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Report on the Consultation on the EFA Follow-up

UNESCO Regional Office
Dakar, Senegal - 30-31 October 2000

Introduction

The UNESCO Regional Office in Dakar (UNESCO/BREDA) convened a Consultation on the Education for All Dakar (EFA) Follow-up at the UNESCO Offices in Dakar, Senegal, from 30-31 October 2000. This meeting brought together Senior Officials responsible for the Dakar Follow-up from five of the six countries for which UNESCO/BREDA assures UNESCO representation. The countries participating were: Cape Verde, The Gambia, Liberia, Senegal and Sierra Leone. Guinea Bissau was unable to be represented. [The List of Participants appears in Annex 1.]
The purpose of the Consultation was: 1) to examine progress and constraints in the formulation of national EFA plans of action; 2) to discuss the strategic issues in the formation of national partnerships and opportunities for regional and international support; and 3) to map the way forward. [See the Consultation Agenda in Annex 2.]
Mr. A. Parsuramen, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Dakar, in his opening remarks recalled the commitments made over the past decade by the world community and countries in favor of extending basic education to all citizens. The World Conference on Education for All that took place in Jomtien Thailand in March 1990, adopted the Jomtien Framework for Action setting EFA targets and goals. In June 1996, Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) proclaimed 1997-2006 the Decade of Education in Africa and called for a Pan African Ministerial Conference to adopt a Programme of Action. Later, UNESCO organized the Seventh Conference of the African Ministers of Education, MINEDAF VII, in April 1998. MINEDAF VII adopted the Durban Statement of Commitment with the pledge by the African Ministers to find "African solutions to African problems", and the commitment ‘to establish or strengthen pan-African mechanisms... to accelerate institutional capacity building, to develop collaborative strategies and to monitor progress’.
In March 1999, the Conference of African Ministers of Education, COMEDAF 1, adopted the Programme of Action of the Decade of Education in Africa (Harare Programme of Action of the Decade of Education in Africa 1997-2006, Conference of African Ministers of Education, Harare, Zimbabwe, March 1999). The programme was later endorsed by the Assembly of Heads of States and Governments at their 36^th Ordinary Session held in Algiers, Algeria, in July 1999. The priority activities and implementation strategies articulated in the Decade of Education in Africa include: equity and access to education, quality, relevance and effectiveness of education, complementary learning modalities and capacity building. These are understood to be set within the vision of development defined by each country.
The Sub-Saharan Conference on Education for All that took place in Johannesburg in December 1999 called for a renewal of education to enable Africa to meet the challenges of the 21^st century. The Conference proposed an ‘Alliance for African Renaissance’ as the force for a paradigm shift and investment in education (EFA Framework for Action in Sub-Saharan Africa). Shortly after, in April 2000 in Dakar, Senegal, the World Education Forum adopted the Dakar Framework for Action as a collective global commitment to action.

Background and context

The Dakar Framework calls upon Governments to ensure that EFA goals and targets are reached and sustained. It commits Governments to the achievement of quality basic education for all by 2015. This has been supported with the pledge from the international community and donor institutions that "no country seriously committed to basic education will be thwarted in the achievement of this goal by lack of resources". The Dakar Framework is unambiguous in its identification on the main focus of action -- the heart of achieving education for all lies at the country level. This is to be accomplished most effectively through broad-based partnerships within countries.
The Dakar Framework and the Regional Framework for Action for Sub-Saharan Africa request countries to develop and to strengthen national plans of action before 2002. UNESCO is expected to take a lead in supporting countries in this important exercise. To provide direction, UNESCO has developed country guidelines on the preparation of national plans of action ("Country guidelines on the preparation of national EFA plans of action"). These are intended to facilitate the preparation of national plans which build on existing national education policies and plans, e.g., Master Plans for Education, and, as appropriate, integrate into sector-wide approaches such as those supported by the United Nations Common Country Assessment (CCA), the United National Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), Poverty Reduction Strategies, etc.

Information sharing on the Dakar Follow-up

Technical Staff from UNESCO/BREDA made a presentation on the Dakar Follow-up. This included an overview of the country guidelines developed by UNESCO and the inter-country and regional initiatives, called "inter-agency flagship programmes". These include: Focused Resources for Effective School Health (FRESH), HIV/AIDS and Education, Education in Situations of Emergency and Crisis, United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative and Early Childhood Education. The flagship programmes were discussed from the perspective of issues and concerns relevant to the African context, possible areas for intervention and modalities of action.
With this introduction, each country representative was asked to present salient findings from their national EFA 2000 Assessment Reports considering specific country goals for achieving EFA in their particular country context, EFA targets and strategies and modalities of implementation and monitoring. The reports underscored the importance of building upon existing policies and frameworks within countries. EFA is a part, though important, of education sector policy formulation and development. The presentations painted the panorama of the Dakar follow-up --- each country at it own particular stage of education development with the formation of national plans of action being shaped by existing policies, plans and frameworks within the prevailing socio-political context.
The Gambia indicated, for example, that its EFA goals and strategies were set well before Jomtien in the Education Policy 1988-2003. Whereas, in Sierra Leone and Liberia the foundations of the educational systems have been destroyed by conflict and civil unrest. The development of the national plans in these two countries must be elaborated within the framework of reconstruction and development. Senegal, a country marked by low participation rates, has made notable strides in developing the structure and framework for EFA within its Decennial Education and Training Programme and this with a strong emphasis on governance and decentralization. Cape Verde, has made remarkable strides since independence and has nearly achieved the objectives set in Jomtien.

