Global Learning Process for Scaling Up Poverty Reduction

and Conference in ShanghaiMay 25-27, 2004

The main objective of the interactive Global Learning Process and the Conference in Shanghai is to learn from both successful and less successful attempts to reduce poverty in all its dimensions.

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Millennium Development Goals City to City Challenge

Pilot ProgramWorld Bank Institute and Sister

Cities International

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Outline of PresentationI. Brief Description of Case Study Historical Background and Recent Activities Literacy Project focusing on:MDG #2 – Achieve Universal Primary EducationTarget #3 – Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to

complete a full course of primary schooling.Indicator #8 – Literacy rate of 15-24 year olds.

II. Analysis of factors in city to city cooperation between Casablanca and Chicago Learning, experimentation & communication Institutional innovation & implementation

Leadership commitmentExternal catalystsOther factors

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Historical Background1982: His Majesty Hassan II, late King of Morocco and Honorary Citizen of

Chicago, accepted the ceremony twinning the cities of Casablanca and Chicago. 1992: First trade mission to Casablanca involving 14 Chicago companies1994: Youth exchange program in both cities. 1995 : Agreement between CHU Ibnou Rochd Hospital and University of Illinois

Medical School.1997 : Medical delegation from Casablanca CHU Ibnou Rochd hospital to Chicago.

There was a training program designed for doctors and nurses and exchange of experiences

1999 : Twinning of LE CEDRE and ABRAHAM LINCOLN 1999 : Official delegation from Chicago to donate dinosaur skulls and address

environmental issues.2000 : Visit of 25 Moroccan architects to Chicago2002 : 30 VOSH volunteers examine and offer glasses to 2.400 underserved

children and adults in Casablanca2003 : Construction of a Zellige fountain in the Garfield Park Conservatory, offered

by M. Lahlou to the city of Chicago 2003 : Youth exchange program: Moroccan students and their teacher lived with

American families and attended a school in Chicago

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Recent Activities Chicago Week in Casablanca – March 2004

Education -Sister school agreement signed between Ben M’Sik High School in Casablanca and Walter Payton High School in Chicago.

Civil Society - Literacy was identified as a priority issue for pilot program and future activities. Volunteerism workshop.

Medicine - Six urologists, two nurses from Chicago, along with their Moroccan counterparts, performed more than 20 micro-surgeries on Moroccan patients. VOSH returned and examined 3137 adults and children.

Business - Chamber of Commerce meeting. Discussion of Free Trade Agreement and its impact on future economic development.

Urban Planning - Urban planners from Chicago met with their Moroccan counterparts and discussed potential cooperation.

Arts and Culture - Sweet Home, a Chicago based blue-grass group, performed several public concerts in Morocco. Discussed a possible exhibition in Chicago of contemporary Moroccan artists.

Sports - Discussed future programs such as a basketball clinic.

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Description of the Case StudyThe pilot program was launched during Chicago Week in Casablanca. In Casablanca, local associations working in the field of literacy met with sister city committee members from both Chicago and Casablanca and local government representatives to set the pilot in motion.

• Bringing the literacy associations together allowed Chicago-Casablanca to do an inventory of existing literacy efforts.

• After the two committees (in both Chicago and Casablanca) worked on the diagnostic tool, the diagnostic began in Sidi Moumen community.

• The diagnostic will communicate data and findings of the survey and provide reports allowing good decision making for development projects.

• Further qualitative research will help identify and understand motivations of the group for overcoming their literacy issues (Focus Groups, Personal Interviews, etc.)

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Using existing successful literacy programs in Chicago, the sister cities will try to understand the motivations behind literacy:

• “What will drive me to commit to a program to read?”

• “What’s in it for me?”

• How to tap into motivations? How do you spend your time?

Based on the results of the diagnostic, Chicago and Casablanca will work together to create an action plan to address the literacy needs in Casablanca. Some early ideas are:

Identify Best Practice among programs in Morocco that are succeeding.

• What audience do they serve?

• What makes them successful?

• Do they have a “champion”?

• What resources do they use?

• What obstacles have they overcome?

• Offer examples from existing literacy programs in Chicago

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Analysis of Case Study1. The ever-deepening relationship since 1991 has allowed Chicago

and Casablanca to be able to launch long-term sustainable projects including health, education, and the pilot focusing on literacy.

2. Success factors include open communication and citizen-based committees in both cities.

3. Some challenges were the lack of realization of the importance of involving the private sector and civil society in city-to-city programs.

4. Opportunities

5. Some risks were possible burnout and insufficient resources to implement programs and projects.

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Opportunities for scaling up?This project will help Chicago-Casablanca address MDGs

in future activities. The Volunteerism Workshop during Chicago Week introduced the American

vision on volunteerism, presented fund-raising techniques, and highlighted successful volunteer driven Chicago programs.

Volunteers will be used in the pilot program. Agreed to further develop collaboration between Chicago NGOs and

Casablanca NGOs

The pilot has helped examine literacy issues in both cities on a different level:

• Chicago adult population does not enjoy the highest rates of literacy! Chicagoans are not multi-lingual, as are Moroccans!

• 53% of adults in Cook County are considered low literate• Literacy rates in Morocco or Casablanca stand at 50%• Awareness of this project and the outcome can benefit both cities

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What factors are involved in cooperation between Casablanca and Chicago? Chicago Sister Cities International is directly under the auspices of

the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. There is a paid staff of ten people.

Committees in both cities are comprised of volunteers drawn from all sectors of society.

The sister cities program facilitates governmental and non-governmental organizational exchanges in several fields (health, education, housing, urban planning, arts and culture, business, sports and tourism…)

Both cities enjoy strong support from local governments and public-private partnerships.

Corporate partners program in place to support activities. Public awareness of Casablanca Sister City program heightened by

Chicago Week activities. Strong commitment among volunteers and committees. Interest in deepening understanding of each others’ culture.

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How can we help replicate the results?Chicago is developing a manual based on their successful partnership with Casablanca for other interested U.S. communities looking to form a strong relationship with other Muslim or Arab communities.

Help other communities in Morocco form partnerships with communities in the United States.