­ Convenors:

UNICEF MENA Regional Office (present), UNDP Beirut (present), UNFPA/CST Amman (present), World Bank Beirut (present), UNESCO Beirut, Cairo, Doha (present);

- Other UN Agencies:

ESCWA (present), ILO, WHO, UNRWA, UNHCR, UNIC; (excused)

­ Regional Partners:

ALECSO, ISESCO, AGFUND, ABEGS (excused), Islamic Development Bank, ACCD (excused), Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (excused);

­ Experts:

Dr. Ali Fakhro - Regional Representative, EFA Working Group member, (present) Dr. Leila Iskandar - NGOs representative, (excused) Dr. Samir Jarrar - Private sector representative, (present) Mr. Ghanem Bibi - NGOs representative EFA Working Group member, (present)

 The provisional agenda was discussed and participants proposed to rapidly present a briefing on the 1st part of the agenda.

Reference was made to the Dakar Forum that called on all countries to develop National Action Plans based on their own national assessment. The core of the meeting was therefore to address the following issues:

­ On the National level: to support countries form their National EFA teams and formulate a National EFA plan before 2002;

­ On the regional level: to establish a mechanism whereby ARABEFA according to its Terms of Reference (see p.3), can follow up the implementation of EFA goals.

1. The flagship programmes were briefly presented. It was strongly recommended that ARABEFA and the leading UN Agency within each country would help the country EFA team in prioritizing its needs with the suggested Flagship programmes. Once the needs and priorities are identified in each country, the funds should be mobilized on a national level. However, efforts should start by working on already available projects and building on them.

2. ARABEFA should mobilize bilateral donors, and other NGOs, (such as Save the Children, Oxfam and others) whose mandate allow them to work in the different existing Flagship programmes and to form a supporting group to the Country Team.

3. As it was highlighted that the EFA message did not properly reach all NGOs, support and mobilization of NGOs networking is therefore essential. Emphasis on the role of NGOs in each country should be made and utilized for the benefit of EFA goals

1. The Country Guidelines were translated into Arabic. An action oriented executive summary in English and Arabic will also be made available to countries to facilitate its use.

2. A focal point should be identified within each Ministry of Education in order to create the discussion on the Country Guidelines with the EFA team. The guidelines should help direct the counties in the formulation of the EFA plan.

1. Creation of a new logo and head letter for ARABEFA.

2. Creation of an ARABEFA Newsletter to be distributed through electronic mail. All UN Agencies and other partners should contribute by preparing articles reflecting progress in the process of EFA.

3. Mobilization of satellite TV stations.

4. Identification of educational journalists on country level and development of a network of educational journalists in the region to increase awareness and advocacy of EFA

5. Creation of an ARABEFA Website for dialogue among stakeholders.

6. It was suggested that UNESCO Amman office can produce press releases with the support of UNICEF Amman/Communication Advisor and UNESCO Beirut.

ARABEFA will be entrusted to take actions for the follow-up of EFA activities, according to the following terms of reference:

A. Terms of reference of ARABEFA

One. Identifying regional needs;

Two. Mobilizing resources within the region;

Three. Setting up collaborative mechanism that allows countries to prepare & implement their National Plans of Action;

Four. Coordinating advocacy with Governments;

Five. Ensuring the synergy of all existing regional networks in all domains linked to the development of basic education;

Six. Reinforcing the institutional capacities of States, which should permit them to implement their National Plans of Action concretely. Particularly reinforcing States' capacities for collecting & using statistics, for providing normative guidance on education reform & for educational planning.

B. Committees / Focal Points (see annex 2) The formulation of the four following committees was agreed upon:

­ Early Childhood Development

­ Primary Education

­ Literacy & Non-formal Education

­ Girls & Women Education Each committee will have a focal point / leading agency (see annex 2).

A. On the Country level:

1. Identification of a leading organization that will:

­ Form a country EFA support team;

­ Lead the support team in the follow up activities. (See annex 3)

2. Provide technical assistance to help countries formulate National Action Plans by year 2002 according to the needs and requests of the countries.

3. Fund raising and material support at the country national level.

B. On the Regional Level:

1. Prepare a presentation on the EFA follow-up mechanism that could easily be rotated and presented in countries of the region within all-possible meetings and forums, in addition to special EFA activities.

2. It was decided to identify a high level Regional Ambassadors Team, headed by H.E. Dr. Ali Fakhro to contact or visit key development or donor agencies in the Region for mobilization and fund raising for EFA Activities. The Team will be provided with a Document prepared by ARABEFA to explain and outline major activities of ARABEFA and justification required financing. The mechanism and time frame for the preparation of this document was adopted as follows:

­ By the end of December 2000: ARABEFA members to submit suggested Regional activities according to priorities of action.

­ February 2000: To have a document including all available and proposed activities ready. All National EFA teams formed. All UN and other Agencies country support teams formed. Countries to start preparation of EFA plan.

­ April 2000: Ambassador team starts mobilization.

1) December 2000:

One) An Action oriented executive summary of the Country Guidelines in both English and Arabic will be made available to countries to facilitate its use.

Two) Prepare a presentation on EFA follow-up, that could be presented in Countries of the region and in different meetings and forums.

2) February 2001:

Leading Organization in each country will:

One) Form a UN and other NGOs EFA support team;

Two) Help initiate the formulation of the Country EFA team;

Three) Support the preparation of the EFA plan;

Four) Mobilization and fund raising at the National level.

3) March 2001:

Preparation of document for high level Ambassadors Team.

4) April 2001:

One) Identification and launching of high level Regional Ambassadors Team that will help mobilization and fund raising for EFA activities.

