February 18-19, 2003 – Washington, DC Hosted by the US Department of Education

1. UNESCO’S WORLD OF EDUCATION Partnerships with Civil Society February 18-19, 2003 – Washington, DC Hosted by the US Department of Education Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington DC

2. The UNESCO Constitution A plea for peace through broad based civil society cooperation and solidarity “… a peace based exclusively upon the political and economic arrangement of governments would not be a peace which could secure the unanimous, lasting and sincere support of the peoples of the world, and that the peace must therefore be founded, if it is not to fail, upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind.” (Constitution of the UNESCO)

3. Understanding the history of UNESCO relations with NGOs Since its inception, UNESCO has recognized that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play an important role in international cooperation in the service of peoples. For more than a half-century, UNESCO has established cooperative relations with NGOs working in its fields of competenceto disseminate and jointly advance its ideals.

4. Cooperation with NGOs has evolved • Today, three major forms exist: • Official statutory relations with international NGOs working in education, culture, science, communication and information • Working relations with a wide range of NGOs on specific Program activities • Collective cooperation

5. Official relations with international NGOs Who is eligible? • A. International professional NGOs that are: • widely representative • expert in their field of activity • genuinely international in structure and membership • B. Foundations and similar institutions that are: • non-profit international organizations • pursue objectives in conformity with those of UNESCO • have the means to contribute to the implementation of UNESCO’s Program

6. US based international NGOs at UNESCO Only ten out of the 142 Education NGOs that maintain statutory relations with UNESCO have their Headquarters in the USA • A. Seven international NGOs • (i) International Association of Lions Clubs, (ii) International Reading Association, (iii) SIL International, (iv) International Association of Educators for World Peace, (v) International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance, (vi) International Council on Education for Teaching, (vii) Rotary International, (viii) World Council for Curriculum and Instruction • B. Two foundations and similar institutions: • (i) Population Reference Bureau, (ii) World Education

7. Official relations with international NGOs • In practice … • Exchange of information • Consultation on UNESCO’s Program and budget • Participation in the General Conference • Participation of UNESCO specialists in NGO events • Participation in the Conference of NGOs maintaining official relations with UNESCO

8. The international Conference of NGOs • Brings together all 343 international NGOs maintaining official relations with UNESCO • Meets every two years • Elects 10 NGOs to the UNESCO-NGO Liaison Committee to coordinate and promote collective expression • Elects the President in a personal capacity, who is the spokesperson of or the Conference of NGOs (currently Mme Fouilhoux from Education International)

9. Working relations with NGOs • Reality has shown that more and more NGOs at decentralized levels have gained competencies and expertise • Who is eligible? • Local, national, regional or international NGOs that are • competent, committed and available to carry out a specific • task or activity • Usually contractual arrangements between the NGO and the • Sector or field offices • Examples: • Studies and research, training, pilot projects, joint • organization of events, materials development, reporting, • etc.

10. Collective Consultation of NGOs • A growing civil society movement in the South requires new and flexible ways of partnership • Theme-specific meetings and networks, created by UNESCO • Organized in accordance with UNESCO’s program needs • Sometimes organized in conjunction with international conferences • Currently three Collective Consultations of NGOs exist: • - CCNGO on Higher Education • - CCNGO on Education for All • - CCNGO on Women

11. The Collective Consultation of NGOson EFA Partnership with civil society organizations in the follow-up to the World Education Forum in Dakar

12. International Coordination: Emerging Architecture EFA Partners: UNESCO, UNICEF, WB, Bilateral, NGOs… FTI CCNGO High Level Group MDG FLAGSHIPS Workshop Group G8-TF EFA Forums:Regional/National Donors Group Monitoring Report International Strategy

13. WHY did UNESCO create this thematic partnership mechanism on EFA? “… ensure the engagement and participation of civil society in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of strategies for educational development” (§ 8 of the Dakar Framework for Action)

14. Rationale: • EFA must be rooted in a broad based societal movement • The EFA challenge is too vast and complex for governments alone • Achievement of EFA implies inclusion of marginalised and excluded • EFA must build on dialogue and partnership to create an enduring national consensus on achieving the goals • EFA must encourage intellectual exchange and knowledge to close the ideas gap