Country briefs

Mr. Pape Sow, Director of Planning and EFA Coordinator, Ministry of Education, Senegal, contextualized EFA within the Senegalese Decennial Education and Training Programme (PDEF). He emphasized the major structural developments that have taken place in the sector are based on effective decentralization, partnership building and results-based performance. An array of organizational structures are in place at different levels. Mr. Sow pointed out that these organs will be key to the implementation of the EFA plan of action. He reported that developments in different areas such as early childhood education, access and equity to education, literacy, etc. have been guided by the number of thematic studies carried out as part of the EFA 2000 Assessment. These studies are contributing to the elaboration of the national plan of action which is now in the final phase of preparation. At this stage, consultations and sensitization workshops are being organized supported by media campaigns to build consensus around the plan of action at all levels, It is expected that the President of the Republic will officially launch the plan in January 2001.
The report from Cape Verde presented by Mme. Madalena Silva, Director of Basic and Secondary Education, Ministry of Education and Science and National EFA Coordinator, highlighted efforts made in the country since independence in achieving the EFA goals. Key features in the development of EFA include: increased funding for basic education at both central and decentralized levels; promoting education with a framework of sustainable development and poverty reduction; mobilization of civil society in the formulation, and development of basic education strategies including effective governance; creating safe learning environments; and improving the conditions of teachers and teacher morale. The Dakar Framework for Action has been disseminated and existing EFA actions strengthened. Mme Silva stressed the timeliness of the national plan of action which should guide the effective integration of EFA goals into the national development plan. She indicted that an EFA forum will be convened as a platform for strategic debate and consensus-building.
Mr. Baboucarr Bouy, Director Planning, Policy Analysis, Research and Budgeting, Department of State for Education and National EFA Coordinator, The Gambia, presented salient features of his country’s Education Policy (1998-2003) and Education Master Plan (1998-2006) which address areas common to the Jomtien Declaration, namely, meeting basic learning needs through expanding and improving access, quality and relevance of education to meet basic learning needs. The Government of the Gambia is committed to increasing access to basic education from 60% to 75% of the school-aged population by 2003; increasing the transition rate from Grade 6 to 7 from 35% to 60%; lowering the school entry age from 8 to 7 years and revising Grades 1 to 6 curriculum with the introduction of a new grade 7 to 9 curriculum to complete the basic education curriculum. The EFA strategy and plan of action includes restructuring the school system by introducing a 6-3-3 system to provide 9 years of broad-based education; maximizing resource utilization by introducing double-shift and multi-grade; introducing user charges; increasing NGO and community participation; reallocating funds in favour of basic education; increasing the output of trained teachers in order to phase out the untrained educators in the system; increasing functional literacy programmes; and offering alternative educational opportunities for young people outside the school system. The Government will continue the implementation of the Education Master Plan with renewed emphasis on achieving EFA goals.
The 7-year civil war in Liberia has brought the education system to near collapse. There has been a tremendous brain drain of professionals who have left the country in search of safety and jobs elsewhere. There have been serious dislocation problems for education programmes and educational establishments are badly deteriorated. In light of the damaging effects of civil war on the education sector, the Government has made education as the primary priority in the post-war reconstruction agenda. Since 1996, there have been a number of initiatives with EFA objectives. The ‘Assisted Enrollment Programme’ aims to provide greater access to a greater number of school-going children by increasing the availability of educational services while reducing the costs of enrollment and providing incentives to teachers, the ‘Accelerated Learning Programme’ is directed at over-age children including ex-combatant youth and adults using a remedial programme of learning. The ‘National Mass Literacy Programme’ was also launched in 1999 and this involves a massive media exercise to encourage each illiterate person to teach an illiterate person to read and write. A National Policy Framework and Master Plan for Education were developed this year. Rehabilitation of facilities along with teacher education and training have been identified as critical areas for ensuring access, relevance and quality of education.
The report from Sierra Leone presented by Dr. Chuku Dupigny, Executive Secretary, Basic Education Commission, Ministry of Education, stated the major constraint to the attainment of national EFA goals in his country in a single phrase "the ongoing/never-ending conflict". Large parts of the rural areas continue to be inaccessible. Large numbers of individuals are internally or externally displaced, including a large number of teachers now resident in neighbouring countries. School populations and classes sizes continue to increase alarmingly in safe areas. The problem of school-aged children out of school cannot be effectively handled because of overcrowding of educational institutions in safe areas. Resources available to education continue to be very limited and, even with the tremendous effort of the government, only the funding intervention of partners has made it possible to keep education moving forward. Some initial steps have been taken towards attaining the EFA goals.
The Ministry of Education has significantly increased the quantity of textbooks and learning materials supplied for free to Grades 1 to 3. Substantial quantities of textbooks, exercise books and other learning materials have also been supplied free to Grades 4 to 6 as the first stage of introducing free education. ‘Free’ primary education it is hoped will start becoming a reality in the academic year starting September 2001. The planning and organising of EFA activities are becoming more broad-based. For example, the planning for the post-Dakar National EFA Conference has involved the umbrella body for NGOs in the country, the Sierra Leone Teachers’ Union, lecturers from tertiary education, practising teachers, etc. Schools damaged and destroyed during fighting continue to be repaired and rehabilitated as funds become available and as families feel confident enough to move back to their homes. In partnership with UNICEF, Plan International and the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Ministry has commenced a variety of ‘Rapid Education Programmes’ to, among things, give an opportunity to those who have been denied education because of the war to catch up on their counterparts.