Two) The communication strategy will be as follows:

Creation of a new ARABEFA logo and head letter;

Initiation of an ARABEFA electronic Newsletter;

Identification and mobilization of educational journalists to increase awareness and advocacy of EFA.

UNDP- Beirut, ­ Ms. Randa Abou Al Hosn,ARR (Programme),UNDP Beirut Tel: 961.1.981 301 Fax: 961.1. 981 916 /e-mail: randa.aboul-sn@undp.org.lb

UNICEF- Middle East & North Africa­ Dr. Frank Dall ,Regional Advisor for Education ,UNICEF Middle East and North Africa,Amman-Jordan,Tel: 962.6.553 99 77 Fax: 962.6.551 81 02, e-mail: fdall@unicef.org.

UNFPA Cst - Amman ­ Dr. Abdel Halim Joukhadar Advisor, Population Education / RH IEC UNFPA Amman Tel: 962.6.551 70 40 Fax: 962.6.551 65 80 e-mail: joukhadar@cstamman.org.jo

ESCWA- Beirut ­ Dr. Nabil Al Nawwab Regional Advisor ESCWA - Beirut Tel: 961.1981 301 Fax: 961.1.981 510 e-mail: alnawwab@escwa.org.lb

World Bank - Beirut ­ Dr. Bassam Ramadan Senior Economist / Human Development Sector Middle East and North Africa Region Tel: 961.1.987 800 Fax: 961.1.986 800 e-mail: bramadan@worldbank.org Unesco -Doha ­ Dr. Abdallah Bubtana Director

UNESCO Doha - Qatar Tel: 974.4.867 707 Fax: 974.4.867 644 e-mail: a.bubtana@unesco.org Unesco-Cairo ­ Dr. Ghada Gholam Education Specialist

UNESCO - Cairo Tel: 202.794 30 36 Fax: 202.794 52 96 e-mail: ggholam@unesco-cairo.org Unesco-Beirut ­ Dr. Victor Billeh Director

UNESCO-Beirut Tel: 961.1.850 013/4/5 Fax: 961.1.824 854 e-mail: v.billeh@unesco.org ­ Dr. Nour Dajani Programme Specialist, Literacy UNESCO-Beirut Tel: 961.1.850 013/4/5 Fax: 961.1.824 854 e-mail: n.dajani@unesco.org ­ Dr. Hegazi Idris Programme Specialist, Basic Education UNESCO-Beirut Tel: 961.1.850 013/4/5 Fax: 961.1.824 854 e-mail: h.idris@unesco.org ­ Ms. Noha Bawazir Liaison Officer UNESCO-Beirut Tel: 961.1.850 013/4/5 Fax: 961.1.824 854 e-mail: n.bawazir@unesco.org

Experts H.E. Dr. Ali Fakhro Chairman Bahrain Center for Studies and Research EFA Working Group - Arab Region Representative Tel: 973.754 757 / 754 488 Fax: 973-75 40 40 e-mail: afakhro@bcsr.gov.bh Dr. Samir Jarrar Private Sector Representative Tel: 961.1.863 007 Fax: 961.1. 834 708 e-mail: sajarrar@hotmail.com Mr. Ghanem Bibi EFA Working Group - NGOs Arab Region Representative Tel: 961.1.742 075 Fax: 961.1.742 077 e-mail: arcleb@mawared.org

A. Introduction of Partners

­ Convenors: UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, World Bank, UNESCO;

­ Other UN Agencies: ILO, WHO, UNRWA, UNHCR, UNIC, ESCWA;

­ Regional Partner: ALECSO, ISESCO, AGFUND, ABEGS, Islamic Development Bank, Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, ACCD;

­ Others: Dr. Ali Fakhro (Regional Representative, EFA Working Group member), Dr. Leila Iskandar (NGOs representative, EFA Working Group member), Dr. Samir Jarrar (Private sector representative), Mr. Ghanem Bibi (NGOs representative).

B. Background Briefing and Documentation

Cairo (Arab Regional Plan of Action)

Dakar (Dakar Framework for Action)

C. Follow-up Mechanism

Mandate (ref. "EFA 2000 Bulletin" No. 39-Summer 2000, p. 5)

D. Follow-up Activities (Global) at UNESCO Headquarters

Advisory Group

Working Group

Meetings of the Strategic Group on Dakar Follow-up, UNESCO Paris

Flagship Programmes

Country Guidelines

E. Follow-up Activities (Regional) at UNESCO Beirut Office

Formulation of ARABEFA

Terms of Reference:

One. Identifying regional needs;

Two. Mobilizing resources within the region;

Three. Setting up collaborative mechanism that allows countries to prepare & implement their National Plans of Action;

Four. Coordinating advocacy with Governments;

Five. Ensuring the synergy of all existing regional networks in all domains linked to the development of basic education;

Six. Reinforcing the institutional capacities of States, which should permit them to implement their National Plans of Action concretely. Particularly reinforcing States' capacities for collecting & using statistics, for providing normative guidance on education reform & for educational planning.

·Committees/Focal Points:

1. Early Childhood Development

2. Primary Education

3. Literacy & Non-formal Education

4. Girls & Women Education

F. Plan of Action

1st. On the Country Level

1. Formulation of Supporting Regional Partners team at the Country level (Identifying lead agency, organization);

2. Technical assistance to help countries Formulate National Action Plans by year 2002 (Identifying country EFA focal point);

3. Reinforcing country capacity in the field of data collection and processing (with the support of UNESCO Institute for Statistics, UIS);

4. Experts, advisors (as needed, upon request of countries);

5. Material support.

2nd. On the Regional Level

1. Support the implementation of the Regional Plan of Action (Cairo, January 2000);

2. Support to NGOs networking.

3. Regional flagship project (EDSS)