15. UNESCO’s roles and the Collective Consultation of NGOs on EFA • Learn from perspectives of civil society • Promote collaboration between governments and civil society • Facilitate networks and alliances of NGOs • Impartial broker • Facilitator • Catalyst • Laboratory of ideas

16. Purpose of the CCNGO/EFA • Facilitate information sharing and dialogue on EFA issues • Reinforce knowledge on civil society participation • Mobilize civil society participation in monitoring EFA goals • Support capacity building for local NGOs/CSOs

17. Participation in the Collective Consultation of NGOs on EFA • 665 NGOs/CSOs are connected through the network’s list serve (international, regional, national networks) • Participation is open to any civil society organization and/or network that is (i) non-governmental and not-for-profit and (ii) works in the field of EFA • About 150 participate in the international meetings (i.e. 2003 in Porto Alegre) • About 50 to 80 participate in regional meetings (i.e. Lilongwe 2002; Beirut 2003)

18. NGOs registered on CCNGO/EFA List serve by region:

19. Illustrating the diversity of the CCNGO/EFA • Campaign networks • Faith-based organisations • Learning networks • Teachers’ unions • Religious organizations • Community-based organizations • Parent-teacher associations • Student organizations • Women’s groups and others

20. Example 1: Learning network

21. Example 2: Faith-based organisation

22. Example 3: Teachers’ union

23. Example 4: Women’s group

24. In practice : • Support to NGO reporting on EFA : EFA Assessment Studies for Dakar (2002) and MINEDAF VIII • Promotion of policy dialogue between governments and NGOs: Special Sessions with NGOs and Ministers (Geneva, 2001) and (Dar Es Salaam 2002) • Capacity-building for NGOs/CSOs in support of EFA: Program for Africa (so far 11 countries; funding from the World Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation and UNESCO)

25. Strategies for the future? • Promote country level involvement of civil society and capacity-building at decentralized levels • Strengthen NGO consultation on major EFA initiatives • Promote and strengthen linkages between NGOs working in EFA and Higher Education

26. The Collective Consultation on Higher Education

27. Background Established in 1988 Members: 57 organizations representing all areas of the higher education community • Regional associations of universities • Regional and international student associations • Professional student organizations • Women’s organizations • Teachers’ unions and organizations • Organizations specialized in counselling, educational • assessment, educational exchange, research • Outreach: approx. 25 million (institutions/associations/persons)

28. Mandate • Act as a think tank to assist UNESCO in • the orientation of its HE programme; • Participate in execution of UNESCO’s programme • Provide support for UNITWIN/UNESCO • Chairs Programme

29. In practice… • Meetings of the NGO Consultation: 8th NGO Consultation (January 2003) to prepare NGO input to the Higher Education Partners’ Meeting (World Conference +5) (Paris, 23-25 June 2003) • Thematic meetings: Globalization, Women, Development, Employment • Publications: Handbook on career counselling

30. In practice… Teacher Education programme Teachers and Quality Flagship ILO/UNESCO joint programme on the Status of Teaching-Personnel • Education International (23Mn teachers) • World Confederation of Teachers

31. Advocacy for Education for All ·Lobbying governments to push forward the EFA agenda Example: OXFAM and the Global Campaign for Education (over 100 NGOs) ·GLOBAL EFA WEEK (annual event to mark the Dakar anniversary) The Global Campaign organizes high-profile marches, drawing competitions, TV debates, letters to governments etc.

32. GLOBAL EFA WEEK 20036-13 April The largest lesson in history Organized by Global Campaign for Education Record of 28,000 pupils (Guinness Book of Records) Times : * 3.30 a.m. GMT in South and Southeast Asia * 1.00 p.m. GMT in the rest of the world Theme :girls and women need an equal chance to learn Information on :www.campaignforeducation.org

35. Presented by Abhimanyu SINGH Lead Manager, Dakar Follow-up Unit Education Sector UNESCO 7, Place de Fontenoy 75700 Paris, France Web: http://www.education.unesco.org