Strategic issues in regional cooperation

The country reports provided basis for a more general discussion on strategic issues in the Dakar Follow-up including the nature of UNESCO’s support and its role in facilitating the preparation of national plans of action. It was generally agreed that UNESCO should work with countries on the preparation of the plans facilitating, as necessary, partnerships and funding support. UNESCO can also guide countries in the organizing of the national forum to facilitate the process. UNESCO can further involve countries in the various "flagship programmes" fostering technical support and exchange between and among countries. There was discussion on using existing mechanisms for regional support like the African Ministers of Education network of MINEDAF VII which offers scope for dialogue and exchange on policy and programmatic concerns among Ministers of Education and their Senior advisers. The MINEDAF Website (http://www.minedaf.org/) is evolving as a practical medium for exchange.
A presentation was made of the UNBESCO/BREDA Website (http://www.dakar.unesco.org/index.shtml#). This is being offered as a means for communicating and exchanging information relevant to the six countries for which BREDA assures representation and beyond. A portion of the site will be dedicated to the EFA follow-up with specific focus on preparation of the national plans of action. The UNESCO/BREDA Website will link to other relevant sites such as the MINEDAF Ministers Website.
The OAU also offers a consultative forum for exchange to ensure complementarily of approaches and activities. The ECOWAS Protocol on Education and Training (still in draft) establishes the basis for sub-regional cooperation at all levels of education along the same lines as the Protocol on Education and Training for the SADC Region. The Decade for Education in West Africa (DEWA) has set up a Secretariat in Banjul and the functioning of this Secretariat is guided by the deliberations of a Conference convened in January 2000. DEWA has received funding to facilitate some 10 regional projects and to network. It was decided that in the coming months, UNESCO/BREDA would elaborate options for regional and sub-regional support and this will be based on consultations with other UNESCO Field Offices, MINEDAF VII, OAU/COMEDAF, DEWA, etc.

Statistical information services (NESIS/SISED)

A presentation on the importance of accurate and well-managed statistical information to guide policy formation and investments in education was made by Mr. C. Akpakie, UNESCO/BREDA. Using the EFA 2000 Assessment indicators for comparisons between countries represented at the meeting, Mr. Akpakie highlighted the need for disaggregating data to capture important disparities along regional, gender and other lines.
A coherent breakdown of tasks was proposed to derive reliable statistical data to inform the planning process. The first task focuses on updating existing statistical information while building upon existing EFA-related data and indicators. The second major task involves a re-examining studies, sectoral analyses, policy documents, etc. with view to effectively situating EFA within the existing policy context and development framework. The preparation of national plans of action must guide the effective integration of EFA goals into national development plans.
The Co-ordinator of the ADEA Working Group on Statistics in West Africa based at UNESCO/BREDA, Mr Bernard Audinos, briefed participants on the NESIS/SISED Regional Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa and the co-operation mechanism its fosters between African countries to develop effective and sustainable educational statistical information services. NESIS serves to promote contact between countries and various initiatives on educational statistics and serves as a clearinghouse for co-operation and networking.
NESIS/SISED activities for 2000-2001 were reported. These include: the development of technical modules for systems development; development of training programmes to build capacity in statistical information systems; technical assistance for the implementation of national systems; and the promotion of education indictors to monitor EFA goals. Mr Audinos indicated that NESIS/SISED would host at UNESCO/BREDA in late January/early February 2001 a meeting of those responsible for educational planning in the Sub-Saharan countries. Part of the workshop would be dedicated to statistical issues relating to the Dakar Follow-up.

Draft work plans for the EFA national plans

The remainder of the consultation was devoted to country group work for the preparation of draft work plans with timetables and estimated budgetary provisions required for the preparation of the national plans of action. These work plans are expected to cover the activities required to finalize the national plan of action. It is expected that the draft work plans be discussed at country level. A description and justification for each activity would be elaborated to provide the basis for funding discussions with UNESCO and other EFA partners.

Cape Verde

Cape Verde is in the process of preparing its fourth National Development Plan and the national EFA plan of action will be drawn from that framework. Selected thematic studies will be agreed upon and undertaken to inform the EFA policy formulation. The National EFA Forum will serve as a consensus-building body providing direction for policy revisions as appropriate.

