INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF ABIDJAN
The International Community School of Abidjan (ICSA) is a non-profit international school founded in 1972 by members of the US Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire.
The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA) and the International Baccalaureate (IBO), with teaching and learning guided by the Common Core Collaborative (CGC) and AERO Standards.
ICSA serves 520 students from Pre-K to Grade 12 representing 74 nationalities, with a teaching staff of 84 educators drawn from host-country nationals, U.S. citizens and third-country nationals.
ICSA was also part of the first GEC international school pilot working with the Association of International Schools in Africa, who funded the project to better support schools across the region to strengthen their approach to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ). Ten schools were invited to take part, and their work directly informed the development of the GEC diagnostic framework used internationally today across over 30 countries.
Why ICSA engaged with the GEC Platform
ICSA joined the GEC Platform to better understand how diversity, equity, inclusion and justice were experienced across their international school community.
As the school explained:
“Determine the status of our DEIJ climate at ICSA. To gain baseline demographic data for common understanding about our various areas of diversity. To learn more about how to make our DEIJ journey more about the people in our community by honouring their experiences.
To finally ascertain areas of healing and learning, in an attempt to bring our community together and prevent behaviour and actions that may be harmful to staff and students.
This work created an important foundation for strengthening belonging across a complex and globally diverse school context.
“The GEC Platform has been an essential tool in providing us with a starting point for our DEIJ action and areas of urgency. It provides us with ongoing guidelines based on the experiences of our teachers.”
Sientania McNeil, Inclusion Champion
Establishing a baseline for DEIJ action in an international context
For ICSA, one of the most important outcomes of engaging with the GEC Platform was gaining a clear starting point for their DEIJ strategy.
As Inclusion Champion Sientania McNeil explained:
“The GEC Platform has been an essential tool in providing us with a starting point for our DEIJ action and areas of urgency. It provides us with ongoing guidelines based on the experiences of our teachers.
It has fostered better understanding between us as international educators and community members.”
This baseline insight enabled the school to move forward with shared understanding and clearer priorities.
“We want to make the changes that will ensure our school is progressive and innovative and where all stakeholders feel they belong, are heard and can contribute.”
Sientania McNeil, Inclusion Champion
Identifying blind spots and strengthening staff voice
The staff survey results surfaced areas of experience that had not previously been visible to leadership.
ICSA reflected:
“Results illustrated that there were many blindspots that we did not consider when we looked at DEIJ at our school.
GEC allowed for staff to participate with the assurance of confidentiality, therefore, participation was above our anticipated 60%.”
In a community representing dozens of cultures and languages, confidential participation played an important role in ensuring authentic staff voice.
Responding to complexity in a globally diverse school community
The results also reflected the realities of working within a highly international and intercultural environment shaped by wider social and political influences.
The school noted:
“The results affirmed some areas of challenge expected in our context of being a school with 84 nationalities, diverse cultures and languages, in addition to the socio-political external influences that exist in Côte d’Ivoire.”
This insight helped the school move forward with greater awareness of how diversity is experienced across roles and identities within the community.
Turning insight into action
Importantly, the GEC Platform supported ICSA to identify practical next steps for strengthening inclusive practice.
The school explained:
“The actionable items from the GEC Platform have given us practical guidance on the areas of needed attention — such as ensuring that policies of anti-harassment are accessible to staff, further offering us resources related to microaggressions for example — to support our community to grow in our sensitivity towards inclusive behavioural practices.”
These actions helped translate staff voice into concrete leadership priorities.
Supporting reflection, dialogue and professional learning
Following the staff survey, leaders shared results with staff during orientation week, creating structured opportunities for deeper discussion.
ICSA reported:
“The staff at ICSA also received the snapshot of the results which was followed by a presentation during orientation week. This was a deeper dive into the area of belonging and inclusion at our school.
The Kaleidoscopic Data gave us much needed insight into the various identities and beliefs that exist within our teaching staff. This helped to conscientize our broader sense of diversity and begin the conversation about what our DEIJ values are.”
The process also created space for previously unspoken concerns to be acknowledged.
“The results in this particular section brought to the fore areas of grievance that have not been addressed and gave staff a chance to be heard.”
A recommendation to other international schools
ICSA strongly recommends the Platform for schools working to strengthen their DEIJ practice.
As Inclusion Champion Sientania McNeil reflected:
“I would highly recommend the GEC Platform for schools looking to grow in developing their beliefs, values and action towards diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.”
Call to Action
International schools operate across cultures, identities and expectations — understanding lived experience is essential.
ICSA demonstrates how establishing a clear baseline for belonging and staff experience can help international school communities move forward with confidence and shared purpose.
Across the Global Equality Collective network, international schools are using lived-experience insight to strengthen culture, support staff and build communities where everyone feels heard and valued.
👉 Explore how your school can become part of the GEC international community