February 18-19, 2003 – Washington, DCFebruary 18-19, 2003 – Washington, DC

Hosted by the US Department of EducationHosted by the US Department of EducationWashington Hilton Hotel, Washington DCWashington Hilton Hotel, Washington DC

Partnerships with Partnerships with Civil SocietyCivil Society

UNESCO’S WORLD OF EDUCATIONUNESCO’S WORLD OF EDUCATION

A plea for peace through broad based A plea for peace through broad based civil society cooperation and solidaritycivil 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)

The The UNESCO UNESCO ConstitutionConstitution

Understanding the Understanding the history of history of UNESCO relationsUNESCO relations

with NGOs 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 competence to disseminate and jointly advance its ideals.

Cooperation with NGOs has Cooperation with NGOs has evolvedevolved

Today, three major forms exist:

1. Official statutory relations with international NGOs working in education, culture, science, communication and information

2. Working relations with a wide range of NGOs on specific Program activities

3. Collective cooperation

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

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

US based international NGOs at UNESCO

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

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)

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.

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

Partnership with civil society organizations in Partnership with civil society organizations in the follow-up to thethe follow-up to the

World Education Forum in Dakar World Education Forum in Dakar

The Collective Consultation of The Collective Consultation of NGOsNGOs

on EFAon EFA

International Coordination: Emerging Architecture

High Level Group

Workshop Group

Monitoring Report

International Strategy

EFA Partners: UNESCO, UNICEF, WB, Bilateral, NGOs…

FTI

MDG

G8-TF

CCNGO

FLAGSHIPS

EFA Forums:

Regional/National

Donors Group

WHY did UNESCO create this thematic WHY did UNESCO create this thematic partnership mechanism on EFA?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)

Rationale:Rationale:

• EFA must be rooted in a broad based societal EFA must be rooted in a broad based societal movementmovement

• The EFA challenge is too vast and complex for The EFA challenge is too vast and complex for governments alone governments alone

• Achievement of EFA implies inclusion of Achievement of EFA implies inclusion of marginalised and excludedmarginalised and excluded

• EFA must build on dialogue and partnership to EFA must build on dialogue and partnership to create an enduring national consensus on create an enduring national consensus on achieving the goalsachieving the goals

• EFA must encourage intellectual exchange and EFA must encourage intellectual exchange and knowledge to close the ideas gapknowledge to close the ideas gap

UNESCO’s rolesUNESCO’s roles and the Collective and the Collective Consultation of NGOs on EFAConsultation of NGOs on EFA

• Impartial broker

• Facilitator

• Catalyst

• Laboratory of ideas

• Learn from perspectives of civil society

• Promote collaboration between governments and civil society

• Facilitate networks and alliances of NGOs

Purpose of the CCNGO/EFAPurpose of the CCNGO/EFA

• Facilitate information sharing and dialogue on Facilitate information sharing and dialogue on EFA issuesEFA issues

• Reinforce knowledge on civil society Reinforce knowledge on civil society participationparticipation

• Mobilize civil society participation in Mobilize civil society participation in monitoring EFA goalsmonitoring EFA goals

• Support capacity building for local NGOs/CSOsSupport capacity building for local NGOs/CSOs

Participation in the Collective Participation in the Collective Consultation of NGOs on EFAConsultation of NGOs on EFA

• 665 NGOs/CSOs are connected through the 665 NGOs/CSOs are connected through the network’s list serve (international, regional, network’s list serve (international, regional, national networks)national networks)

• Participation is open to any civil society Participation is open to any civil society organization and/or network that is (i) non-organization and/or network that is (i) non-governmental and not-for-profit and (ii) governmental and not-for-profit and (ii) works in works in the field of EFAthe field of EFA

• About 150 participate in the international About 150 participate in the international meetings (i.e. 2003 in Porto Alegre) meetings (i.e. 2003 in Porto Alegre)

• About 50 to 80 participate in regional meetings About 50 to 80 participate in regional meetings

(i.e. Lilongwe 2002; Beirut 2003)(i.e. Lilongwe 2002; Beirut 2003)

NGOs registered on CCNGO/EFA ListNGOs registered on CCNGO/EFA List serve by region:serve by region:

Asia/Pacific(217 NGOs)

32%

Arab region (84 NGOs)

13%

Latin America/

Caribbean(30 NGOs)

5%

Africa (168 NGOs)

25%

Europe/North America

(166 NGOs)

25%

Illustrating Illustrating the diversity of the the diversity of the CCNGO/EFA CCNGO/EFA

• Campaign networksCampaign networks

• Faith-based organisations Faith-based organisations

• Learning networks Learning networks

• Teachers’ unions Teachers’ unions

• Religious organizations Religious organizations

• Community-based organizationsCommunity-based organizations

• Parent-teacher associationsParent-teacher associations

• Student organizations Student organizations

• Women’s groups and othersWomen’s groups and others

Example 1: Learning network

Example 2: Faith-based Example 2: Faith-based organisationorganisation

Example 3: Teachers’ unionExample 3: Teachers’ union

Example 4: Women’s groupExample 4: Women’s group

In practice :In practice :

• Support to NGO reporting on EFA : EFA Support to NGO reporting on EFA : EFA

Assessment Studies for Dakar (2002) and Assessment Studies for Dakar (2002) and

MINEDAF VIIIMINEDAF VIII

• Promotion of policy dialogue between Promotion of policy dialogue between

governments and NGOs: Special Sessions with governments and NGOs: Special Sessions with

NGOs and Ministers (Geneva, 2001) and (Dar Es NGOs and Ministers (Geneva, 2001) and (Dar Es

Salaam 2002)Salaam 2002)

• Capacity-building for NGOs/CSOs in support of Capacity-building for NGOs/CSOs in support of

EFA: Program for Africa (so far 11 countries; EFA: Program for Africa (so far 11 countries;

funding from the World Bank, the Rockefeller funding from the World Bank, the Rockefeller

Foundation and UNESCO)Foundation and UNESCO)

• Promote country level involvement of civil society Promote country level involvement of civil society

and capacity-building at decentralized levels and capacity-building at decentralized levels

• Strengthen NGO consultation on major EFA Strengthen NGO consultation on major EFA

initiativesinitiatives

• Promote and strengthen linkages between NGOs Promote and strengthen linkages between NGOs

working in EFA and Higher Educationworking in EFA and Higher Education

SStrategies for the future?trategies for the future?

The Collective Consultation on The Collective Consultation on Higher EducationHigher Education

• 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)

Background Established in 1988

Members: 57 organizations representing

all areas of the higher education community

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

In practice…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

In In practice…practice…

Teacher Education programme

Teachers and Quality Flagship

• Education International (23Mn teachers)

• World Confederation of Teachers

ILO/UNESCO joint programme on the Status of Teaching-

Personnel

Advocacy for Education for AllAdvocacy for Education for All

   Lobbying governments to push forward the EFA agendaExample: 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.

GLOBAL EFA WEEK 2003GLOBAL EFA WEEK 2003 6-13 April6-13 April

The largest lesson in history

Organized by Global Campaign for EducationRecord 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

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