Policy Advocacy Lessons and Policy Advocacy Lessons and Platform for Post CONFINTEA VI Platform for Post CONFINTEA VI

PhasePhase

Basic Leadership Development CourseBasic Leadership Development CourseBaguio City, PhilippinesBaguio City, Philippines

September 19-27, 2010September 19-27, 2010

Handout prepared byHandout prepared byTanvir MuntasimTanvir Muntasim

Policy TeamPolicy TeamASPBAEASPBAE

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CONFINTEA?CONFINTEA?

• International Conference on Adult International Conference on Adult EducationEducation

• Convened by UNESCOConvened by UNESCO

• Happens every 11/12 yearsHappens every 11/12 years

• Last one took place in Hamburg in Last one took place in Hamburg in 19971997

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CONFINTEA VI: Basic CONFINTEA VI: Basic InformationInformation

• Dates:Dates: December 1-4, 2009December 1-4, 2009

• Venue:Venue: Belem, Para, Brazil, Belem, Para, Brazil,

• Theme:Theme: ""Living and Learning for a Viable Living and Learning for a Viable Future – The Power of Adult LearningFuture – The Power of Adult Learning““

• Category IICategory II official inter-governmental official inter-governmental UNESCO-led conference; UIL is SecretariatUNESCO-led conference; UIL is Secretariat

• Approx. 150 countries participated, with Approx. 150 countries participated, with strong and visible CSO participationstrong and visible CSO participation

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Belem Framework for Action:Belem Framework for Action:The Outcome DocumentThe Outcome Document

• Drafted by UNESCO as the template Drafted by UNESCO as the template for the conference declarationfor the conference declaration

• Participating Country delegates Participating Country delegates reviewed, discussed, debated and reviewed, discussed, debated and approved the final versionapproved the final version

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Belem Framework for Action: Belem Framework for Action: What is in it?What is in it?• Recommendations and strategiesRecommendations and strategies on on

– PolicyPolicy– GovernanceGovernance– FinancingFinancing– Participation, inclusion and equityParticipation, inclusion and equity– Adult LiteracyAdult Literacy– QualityQuality– Monitoring ImplementationMonitoring Implementation

• Statement of EvidenceStatement of Evidence– Issues and ChallengesIssues and Challenges– Progress since CONFINTEA VProgress since CONFINTEA V

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Advocacy Gains in the Advocacy Gains in the ConferenceConference

• For the first time, 2 CSO For the first time, 2 CSO representatives on the drafting representatives on the drafting committee, despite overall CSO committee, despite overall CSO space being reduced in terms of space being reduced in terms of participationparticipation

• Strong support from national Strong support from national delegation for CSO 10 point demandsdelegation for CSO 10 point demands

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Advocacy Gains in the Advocacy Gains in the ConferenceConference

• Renewed commitment to adult educationRenewed commitment to adult education• Acknowledgement of the urgent need for Acknowledgement of the urgent need for

action on adult literacy action on adult literacy • Recognition that we need to move beyond Recognition that we need to move beyond

simplistic understandings of literacy, to simplistic understandings of literacy, to recognise a continuum of learning. recognise a continuum of learning.

• Commitment to produce fully costed and Commitment to produce fully costed and well-targeted plans backed up by legislation well-targeted plans backed up by legislation – and with active participation from civil – and with active participation from civil society, educators and learners themselves. society, educators and learners themselves.

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Advocacy Gains in the Advocacy Gains in the ConferenceConference

• There was strong language recognising There was strong language recognising different forms of discrimination that different forms of discrimination that undermine access to education. undermine access to education.

• The commitment to monitor progress on adult The commitment to monitor progress on adult education was significantly reinforced with education was significantly reinforced with clear timelines. clear timelines.

• commitment to ensure that the major global commitment to ensure that the major global financing mechanism for education for all financing mechanism for education for all (Education Fast Track Initiative) should (Education Fast Track Initiative) should explicitly support adult literacy.explicitly support adult literacy.

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Policy Losses?Policy Losses?

• Mostly non binding commitmentsMostly non binding commitments

• No benchmark proposed for adult No benchmark proposed for adult education financingeducation financing

• No proposition of adult education as No proposition of adult education as a inviolable human righta inviolable human right

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Lessons for ReflectionLessons for Reflection• Long term planning and preparation Long term planning and preparation

for advocacy are likely to bear fruitfor advocacy are likely to bear fruit• In lobby efforts, key and concise In lobby efforts, key and concise

demands are much more useful than demands are much more useful than long thematic documentslong thematic documents

• Home work on existing and Home work on existing and alternative policy texts are vitalalternative policy texts are vital

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Lessons for ReflectionLessons for Reflection

• Knowledge of procedurals, along with Knowledge of procedurals, along with advocacy and diplomacy skills are advocacy and diplomacy skills are essential in major lobby eventsessential in major lobby events