Area	Product/Output	Timetable	Budget in US $
Meeting of EFA partners	Agreement on work plan	November 2000
Elaboration of the national development plan, macro-economic and financial framework		February-March 2001
Preparation of thematic studies for national EFA plan of action	Thematic studies	April-June 2001	6,700.00
National EFA Forum	Consensus-building	July 2001	5,200.00
Policy revision within framework of national development plan	Policy revision	September-October 2001	13,000.00
Finalisation of the national plan of action	National Plan of Action	November-December 2001
Implementation of the national EFA plan of action		January 2002
		TOTAL	US $ 24,900.00

The Gambia

The Gambia. The preparation of the national EFA Plan of Action in The Gambia involves setting up of a national Education for All forum, forming Regional EFA Committees to facilitate the dissemination of the EFA 2000 Assessment Report (of the Department of State for Education) and other education polices. This process of grassroots information-sharing and consultation will cover all schools in the 36 Districts of the country. Consultations with schools, parents and communities are key to the strategy for effective policy revision and formation in basic education. The finalization of the national plan of action will take place from November 2000 to January 2001. In February 2001, an interested Donors’ meeting will be convened. The provisional workplan is as follows:

Activity	Dates	Budget in US$
National EFA Forum 1) Formation and constitution meeting of the EFA Forum * 2) EFA Forum, 4 meetings in 2001 3) Regional EFA Committee meetings (6 regions, January-June 2001)	November 2000 January-December 2001 January-June 2001	700.00 2,800.00 24,000.00
National EFA Plan of Action 1) Technical team prepares draft report 2) Draft EFA Plan of action circulated for finalisation 3) Production of report	November 2000-January 2001 February 2001 March 2001	4,000.00 2,000.00
Donor support for EFA Plan of Action 1) Presentation of EFA Plan of Action to interested Donors 2) Negotiations and agreements	March/April 2001	1,000.00
	TOTAL	$ 34,500

* Composition of National EFA Forum:, EFA Co-ordinator, Deputy Project Manager Director of Basic Education, Director of ICT (ADEA Co-ordinator), Head of Adult & Non-formal Education, Focal point for girl’s education, TANGO, Action Aid, SPACO, Finance, UNICEF, UNDP, DFID, UNESCO/National Commission, Central Statistics, Gambia Chamber of Commerce, Rep of Conference of Junior Secondary School Principals, Rep of Conference of Senior Secondary School Principals, Report of Association of Primary School Heads, Youth Council Representative, Director of Standards and Quality Assurance, Member of National Assembly, FAWE Gambia, Rep of Media, Gambia Teachers Union, Gambia College, University of the Gambia.

Liberia

The work plan for Liberia has been elaborated in a series of phases that provide for information gathering, data collection, analysis, etc to inform the reconstruction and development process in place. This will serve to update the post civil war situation and provide the basis for the formulation of the national plan of action based on the existing National Policy Framework and Master Plan for Education. Validation will be derived through advocacy, lobbying with the National Legislative, civil society, Interest Groups, etc.

Phase	Activity	Timeframe	Budget in US $
Phase 1 Setting up of EFA National Co-ordination Secretariat	. Installation EFA National Co-ordinator . Provision of office space . Appointments (24 m/m) 1 Administrative Staff, 1 Clerical staff, 1 Secretary . Provision of 3 complete sets of computers with peripherals and full set of communication facilities . Identification of membership and modus operendi of the national EFA forum	Janaury 2001	Govertnemnt will bear these costs: [18,000.00] [7,500.00] [5,000.00]
Phase 2 Identifaication of Focal Points for EFA Key areas	. Themtic areas to be considered: Primary education, secondary, education, access and equity, quality and relevance, skills development
Phase 3 Information, statistics, documentation study, survey, analysis, etc.	. Conduct field studies on key EFA related areas . assemble, analyse and review sectoral documents . undertake data collection	March- June 2001	50,000.00
Phase 4 National Consultative Conference on EFA National Action Plan	3 national Consultative Conferences	July-November 2001	45,000.00
Phase 5 Media and publication . print . electronic	One big document to be presented for: Sensitisation Dissemination Publication Publicity Printing (5,000 copies)	November-December 2001	50,000.00
Phase 6 Validation	Lobbying with National legislature, Civil society, NGO’s, Interest Groups, etc.	December 1-15, 2001
Phase 7 Resource mobilisation	Preparation of roundtable meeting . Donors and partners . Dialogue with national support groups, organised private groups		20,000.00
Phase 8 Restructuring of EFA Co-ordination Forum	Follow-up of the National EFA Forum	January 2002
		TOTAL	US $ 195,500.00

Senegal

Senegal has requested the assistance of UNESCO/BREDA for the finalisation of the national plan of action. The national plan of action which is formulated within the Senegalese Decennial Education and Training Programme (PDEF) is characterised by a dramatic shift toward structural decentralisation and governance. The plan of action will include the six main EFA goals set for 2015 and it is contextualized within the poverty reduction strategy. The proposed workplan is:

Area	Product/Output	Timetable	Budget
Support to the Secretariat for the National EFA Forum and the Regional forum	. Secretarial support, 2 months . Computer . Photocopy	November 2000	400.00 2,000.00 1,600.00
Material support for the production of documentation	. 50 reams of paper . 2 printer cartridges . 2 photocopy cartridges	November 2000	2,700.00
Sensitisation workshops	6 seminars/workshops	November 2000-Jnauary 2001	24,000.00
Support for media and sensitisation campaign	. 6 communiqués . 10 regional visits for 5 people	November 2000-Janauray 2001	9,400.00
Preparation of background documents	. 5 national consultants	November-December 2000	16,700.00
Production of plan and relevant annexures	. 1000 copies of the national plan of action	December 2000	5,400.00
Negotiations with donors	. Organisation of a Donor’s roundtable	January 2001	5,400.00
Launch of the EFA National Plan of Action	. Address by the President of the Republic . Organisation of national debates on key themes . Organisation of TV/radio broadcasts (national coverage) . Other events	January 2001	2,700.00
		TOTAL	US $70,300.00

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone elaborated an 8-step workplan covering: the setting up of a national EFA Secretariat and National EFA Forum; identifying main areas of focus and information needs; conducting studies and surveys to gather more up-to-date information on the state of education; generating greater input from Stakeholder and civil society; sensitizing civil society to enhance public knowledge and awareness of national EFA work; validation of the national action plan and the mobilization of resources.

