and the empowerment of young professionals.

• Antoine Torrens, Vice-President of CFIBD and member of IFLA’s MLAS Section, presented the experiences of CFIBD and IFLA in strengthening African engagement in international networks.

The webinar concluded with a lively Q&A and testimonies session, where participants exchanged views, asked questions, and shared local perspectives.

Key Outcomes

• Reinforced awareness of the strategic role of librarians and archivists in an era of digital transformation and societal change;
• Sharing of best practices and inspiring leadership experiences;
• Strengthening of the francophone professional network, with renewed commitment to collaboration;
• Encouragement for young professionals to take an active role in shaping the future of the profession.

Conclusion

The webinar provided a valuable platform to reflect on leadership and engagement within the African francophone library and archives community. By bringing together high-level speakers and a diverse audience, the event contributed to building a culture of cooperation, professionalism, and innovation, in line with IFLA’s mission to empower the global library field.