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Harnessing Partnerships with NGOs for building Knowledge Societies

Harnessing Partnerships with NGOs for building Knowledge Societies. Abdul Waheed Khan, UNESCO 177th Session of the Executive Board Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations 27 September 2007. Knowledge for development (I). Knowledge for development (II). Economic Growth. Social Development.

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Harnessing Partnerships with NGOs for building Knowledge Societies

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  1. Harnessing Partnershipswith NGOs for buildingKnowledge Societies Abdul Waheed Khan, UNESCO177th Session of the Executive Board Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations27 September 2007

  2. Knowledge for development (I)

  3. Knowledge for development (II) Economic Growth Social Development Knowledge Political Empowerment Cultural Enrichment

  4. UNESCO’s concept of Knowledge Societies • Freedom • Inclusiveness • Diversity • Empowerment

  5. Knowledge Prosperity Globalization Inclusion Lack of Knowledge Poverty Marginalization Exclusion Knowledge Divide or Digital Divide Global trends : Knowledge divides

  6. CI focus area: Freedom of Expression Promotefreedom of expression &press freedomas basic human right *Foster media independence & pluralismas fundamental todemocracy

  7. CI focus area: Media for development Developpeople’smedia capacities to: Express aspirations,share & access information,make informed decisions

  8. CI focus area: Universal access Fosterpolicies, capacities &tools for access toinformation and knowledge * Facilitateeffective integrationof ICTs in education,science, culture

  9. Framework for cooperation with NGOs Over the past 2 decades • Unprecedented increase in civil society’s influence and its ability to act in response to globalization • Expansion of citizens’ movements • Decentralization features of ICTs enable citizens to better participate • New needs • New opportunities • New constraints

  10. Typology of cooperation • Needs identification • Formulation of strategy and policies • Project design and implementation • Provision of technical assistance • Expert advisory services

  11. NGO relation with CI • NGOs maintaining official relations with UNESCO in the field of communication and information: 54 • Formal associate relations: 8 • Formal consultative relations: 14 • Formal consultative relations as a network: 3 • Operational relations: 27 • Foundation and similar institution: 2 • Framework agreements with IFLA and ICA

  12. Types of NGOs cooperation with CI • Groups defending the freedom of expression and freedom of information • Regional broadcasting bodies • Institutions involved in media development and education • Professional organizations active in the field of information management and conservation

  13. Good practices • Keeping NGOs concerned abreast of Sector’s activities • Consulting NGOs regularly • Encouraging NGOs to take part in all forms of online interaction (forums, electronic newsletters, …) • Establishing framework agreements

  14. Cooperation with NGOs in WSIS framework (I) • WSIS process as a laboratory for new forms of governance in the information society • Participation of various stakeholders (NGOs, networks of communities and citizens, development and solidarity associations, academics, unions and the media) • Main stages of integration of NGOs: • 5 consultative meetings (Spring 2002) • Structured online discussion (Dec 2002 – Jan 2003), aimed at drawing up proposals for the Draft Action Plan • UNESCO helped to build a platform to allow civil society and professional NGOs to take part in the follow-up to the Summit

  15. Cooperation with NGOs in WSIS framework (II)

  16. Example of cooperation: IFLA • Framework Agreement concluded in 2002: developing information capacities of UNESCO Member States, in particular in the field of libraries • Discussions and preparations for WSIS • Broad scope of projects, for example • IFLA/UNESCO Public Library Manifesto (1994) • IFLA/UNESCO School Library Manifesto (1999) • Information Literacy • Digital Library • Representation of UNESCO at IFLA General Conferences and IFLA representatives at UNESCO General Conference, IFAP, etc.

  17. Example of cooperation: ICA • Cooperate with ICA in the access to, and management and preservation of, information held by public archives • ICA invited to IFAP meetings and sessions of General Conference • Informal cooperation: frequent contacts, informal advice • Challenges: • ICA’s action relates to several UNESCO major programmes • limited financial support • lack of national archives lobbies • Existing Framework Agreement too rigid

  18. Example of cooperation: Freedom of expression NGOs International level: • Global non-governmental bodies such as the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the World Newspaper Association (WAN), the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC), Reporters Without Borders, the International Press Institute (IPI) Country level • Lose cooperation with national freedom of expression defenders • Journalists • Media associations

  19. …. and the future Expanded cooperation with NGOs as they: • Serve as single access points to a diverse network of information professionals worldwide thereby reducing duplication • Play major role at national level to ensure inclusion of information policies in national development plans leading to inclusive knowledge societies • Contribute to biennial planning exercises and framing of strategies and policies

  20. Conclusion CI’s cooperation with NGOs: • Systematic • Strategic • Indispensable

  21. www.unesco.org/webworld

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