Step/Phase	Activity	Timeframe	Budget in US $
Step 1 Setting up of National EFA Secretariat	. Installation of National EFA Coordinator . Provision of Secretariat Office space . Appointment/Employment for a period of two years of: 1 Administrative staff 1 Clerk/Typist Secretary . Provision of 3 complete sets of computers and accessories inclusive of printers, modems, etc. together with 1 printer . Establishment of National EFA Forum . Operational costs	01 January 2001 30 January 2001 January 2001-December 2002	Govt. borne 18,000.00 7,500 + 1,500 2,000 8,000
Step 2 Identification of key areas of focus needing to be addressed with regard to the issues of access, equity, quality, relevance and cost	Areas of focus . ECCD . Basic education . Skills development . Accelerated/Rapid education for over-aged children . Displaced and refugee students and teachers . Rehabilitation of educational institutions and furniture . Education of women and girls . Literacy – particularly of women . Science laboratories and equipment . Capacity building of Ministry of Education for monitoring and data collection . Training of guidance counselors – inclusive of training in peace education and trauma counseling . Provisions for amputees and highly traumatized students . Further reducing cost of education to parents	Jan 01	Govt. Borne
Step 3 Information Collection	Carry out surveys and studies and review sectoral studies and documentation. Coverage – key issues based on main areas of focus	March-July 2001	50,000.00
Step 4 Consultations at national, regional and grassroots level	Organization and holding of a minimum of 3 sets of consultation conferences/meetings	June-December 2001	45,000.00
Step 5 Sensitization/Publicity/ Production of Reports/Dissemination of Info and reports	. Produce sensitization/publicity strategy . Commence sensitization and publicity campaign . Produce and distribute reports after government approval	January 2001-December 2002	50,000.00
Step 6 Validation / Govt. Approval of EFA Action Plan	Presentation to and acceptance of plan by Govt.	Jan – Feb 02	Govt. Borne
Step 7 Mobilization of resources for implementation of Action Plan	Organization of a series of round table conferences for: Donors, NGOs, Local companies and businesses	March-June 2002	20,000.00
Step 8 Re-visitation of implementation of Action Plan on basis of commitments made at round tables	Arrangement of implementation of Plan to best utilize funds made available	July 2002 onwards	Govt. Borne
		TOTAL	US $ 202,000

The draft work plans developed by the five countries are expected to serve as the basis for preparing descriptions and justifications for activities to be undertaken for the preparation of the national plans of actions. Country representatives were charged with the responsibility of discussing and finalizing the work plans into business plans within their respective Ministries. The business plan would be submitted with a letter of support from the Ministry of Education to UNESCO. UNESCO/BREDA will facilitate the funding arrangements required in collaboration with the other partners. In this regard, UNESCO/BREDA, in cooperation with its partners will draw up "Memorandums of Understanding" in each country for the Dakar Follow-up. These agreements will provide a framework for the development of the plans of action and related interventions.

Concluding remarks

Mr. Parsuramen in his concluding remarks thanked on behalf of UNESCO the country representatives, resource persons and UNESCO/BREDA Staff for their inputs and the work that they were able to accomplish over the course of the consultation. Mr. Parsuramen was pleased to announce that both Liberia and Sierra Leone have signed "Memorandums of Understanding" to that effect and the work plans developed for these two countries fall appropriately within the purview of these agreements. [See Annex 3 and Annex 4.] To facilitate regional and country cooperation between UNESCO and UNICEF, a key partners in EFA, a "Memorandum of Understanding" has been signed between the UNESCO Regional Office in Dakar and the UNICEF Regional Office for West and Central Africa. [See Annex 5.] A similar memorandum is in process for Eastern and Southern Africa.
Mr. Parsuramen informed the meeting that the UNESCO/BREDA will host in early December 2000 a regional meeting of the UNESCO Field Offices in Africa to define UNESCO’s strategy and regional plan of work for the Dakar Follow-up. One proposal is to use this consultation as a model for replication elsewhere in the region for the development of business plans for preparation of national plans of action.

Prepared by:

Susan Van der Vynckt

Senior Education Adviser

UNESCO/BREDA-Dakar

November 2000

Annex 1

List of Participants
Consultation the Education for All Dakar Follow-up
Dakar, Senegal
30-31 October 2000