• Skills of adult education practitioners and Skills of adult education practitioners and advocates not necessarily part of the same advocates not necessarily part of the same setset

• Demands based on evidence are more Demands based on evidence are more likely to be met than demands based on likely to be met than demands based on rhetoric onlyrhetoric only

• Formal linkages between govt. and CSOs Formal linkages between govt. and CSOs are vital in ensuring policy commitmentsare vital in ensuring policy commitments

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Looking Forward: Post CONFINTEA Looking Forward: Post CONFINTEA Phase and ASPBAE PlansPhase and ASPBAE Plans

• Strategic ApproachStrategic Approach– Mobilising National ConstituenciesMobilising National Constituencies– Forging stronger links between CSOs Forging stronger links between CSOs

and Policy Makers using the ongoing and Policy Makers using the ongoing momentum and identifying policy hooks momentum and identifying policy hooks and handlesand handles

– Deepening research and analysis to fuel Deepening research and analysis to fuel national mobilisation, regional lobbying national mobilisation, regional lobbying and reshaping of global discourseand reshaping of global discourse

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Updates Post CONFINTEAUpdates Post CONFINTEA

• CONFINTEA Advisory Group formed and one CONFINTEA Advisory Group formed and one meeting held (convened by UIL). The meeting held (convened by UIL). The mandate of the group ismandate of the group is–  To help to shape and update a follow-up plan

for CONFINTEA VI– To advocate for increased resources for adult

education– To act as an institutionalised advocacy group for

adult education at international level and in conjunction with national groups

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Updates Post CONFINTEAUpdates Post CONFINTEA

• CONFINTEA Advisory Group formed and one CONFINTEA Advisory Group formed and one meeting held (convened by UIL). The meeting held (convened by UIL). The mandate of the group ismandate of the group is– To help to shape and update a follow-up plan for

CONFINTEA VI– To advocate for increased resources for adult

education– To act as an institutionalised advocacy group for

adult education at international level and in conjunction with national groups

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Updates Post CONFINTEA (Contd.)Updates Post CONFINTEA (Contd.)

• First big international event on adult learning, the First big international event on adult learning, the Forum on lifelong learning took place in Forum on lifelong learning took place in Shanghai, 19 - 21 MayShanghai, 19 - 21 May. However, its focus was on . However, its focus was on promoting the concept of life long learning, promoting the concept of life long learning, rather than looking at concrete follow up rather than looking at concrete follow up mechanisms to CONFINTEA VI. mechanisms to CONFINTEA VI.

• China and Korea planning Post CONFINTEA China and Korea planning Post CONFINTEA meetings organized respectively by CAEA and meetings organized respectively by CAEA and NILE in cooperation with governmentNILE in cooperation with government

• Some countries conceptualising and Some countries conceptualising and implementing major literacy/adult learning implementing major literacy/adult learning projectsprojects

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Some Actions for Consideration Some Actions for Consideration by National Advocates for Adult by National Advocates for Adult EducationEducation• Widely share the commitments made by Widely share the commitments made by

the government in CONFINTEA VI (being the government in CONFINTEA VI (being signatory to Belem Framework)signatory to Belem Framework)

• Review the consistency of and alignment Review the consistency of and alignment with national policies and programmeswith national policies and programmes

• Identify key policy moments and advocacy Identify key policy moments and advocacy opportunities and lobby with the opportunities and lobby with the government government

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Policy and Campaign Policy and Campaign SpacesSpaces• InternationalInternational

– MDG and EFA End of Decade (EDA) AssessmentMDG and EFA End of Decade (EDA) Assessment– MDG Summit in September 2010MDG Summit in September 2010– G 20 Meeting in Korea in OctoberG 20 Meeting in Korea in October

• NationalNational– Education PoliciesEducation Policies– Midterm and Annual development plans/Midterm and Annual development plans/– Budget formulation and review,Budget formulation and review,– Literacy Day in SeptemberLiteracy Day in September– 1 Goal Campaign 1 Goal Campaign

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For more information/ For more information/ resourcesresourcesLinks Links • Global Report on Adult Learning and Education Global Report on Adult Learning and Education

(GRALE) - (GRALE) - http://www.unesco.org/en/confinteavi/• National Reports on Adult Education for CONFINTEA - National Reports on Adult Education for CONFINTEA -

http://www.unesco.org/en/confinteavi/national-reports/

• EFA Global Monitoring Report - EFA Global Monitoring Report - http://www.unesco.org/en/efareport

• ASPBAE website – ASPBAE website – www.aspbae.org

ContactContactFor updates and information, please contact – Tanvir For updates and information, please contact – Tanvir

Muntasim, Post CONFINTEA Campaign Coordinator, Muntasim, Post CONFINTEA Campaign Coordinator, ASPBAE – ASPBAE – mtanvir.aspbae@gmail.com