Consultations of the Director General to National Commissions

DIRECTOR-GENERAL’S CONSULTATION FOR THE AFRICA REGION ON THE DRAFT BUDGET AND PROGRAMME FOR 2006-2007 (33 C/5) (14-18 Mai 2004)

Hôtel Avenida Maputo, Mozambique

1. At the invitation of the Government of Mozambique, the Director-General’ s Consultation on the draft Programme and Budget for 2006-2007 (33 C/5) was held in Maputo from Friday 14 to Tuesday 18 May 2004, with the invaluable logistic support provided by the Mozambique National Commission for UNESCO and the UNESCO Office in Maputo.

2. The main objectives of the Consultation were:

 To invite comments and proposals from National Commissions on key principles, priorities and other issues related to the preparation of the Draft Programme and Budget for 2006-2007, based on a questionnaire prepared by the UNESCO Secretariat.

 To hold thematic debates, as contribution to the elaboration of the Draft 33 C/5, on key issues of particular relevance to the Africa Region, especially the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

3. Forty-three of the 46 National Commissions for UNESCO of the Africa Region attended the Consultation: they were represented by 58 participants. The Assistant Secretary-General of the Sudanese National Commission for UNESCO, the Vice-Chairperson of the Forum of African Parliamentarians for Education (FAPED), a Representative of the NEPAD Secretariat and the Chairperson of the UNESCO Committee for NEPAD, as well as representatives of other UN agencies and civil society organizations (parliaments, NGOs, community groups) also attended as observers. Directors, Heads and Programme specialists of 14 UNESCO Field and Cluster Offices well as representatives of programme sectors and central services assisted the National Commissions in their debates (list of participants is annexed).

Opening Ceremony

4. The Opening Ceremony took place in the Joaquim Chissano International Conference Center under the patronage of Her Excellency, Mrs Luísa Diogo, the Prime Minister of Mozambique, and in the presence of Mr Alcides Ngenha, Minister of Education, Mr. Louis Covane, Deputy Minister of Culture, Mr. Eneas Comiche, President of the Municipality of Maputo and Mr. Noureini Tidjani-Serpos, Assistant Director-General for the Africa region and Representative of the Director General. Members of the Government of Mozambique, as

1 well as Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps and UN Agencies also attended the Ceremony.

5. The Consultation was addressed by the Minister for Education and the President of the Municipality of Maputo, as well as by the Representative of the Director General of UNESCO. In his remarks, Mr. Tidjani-Serpos thanked the Government of Mozambique for hosting the Consultation for the National Commissions of the Africa region. He noted that the Director-General’s Regional Consultations which were being held in the different regions of the world under the new Programming and Management cycle were a landmark in the life of the Organization. He further noted that such face-to-face dialogues were a unique opportunity for Member States and Cluster Offices to jointly work out their priorities. The Assistant Director-General for Africa also gave an overview of UNESCO’s cooperation with Africa since NEPAD was launched as a Programme of the African Union (copy of speech annexed).

6. In her address, the Prime Minister extended a warm welcome to UNESCO’s Consultation in Maputo. She reiterated Mozambique’s continued support to the endeavours of the Organization and wished participants fruitful deliberations on the Draft Programme and Budget for 2006-2007. In particular, she emphasized the potential of Peace as a key factor in the development process (Copy of speech annexed).

Election of the Bureau

7. Subsequent to the Opening Ceremony, the Rules of Procedure were adopted with minor amendments. The outgoing Chairperson, Mr. Assane Hane (Senegal) requested for candidatures for the Bureau and, further to a proposal of the secretary-General of the South African National Commission, the following Bureau was elected by acclamation :

(i) Chairman : Mr. Januario Mutaquia (Mozambique)

(ii) Vice-Chairmen : Mr.Aboubakari Boina (Comoros) Mr. Assane Hane (Senegal)

(iii) Chief Rapporteur : Mr. H.B.Dansinghani (Mauritius)

(iv) Co-Rapporteurs : Mr Barthelemy Mvondo-Nyina(Cameroon) Mr. Leonard C. J. Shuma (Tanzania)

Adoption of the Agenda

8. The items of the Agenda were unanimously approved.

2 Part I

Thematic Debates

9. Three themes figured on the agenda of the Consultation, namely, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Towards an AIDS-Free Generation by 2015 and African Cities.

Thematic Day on NEPAD

10. One of the key issues on the African agenda is the linkage that has to be consolidated between UNESCO and the NEPAD. Secretaries-General present for the Consultation were accordingly addressed by a number of speakers on this issue.

Keynote Presentations

11. M. Abdourahamane Merouane, from the NEPAD Secretariat, explained the ongoing process of integration of the NEPAD Secretariat into the structures of the Commission of the African Union. He summed up on the cooperation between UNESCO and the NEPAD Secretariat in the areas of education, culture, science and technology, environment, communication and information.

12. He particularly stressed the excellent nature of the cooperation in the areas of education, culture and the sciences. In effect, UNESCO assists the NEPAD Secretariat in refining and finalizing its initial plan of action in education. The blueprint document on the education sector would be completed after taking on board the interests of the northern part of the continent and thereafter will be submitted to the Commission of the African Union. The NEPAD Secretariat hopes to encourage the initiation of an African inter-governmental process to scrutinize the document with the aim of taking it up at the highest possible level for its adoption prior to the Summit of the African Union scheduled to take place in Khartoum in 2005. The Summit will focus on Education and Culture.

