Secretariat for Institutional Affairs - SRI Economic and Social Development Council – CDES

1. Secretariat for Institutional Affairs - SRI Economic and Social Development Council – CDES Secretariat for the Economic and Social Development Council - SEDES

2. “Promotion and Achievement of Millennium Development Goals through Education and Outreach” Bangkok, March /08    Ana Lucia Saboia Jorge Abrhaão Members of the Equity Observatory Technical Committee

3. the Observatory of Equity was created as a part of the Economic and Social Development Council which belongs to the Presidency of the Republic. It aims to analyze the dimensions of reality democratizing information, providing tools for society to debate, propose, follow up and evaluate results of governmental and social actors actions CDES: the Brazilian experience

4. Goals of the Observatory Produce knowledge and information about social reality Promote social mobilization of actors directly involved, making possible actions of supervision and social control influencing the decision making process and drawing up public policies. Connect institutions which deal with information CDES: the Brazilian experience

5. The Economic and Social Development Council-CDES is a consultative committee of the Presidency of the Republic represented, in its majority, by the civil society. Within CDES, entrepreneurs, social groups, and recognized leaders in their field of action are able to debate in the same level fundamental issues aiming Brazilian development. CDES: the Brazilian experience

6. Composition of the Council: Ninety Brazilian citizens of recognized leadership and representation in different sectors of society all appointed by the President of the Republic for a two-year term, with the possibility of extending for another two years. Thirteen State Ministers The President of the Republic is the President of the Council. The Executive-Secretary is the Minister for Institutional Affairs. CDES: the Brazilian experience

7. Characteristics: The diversity of its composition: entrepreneurs, workers, social movements, academics, and other relevant social actors, distinguishes CDES from other ways of participation. The focus on development themes: the diversity of the composition allows a wider concept of development CDES: The Brazilian experience

8. The National Development Agenda The National Development Agenda drafted by all counselors was approved by the Plenary Meeting in August 2005. It has been since the outlines for the Council and its initiatives enclosing other social actors, academics and international institutions. It was designed pact for the sustainable growth with social inclusion, employment and income distribution. CDES: The Brazilian experience

9. The Observatoryof Equity The inequalities are pointed out as the greatest and most complex problems to be tackled in the country within the proposals of the CDES. CDES had adopted equity as the guiding criteria for decisions on public policies and actions of other sectors of society. CDES: The Brazilian experience

10. The Observatoryof Equity As main goal the Observatory provides capacity and tools to monitor the alleviation of inequities in the Brazilian society; The OE aims to increase knowledge and also the capacity of society to debate, suggest proposals, monitor and evaluate the results of public policies and of actions from other actors of society. CDES: The Brazilian experience

11. The Observatory of Equity The observed themes are based on the main directives and consensus of the CDES. There is a technical committee composed by the IPEA, IBGE, DIEESE and the CDES Secretariat. The Managing Council, responsible for theObservatory’s oversight, is made up of 12 members of the CDES. CDES: The Brazilian experience

12. Functioning of the Equity Observatory • CDES Plenary • Approves / names the Directing Council • Approves the object of observation • Analyses, adjusts and approves the Observatory Opinion • Directing Council • Comprised of 12 CDES Council Members, respecting diversity • Oversees the Observatory management, approves the methodology and work plan • Examines the Observation Report and proposes Observation Opinion to the Plenary • Observation Network • Organizations and their specialists • Permanent participation in face-to-face and electronic meetings • Contributes towards the Observation Report and monitoring reports • Technical Committee • IPEA, IBGE, DIEESE, SEDES • Evaluates the technical possibilities and orients the corresponding procedures • Indicates the members of the Technical Team and includes other external technical support, involving ministries, universities, research institutes, non-governmental institutions and others, according to the required capacity. • Prepares the Biannual Monitoring Reports • Prepares the Annual Observation Report • Executive Secretariat • SEDES • Articulates the Observation Network • Organizes meetings and other events • Provides operational and financial support of the Observatory’s activities

13. As main methodology the Observatory binds technical and political dimensions. Such interrelation is carried out among the CDES Plenary, the Steering Council, the Technical Committee and the Observation Network. The process of analyses has 3 stages: observation stage proposition stage for the identified circumstances problems and political analyses of the observed situation TheObservatory of Equity

14. Observation Report – the report aides the debate in the Steering Council on the recommendations on public policies. The systematic follow up of the observed situation results in periodic up dates on the Report whenever new information comes from the sources and data surveyed. Observatory Report is submitted to CDES Plenary for approval and send to the President of the Republic of Brazil and its society. The Observatory of Equity

15. Education Problems and Inequalities in Brazil Brazilian level of schooling is low and unequal Indicator Initial Situation (2005) Average of school years on population above 15 years of age Brazil: 7 years Northeast: 5,6 years (Southeast: 7,7 years) Rural area: 4,2 years (Urban area: 7,5 years) Colored: 6 years (White: 7,8 years) 20% more poor: 4,8 years (20% more rich: 7,7 years) MACRO PROBLEM PROBLEM Constant high level of illiterate, up keeping inequalities Restrict access to quality pre school, specially infants between ages 0-3 Insufficient levels of access and continuity, performance and completion of medium schooling Insufficient and unequal levels of performance and completion of basic schooling, with limited access for disabled children Restrict and unequal access to tertiary levels Insufficient quality offer and disarrangement of the technical and professional lasting schooling sub systems

16. The results of the analyses of the Technical Committee is used as institutional feed back for perception of non identified problems, imprecise information, etc. It also allows complementary efforts on searching new information and analyses tools. The Observatory of Equity

17. The Technical Committee relies on institutions which hold high level of information and analyses and a wide Observation Network. Such interaction favors the complex representation characteristic of the social observation process. The Technical Committee relies on institutions which hold high level of information and analysis and a wide Observation Network. This interaction favors the complex work of the social observation process. The Observatory of Equity

18. As an inter-institutional unifier in producing information, the OE relates with the capacity of evoking the Presidency of the Republic to send for the debate on governmental institutions and organism, civil society and private initiative related to the theme. For lining up actors, the OE relies on a wide social network available to CDES Counselors. The Observatory of Equity

19. The location of the Brazilian Council – at the Presidency of the Republic – facilitates the President’s and the Ministers acquaintance of the work but it does not always implies in the implementation of the Observatory suggestions. The results coming from the OE are measured not only by the quality and repercussion of its diagnosis, denouncing inequalities and defending a development process which promotes equality, but also by the way it shapes the dialog network in its working procedure. Such network widens the representation arena for the Council, as well as the results of its actions and political influence. The Observatory of Equity

20. The main defy of the OE, during the second year of its implementation, is to define the conceptual trace for the observation exercise. There is an actual insight effort seeking to build criteria for perceiving reality described by new concepts and indicators which allows the understanding of inequalities/ equalities dynamics, to value its trends and perspectives. The Observatoryof Equity

21. AICESIS Presidency In July 2007, Beijing, by the General Assembly, Brazil was inaugurated as President for the next two years of the AICESIS (International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions) CDES: International Actions

22. AICESIS and ECOSOC AICESIS holds the status of observer within ECOSOC (UN Economic and Social Council) and in partnership with UN-NGO-IRENE, proposed the initiative of an “International MDGs Awards” to compensate institutions concerned in combating social exclusion in the national and international panorama. CDES: International Actions