CAP VERT

Mme Madalena SILVA

Directrice générale de l’enseignement de base et secondaire

Ministère de l’Education et de la Science

BP 11

PRAIA

Tél. : (228) 61 02 26

Portable : (236) 91 82 13

Fax : (238) 61 56 76

Email Madalena.SILVA@.gov.cv.com
GAMBIE

M. Baboucaar BOUY

Department of State of Education

Willy Thorpe Building

P. Box 2853

BANJUL

Tél. : (220) 22 88 89 office

(220) 37 19 25/(220) 49 76 60 Home

Fax : (220) 22 41 80

(220) 22 52 06

E mail bbouy@ganet.gn
LIBERIA

Dr Issac ROLAND

Deputy Minister for Planning and Development

Ministry of Education

MONROVIA

Phone/Fax : (231) 22 71 65
SENEGAL

M. Pape Momar SOW

Directeur de la Planification et de la

Réforme de l’Education

BP 4025

DAKAR

Tél : (221) 821 07 62/821 13 76

E mail mendpre@sentoo.sn
SIERRA LEONE

Dr. Chuku Secretary/National EFA Coordinator

Basic Education Commission

Ministry of Education

FREETOWN

Phone : (223 22) 240 137/242 039

Email act-dups@sierratel.sl
RESOURCE PERSONS

Dr. Mam Biram JOOF

PO. Box 3449

Post Office, Kairaba Avenue

SERREKUNDA, The Gambia

Tél : (220) 99. 39. 92 (mobile)

(220) 49 64 48 (Residence)

Fax : (220) 22 22 70 (c/o Mr. Lamin Demba, GAMTEL)

(220) 37 54 96 c/o Mr. Emmanuel D. JOOF)

E-mail ejoof@hotmail.com

Kapbus@qanet.gm Idemba@gamtel.gm

Professor John NWANKWO

Chief Technical Advisor

Ministry of Education

Tél/Fax : (231)226 194/195

Fax : (231) 226 210/226 193

MONROVIA, Liberia
UNESCO/BREDA

Armoogum PARSURAMEN

M. Jean Roger AHOYO

M. Claude AKPABIE

Mme Katrien BEECKMAN

M. Domansi BOMBOTE

Mme Elisabeth BERGHAUSER PONT

Mme Agnès BENYiS

Mme Mariétou DIAGNE

Mme Meriem BOUAMRANE

Mme Rokhéyatou DIOUF

Mme Alice DORKENOO

Mme Zeynabou GUEYE

M. Augustin MARIRO

Mme Selva SANTI

M. Bernard AUDINOS

M. Ignace SANWIDI

M. Juma SHABANI

Mme Susan VAN DER VYNCKT

Mme Magna ZOREMELO

Annex 2

Agenda

Consultation on the Education for All Dakar Follow-up

UNESCO-BREDA, Dakar, Senegal

30-31 October 2000

Monday, 30 October 2000

9:00-9:30 Opening session: Welcome and introduction of participants
9:30-9:45 Goals, objectives and expected outcomes of the consultation
A. Parsuramen, Director/BREDA
9:45-10:45 Briefing/information-sharing on Dakar Follow-up

- BREDA Education Sector Team

- Country guidelines on the preparation of national plans of action

- Inter-agency Flagship programmes: Regional framework for cooperation
10:45-11:15 Coffee break
Country reports on national EFA 2000 Assessment findings, specific country
goals, targets and strategies, modalities of implementation and monitoring
11:15-12:00 · Senegal country report, Mr. Pape Sow, Director of Planning and EFA Coordinator, Ministry of Education, Senegal
12: 12:00-12:30 · Cape Verde country report, Mme Madalena Silva, Directrice générale de l’enseignement basique et secondaire, Ministère de l’éducation et de la science, Cape Verde
12:30-13:00 · Gambia country report, M. Baboucarr Bouy, Department of State for Education, Gambia
13:00-14:30 Lunch
14:30-15:00 · Guinea Bissau country report, Mme Marcelina Santos Ba, Directrice du CENFA et Coordinatrice de l’éducation pour tous, Guinea Bissau
15:00-15:30 · Liberia country report, Dr Isaac Roland, Deputy Minister for Planning and Development, Ministry of Education, Liberia
15:30-16:00 · Sierra Leone country report, Dr Chuku Dupigny, Executive Secretary, Basic Education Commission, Ministry of Education, Sierra Leone
16:00-16:30 Tea break
16:30-18:00 Discussion of strategic issues in Dakar Follow-up
1. Updating EFA Plans of Action, defining short and long term implementation plans, setting specific benchmarks and indicators for monitoring and evaluation, etc.
2. Role of UNESCO, other UN agencies and international partners in support of initiatives in EFA and the implementation plan
3. Possible mechanism for regional support: Roles and functions including regional support to national Plans of Action and specific country activities
18:00 Reception

Tuesday, 31 October 2000

9:00-10:00 Generation of national EFA Plans of Action: What exists and what is needed? Mr Bernard Audinos, Sub-regional Coordinator for West Africa, National Education Statistical Information Systems (NESIS)
- The process: compilation of basic data, assessment studies, analysis of country performance, national sector strategies and Education Master Plans, etc.
- Clarification of strategies: substance and form (including integration into poverty reduction and national development frameworks, strategies for the excluded)
- Budgetary implications and priorities
- Role of UNESCO, other international agencies, etc.
10:00-10:30 Coffee break
10:30- 13:00 Preparation of country work initiatives involving UNESCO cooperation with timetable of activities and budgetary provisions
BREDA Education Sector Team and resource persons work in country groups

Cape Verde: Mme Madalena Silva, J. Shabani (UNESCO/BREDA), S. Santi (UNESCO/BREDA)

Gambia: M. Baboucarr Bouy, Dr. M. B. Joof (Gambia), S. Van der Vynckt (UNESCO/BREDA), E. Berghauser (UNESCO/BREDA), Guinea

