The ACQF Policy Document, validated at the ACQF Addis Conference on 11-13 July 2023, defines the purposes and scope of the ACQF, its seven main areas of activity and the ACQF level descriptors (Annex 1 of this document).

The ACQF referencing approach, criteria and procedures are described in ACQF Guideline 3 (and the related Training Module 3). ACQF referencing has been a topic on the agenda of several multi-country and country-specific workshops, notably at the 1^st NQF Forum (Kinshasa, 18-20 June 2024, see presentation).

Referencing of national (and regional) qualifications frameworks and systems to the ACQF is the core function of the ACQF as a meta qualifications framework for the African continent. Referencing to the ACQF is guided by four Referencing Criteria and a set of procedures and follow-up steps defined in the Governance, procedures and follow-up steps. Moreover, it is important to note the Quality principles associated to referencing criterion 4.

ACQF-II project is mandated to support the pilot referencing of NQFs (and RQFs) to ACQF. This process is based on the above-mentioned Guideline 3, but is conducted through a streamlined approach, based on group work and peer learning between the interested countries.

This first pilot phase is conducted in a period of 4 months – September-December 2024 – guided by the indicated sources, this template, presential meetings at ACQF-II workshops and webinars.