We will do this by:

- fully integrating the Dakar follow-up into our programme activities, first and foremost in the education sector, but also intersectorally;

- supporting countries in implementing the Framework for Action, with particular attention to the development of education policies that cater to excluded groups;

- developing regional mechanisms for capacity-building and exchange between countries;

- championing more efficient use of resources and increased investment in basic education; and

- sustaining the EFA momentum at global level through EFA advocacy at international meetings.

In this context, I expect UNESCO offices to do the following:

1. to monitor and report progress on education for all, which will entail the collection and exchange of statistical information. As you are aware, UNESCO has established an Observatory to monitor and report progress achieved in education for all, placed in the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. All monitoring activities you are planning should be undertaken in close collaboration with UIS;

2. to collect, document and promote best practices in EFA. Such success stories and lessons learned should be shared between countries at regional and subregional meetings. The information thus gathered will be transmitted to the first meeting of the high-level, small and flexible group that I will convene in early 2001;

3. to strengthen national capacity at sub-regional level. This should entail the organization of workshops, training activities, etc., to be held in cooperation with UNESCO's Institutes, IBE, IIEP, UIE and UIS and with other specialized agencies and networks in the region;

4. to promote political dialogue and exchange between all EFA partners, in order to ensure that the Dakar follow-up is firmly set on their respective agendas. This could entail an annual subregional forum;

5. to facilitate communication and collaboration between all bilateral and multilateral partners in the region (in particular UNICEF, UNDP, the World Bank and the major bilateral donors), notably with a view to firming up viable strategies for EFA and promoting the exchange of information and possible coordination of activities and programmes;

6. to mobilize resources for activities envisaged by countries or for subregional capacity-building activities, as stated above. Concerning the operational budgets of field offices, some budget allocations will be redeployed, and extrabudgetary resources will be sought. It will however also be necessary for UNESCO field offices themselves to actively seek extrabudgetary funding for their own activities;

7. to advocate for EFA, to endeavour to add education for all to the agenda of all major meetings and to distribute EFA documents widely.

The requisite flow of information will be ensured, for instance through the electronic Bulletin Board which will regularly inform you about such activities as:

- the first meeting of the Working Group on EFA (22-24 November 2000), which will bring together some 35 persons representing: developing countries and countries in transition; bilateral, multilateral and regional agencies; civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations and private foundations, as well as the OECD and the G8. This meeting will be composed of three main parts: a) information-sharing on progress and constraints in the Dakar follow-up, b) in-depth discussion on strategic issues based on conceptual / methodological papers prepared for the meeting, and c) suggestions for the agenda of the meeting of the high-level group;

- consultations with the OECD Development Assistance Committee, the World Bank, the G8, and others, on how to strengthen financing in favour of education, and

- the meeting of the high-level informal group in 2001, which I will convene in 2001 before the anniversary of the Dakar Forum;

- as well as about priority activities undertaken by partner agencies.