UNESCO’s CCNGO/EFA

Outcomes from the Annual Assembly in Porto Alegre.

The Collective Consultation of NGOs (CCNGO) is a thematic partnership mechanism created by UNESCO Education Sector in 1984.

Its current purpose is to facilitate collective action with civil society organizations in the framework of the Education for all movement in accordance with the Dakar Framework of Action: “... To ensure the engagement and participation of civil society in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of strategies for educational development”.

This year, for our Annual Meeting, we resolved to convene in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in January, in conjunction with the Second World Education Forum and the third session of the World Social Forum, thus hoping to help situate questions around EFA in the larger context of civil society discourse on education, social justice and transformation. This was also an ocassion to engage broader participation of Latin American CSOs.

A total of 167 representatives of CSO from 47 countries met in Porto Alegre with these objectives:1.Assess and promote civil society participation in EFA processes since the World Education Forum in Dakar2.Discuss and inspire alternative thinking and practices in education and their relevance for quality education and social change3.Discuss and validate the working procedures of the CCNGO-EFA.

Some concerns about the quality of CSO participation in implementing EFA goals

EFA forums and consultations do not seem to be well-established practices in all countries

Access to information is limited in many countries.

The selection process for choosing which CSOs will be consulted or involved is often discretionary on behalf of the governments.

The lack of resources for CSO action and limitations for effectively harnessing CSO capacities for policy impact.

The special challenges for CS action in authoritarian countries.

CSO EFA action appears to exist in four fashions

a) providing education on EFA to target sectors

b) Promoting innovative practices and developing critical thinking

c) consciousness-raising with greater civil society and the general public to strengthen their voice on EFA

d) reminding and pressuring governments about their responsibilities for EFA.

Some lessons-learned for advocacy and policy dialogue initiatives

Global Campaign for Education•The struggle to make governments recognize education as a fundamental human right.•underlining the GCE’s goal of ensuring education through campaigning and lobbying for increasing the volume of financial support•re-prioritize available resources to warrant genuine national ownership of the educational process in each country.

Education International:•The advocacy efforts, particularly by trade unions to ensure quality and guaranteeing access to education. We should call for “Public Quality Education for All”, and not merely “Education for All”. • These efforts should be focused on providing more teachers per school, as well as teacher training programs and better working conditions and remuneration.

ICAE`s Gender Education Office•The strategic importance of education for the achievement of gender justice and gender equality. • The international conferences as opportunities for negotiating and constructing a common discourse.• The dissemination of documents and conclusions of the conferences constitutes a political and educational act, as well as the follow-up processes.

International Council for Adult Education (ICAE)•The importance of strong CS and public advocacy for life long learning.•Advocacy and policy dialogue should include adult learning and literacy issues, and the respect for diversity, given that EFA in not necessarily the same education for everybody.

Opportunities for further CS participation

CONFINTEA mid term review

UN Literacy Decade

Fast track G-8 Support for Education

EFA Monitoring Report

The UN Girls’ Education Initiative

Higher Education

CCNGO Strategies and Action

Strengthening the CSO EFA Movement

CSO Capacity Building

Policy Research and Advocacy

Communication and Information Dissemination

Resource Mobilization

Strengthening the CSO EFA Movement

Create and/or consolidate inclusive and grounded national coalitions on EFA. Strengthen the CCNGO mechanism by regionalizing and grounding its action Broaden the EFA movement by forging links with EFA related issue groups and coalitions, and engaging them in EFA initiatives. Call for the strengthening of capacities within UNESCO regional and national offices to advance EFA goals.

CSO Capacity BuildingFacilitate learning opportunities and capacity-building for CSOs, national and regional coalitions and their leaders: 

a)to more effectively engage with governments and other stakeholders in national education policy formulation.

b)to monitor EFA progress

c)To develop and refine conceptual approaches on quality education based on CS practices.

d)to evaluate civil society participation in EFA

e)to advocate for EFA, to guarantee greater resources for education.

f)to strengthen their own organizational processes.

Policy Research and Advocacy

Encourage research into educational policy issues that will increase the effectiveness of CSO advocacy on EFA

Strengthen CSO cooperation in the development of the Monitoring Report

Communication and Information DisseminationSupport the documentation and dissemination of effective CSO practices and interventions for Dakar follow-up among countries and regions

Increase awareness and knowledge of CSOs concerning Inter-Agencies flagship programs and initiatives

Improve visibility of EFA / consciousness-raising through the media

Resource Mobilization

Develop strategies to source additional funding to support essential CSO efforts in promoting EFA

Members of the Coordination Group Regional Focal points:

Africa: African Network Campaign on Education for All – ANCEFA

Arab Region: Arab Resource Collective - ARC

Asia: Asia South Pacific Bureau for Adult Education - ASPBAE

Latin America: Latin American Council of Adult Education – CEAAL

Europe: Not yet identified.

International Focal points:

International Catholic Office for Education

Federation Internationale des Centres d’ Education Active

UNESCO NGO Liaison Committee

UNESCO Contact Point