Bissau: Mme Marcelina Santos Ba, I. Sanwidi (UNESCO/BREDA), B. Audinos (NESIS)

Liberia: Dr Isaac Roland, A. Parsuramen (UNESCO/BREDA), K. Beekman (UNESCO/BREDA)

Senegal: Mr Pape Sow, A. Mariro (UNESCO/BREDA), A. Dorkenoo (UNESCO/BREDA

Sierra Leone: Dr Chuku Dupigny, John Nkwankwo (UNESCO/BREDA), Claude Akpabie (UNESCO/BREDA)
13:00-14:30 Lunch
14:30-15:30 Finalization of country plans
BREDA Education Sector Team and resource persons work in country groups
15:30-17:30 Country report-back
Representatives from each participating country

Cape Verde: Mme Madalena Silva

Gambia: M. Baboucarr Bouy

Guinea Bissau: Mme Marcelina Santos Ba

Liberia: Dr Isaac Roland

Senegal: Mr Pape Sow

Sierra Leone: Dr Chuku Dupigny
17:30-18:00 Wrap-up, recommendations and next steps
A. Parsuramen, Director/BREDA

Annex 3

Memorandum of Agreement: Liberia

In 1990, representatives of more than one hundred and fifty governments gathered in Jomtien, Thailand to attend the World Conference on Education for all. The ultimate goal of that conference was to develop a plan for the basic learning needs of children, youth and adults. The Framework for Action emanating from that conference served as the foundation document for interventions by policy makers in governments, international and bilateral development agencies and non-governmental organizations. Key goals inter alia, included expansion of early childhood development, universal access to basic education by 2000, improved learning achievements and reduction in adult illiteracy.

A decade later, the World Education Forum in Dakar, Senegal, to which Liberia attended and is a party to the agreements made therein, confirmed Education For All as a universal objective. At that meeting Liberia presented its assessment on EFA. The goals and strategies of the summary framework are complementary to the Future Actions on Children being developed for the UN Special Session on Children scheduled for September 2001. The priorities identified at Dakar offer partners a strong tool for advocacy for education and include early childhood care and development, inclusion of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, the importance of girl’s education, life skills for adolescents, education through a rights based approach, promotion of education for peace, education towards the prevention of HIV/AIDs and the promotion of new information and communication technologies.

Despite these two major milestones, Liberia has lagged behind in achieving these goals due to its history of underdevelopment and the interruptions of the civil war, which precluded progress in EFA during the nineties. However, it is highly commendable that the Government of Liberia has developed this year, a National Policy Framework and Master Plan for Education. Therefore, it is within this spirit that UNESCO, UNICEF, and UNDP have entered into this Memorandum of Understanding to support Liberia to respond to the commitments made by the Government in Dakar to realize EFA Goals for Liberia

Within the MOU, collaboration is defined as:

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and with the involvement of the National UNESCO Commission, UNICEF and UNDP will collaborate to assist Liberia in the development of a National Plan of Action reflecting the goals and strategies identified at the World Education Forum in Dakar, Senegal.

UNESCO, UNICEF and UNDP will share information and encourage the participation of agencies in regional and national dialogue towards enhancing collaboration and support.

Access to quality education is severely constrained by limited physical facilities, shortage of trained professional teachers and low internal and external efficiency. Of the 16,000 primary school teachers, only 3,000 are trained. Prior to the war there were 12000 trained teachers. Experience from other developing countries has shown that the lengthy process of conventional training is not an effective strategy to increasing access and quality of education and, therefore, achieving the EFA goals within the stated period. In this regard UNESCO, UNICEF and UNDP will collaborate through the Ministry of Education with the involvement of the National Commission of UNESCO and other partners to train and retrain teachers to increase skills to an appropriate level utilizing distance education. Support through South-South cooperation will be explored in the area of audio-visual materials, sharing of information on best practices and lessons learnt. The experience and technical expertise gained in the area of distance learning of Mauritius, India and Australia will be particularly valuable in the implementation of this technological intervention.

To support the process in favour of increased participation of Liberia youth UNICEF, UNESCO and UNDP will, through the Ministry of Education with the involvement of the National Commission of UNESCO and other partners, support the implementation in Liberia of a Model United Nations Project.

The collaborating partners to the MOU will continue to explore future areas of cooperation.

This agreement is signed on the 16 September 2000 at Mamba Point Hotel,

Monrovia, Liberia.

Dr John O. Kakonge

UNDP Resident Representative and United Nations Resident Coordinator to Liberia

Monrovia

Mr Armoogum Parsuramen

Regional Director

UNESCO, Dakar

Ms Scholastica Kimaryo

ICEF Representative to Liberia

Monrovia

Annex 4

Memorandum of Understanding: Sierra Leone

A decade later, the World Education Forum in Dakar, Senegal, to which Sierra Leone attended and is a party to the agreements made therein, confirmed Education For All as a universal objective. At that meeting Sierra Leone presented its assessment on EFA. The goals and strategies of the summary framework are complementary to the Future Actions on Children being developed for the UN Special Session on Children scheduled for September 2001. The priorities identified at Dakar offer partners a strong tool for advocacy for education and include early childhood care and development, inclusion of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, the importance of girl’s education, life skills for adolescents, education through a rights based approach, promotion of education for peace, education towards the prevention of HIV/AIDs and the promotion of new information and communication technologies.

Despite these two major milestones, Sierra Leone has lagged behind in achieving these goals due to its history of underdevelopment and the interruptions of the civil war, which precluded progress in EFA during the nineties. However, it is highly commendable that the Government of Sierra Leone has developed this year, a National Policy Framework and Master Plan for Education. Therefore, it is within this spirit that UNESCO and UNDP have entered into this Memorandum of Understanding to support Sierra Leone to respond to the commitments made by the Government in Dakar to realize EFA Goals for Sierra Leone

Within the MOU, collaboration is defined as:

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and with the involvement of the National UNESCO Commission, UNESCO and UNDP will collaborate to assist Sierra Leone in the development of a National Plan of Action reflecting the goals and strategies identified at the World Education Forum in Dakar, Senegal.
UNESCO and UNDP will share information and encourage the participation of agencies in regional and national dialogue towards enhancing collaboration and support.
Access to quality education is severely constrained by limited physical facilities, shortage of trained professional teachers and low internal and external efficiency. Of the existing primary school teachers, only 40% are trained. Prior to the war there were many trained teachers. Experience from other developing countries has shown that the lengthy process of conventional training is not an effective strategy to increasing access and quality of education and, therefore, achieving the EFA goals within the stated period. In this regard UNESCO and UNDP will collaborate through the Ministry of Education with the involvement of the National Commission of UNESCO and other partners to train and retrain teachers to increase skills to an appropriate level utilizing distance education modality. Support through South-South cooperation will be explored in the area of audio-visual materials, sharing of information on best practices and lessons learnt. The experience and technical expertise gained in the area of distance learning of Mauritius, India and Australia will be particularly valuable in the implementation of this technological intervention.
To support the process in favour of increased participation of Sierra Leone youth UNESCO and UNDP will, through the Ministry of Education with the involvement of the National Commission of UNESCO and other partners, support the implementation in Sierra Leone of a Model United Nations Project.
The collaborating partners to the MOU will continue to explore future areas of cooperation.

This agreement is signed on the 8^th November 2000 at UNDP Office Sierra Leone, Freetown

Mr Kingsley O. Amaning

UNDP Resident Representative

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Mr Armoogun Parsuramen

Regional Director

UNESCO, Dakar

Annex 5

Memorandum of Understanding

UNESCO Regional Office for Africa and the

UNICEF Office for West and Central Africa

The Regional Director of the UNESCO Office for Africa in Dakar, Senegal, and the Regional Director of the UNICEF Office for West and Central Africa, in Abidjan, Cote d=Ivoire, have agreed to mobilize technical and financial resources of their respective Offices and agencies to support countries in West and Central Africa Region in the Education for All (EFA) Dakar Follow-up.

It is acknowledged that the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum in April 2000 reaffirms commitments made over the past decade by African States. These include: the Jomtien Declaration and Framework of Action on EFA adopted at the World Conference on Education for All; the United Nations Special Initiative for Africa; the Durban Statement of Commitment adopted by the Seventh Conference of African Ministers of Education (MINEDAF VII); the Programme of Action for the Decade of Education in Africa adopted by the Conference of African Minister of Education (COMEDAF 1); and the Framework for Action in Sub-Saharan Africa adopted at the Sub-Saharan Conference on EFA in Johannesburg, in December 1999.

The implementation and achievement of EFA goals and strategies clearly depend on countries themselves and the commitment of Governments to ensure that EFA goals and targets are reached and sustained. This calls for broad-based partnerships bringing together Government and civil society along with other partners at national, regional and international levels to achieve and maintain good quality basic education for all as soon as possible and by 2015, at the latest.

UNESCO has developed country guidelines on the preparation of national EFA Plans of Action. These are intended to facilitate the preparation of national EFA plans which are expected to build on existing national education polices and plans and, as appropriate, integrate into sector-wide approaches such as those supported by the United Nations Common Country Assessment (CCA), the United National Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), Poverty Reduction Strategies, etc.

Within this Memorandum of Understanding, the respective UNESCO and UNICEF Regional Offices will undertake to assist each of the countries in West and Central Africa in the preparation of national EFA plans bearing in mind that these should be ready by 2002. This will involve:

Facilitating in each country the formation of a national EFA forum to serve as a vehicle of partnership and as a coordinating mechanism focusing on planning, implementing and monitoring progress toward the set EFA goals.
Supporting in each country the generation of national EFA Plans of Action which build and improve upon what exists in terms of policies and strategies in order to boost basic education during the next fifteen years.
Strengthening in each country donor co-ordination to avoid duplication and fragmentation and ensure that EFA goals and targets are reached and sustained.
Encouraging in each country effective participation of NGOs to reinforce activities.
Promoting in interested countries participation in the EFA flagship programmes such as the United Nations Girls Education Initiative launched by the Secretary General in April 2000, Focussed Resources for Effective School Health (FRESH), Early childhood education, HIV/AIDS prevention and education, Education in situations of emergency and crisis, etc. as well as other relevant initiatives.
Exploring new opportunities and areas for cooperation.

This agreement is signed on 4 November 2000, in Dakar, Senegal.

Mr. Armoogum Parsuramen
Regional Director
UNESCO, Dakar, Senegal

Dr Rima Salah
Regional Director
UNICEF Office for West and Central Africa