13. In the area of culture, the UNESCO’s assistance had been solicited to prepare an African regional consultation around the theme relating to the contribution of culture to development in the context of NEPAD. This was by way of enriching the reference document of October 2001. It is in this context that the Meeting of Experts was held in Abidjan in September 2003. The NEPAD Secretariat is now contemplating the submission of the results of that Meeting to the Commission of the African Union as a global agenda on culture for the entire continent.

14. As for science and technology, UNESCO helped in the organisation of the Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology for Development (Johannesburg 6-7 November 2003) which led to the creation of a Ministerial Council of Ministers of NEPAD on Science and Technology.

15. Mr Merouane concluded his presentation by expatiating on the role that could be played by National Commissions. As per their constitution and their functions, they are in a pole position to help Africans internalise the principles and objectives of the African Union and NEPAD.

3 16. Dr Bimbola Ogunkelu, Chairman of the UNESCO Committee for NEPAD, made a brief presentation of the Committee, notably its historical background, terms of reference and the recommendations of the last session of the Committee which had met from 5 - 6 April in Paris. He also stressed the role of National Commissions regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Ouagadougou Seminar ″UNESCO-NEPAD- from Vision to Action″ (March 2003).

17. Mr Claude Vercoutere, the representative of the UNESCO- NGO Liaison Committee, referring to the above Seminar, insisted on the important role that can be played by NGOs. These would wish to work alongside National Commissions to popularize the objectives of NEPAD and contribute to the implementation of NEPAD in the domains of competence of UNESCO.

18. Dr Elizabeth Amukugo, Vice Chairperson of the FAPED, made a presentation on the setting-up of that Forum, its objectives and its interface with NEPAD in the promotion of Education For All and therefore helping towards the poverty reduction drive.

Responses

Sensitisation 19. The discussions that ensued clearly demonstrated the serious lack of information regarding NEPAD. Participants were thankful for the information that had been forwarded to them and the documents made available on NEPAD, the African Union and the activities of cooperation of the Organization in Africa.

20. The wish was expressed that UNESCO’s programme on Communication and Information be so developed as to sensitise the public on the NEPAD agenda and the process leading to the African Union.

Continental approach 21. Participants underlined the necessity of ensuring an all-inclusive continental programmatic cover of the Organization for the implementation of NEPAD. To this end, participants wished for the reinforcement of the Africa Department such that the Organization could take into consideration the priorities of sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa.

Structure 22. The necessity of associating educational institutions that have a regional calling (such as the IPED), as well as other Intergovernmental institutions specialized in UNESCO’s domains of competence, to the process of the implementation of NEPAD was equally emphasised.

The role of National Commissions 23. The issue of National Commissions as Focal Points for NEPAD was intensely debated. As was highlighted during the Quadrennial Meeting of Yaoundé in June 2003 on this subject, many countries have equipped themselves with governmental structures in charge of implementing NEPAD and, accordingly, it is not within the mandate of National Commissions to represent NEPAD at the national level. Nevertheless, participants were willing to cooperate with the government structures responsible for the implementation of NEPAD in the specific areas of competence of UNESCO. This would be in line with the decision taken at the Executive Board, at its 166th session, which endorsed the

4 recommendations of the Ouagadougou Seminar (March 2003) designating “National Commissions for UNESCO as focal points at the national level for the implementation of NEPAD-UNESCO cooperation.”

24. The national focal points for NEPAD could, it was recommended, be invited to participate in the Cluster consultations.

Interventions by the UNESCO Secretariat

25. The ADG/Africa provided an overview of UNESCO’s strategy for the Continent. Two features were particularly stressed:

 Programmatic integration within the Clusters and inter-sectoriality for the benefit of sub- regional integration; and  The post-conflict period

Programmatic integration within clusters and inter sectoriality for the benefit of sub- regional integration

26. The African Union considers sub-regional organizations - like ECOWAS, CEMAC, COMESA, EAC, ECCAS, IGAD, SADC, UMA - as pillars for the implementation of NEPAD and integration of the African Union. UNESCO has strong ties with these organisations. However, since many countries belong to a number of these sub regional organisations, National Commissions may wish to decide on priorities for cooperation with UNESCO. The issue that also arises is how best UNESCO can ensure a suitable coordination of this cooperation with the several organisations and consequently rationalise the allocation of the necessary resources for this cooperation. This question will be raised at the next session of the FOSRASUN to be held in Paris in September 2004.

27. Responses from participants covered these various aspects:  Multiple memberships are intermediary steps towards the process of regional integration.  The issue be best taken up by the African Union when the ADG/AFR would meet with Executive Directors in September 2004 during the meeting of the Forum of African Regional and Sub-regional Organisations for the support of cooperation between UNESCO and NEPAD (FOSRASUN) and during the meeting of the Director-General with the Implementation Committee of Heads of Governments for the implementation of NEPAD in Addis Ababa.  The need to reinforce capacities in the training institutions and in Centres of Excellence was underscored, as was the necessity to promote harmonisation of the systems of education and the production of common pedagogical materials as privileged vectors of the process of regional and sub-regional integration.

The post-conflict period 28. Participants agreed with the need for preservation of educational, cultural, scientific and health institutions which are the sanctuaries of sustainable development. Social pacts need to be entered into at national levels to avoid the destruction of this heritage in times of conflict. Hence,

5  The role of education for peace and for life long learning as decisive factors in the preservation of social institutions and environment during armed conflicts was emphasised.  Satisfaction was expressed for the ongoing actions taken by UNESCO in post-conflict countries as advocated notably by the Resolution of Cote d´Ivoire, Angola and the DRC and approved by the 32nd session of the General Conference. The Organisation is encouraged to ensure follow up on this action and develop a global strategy.  The wish was expressed for a specific budget line to be created in the 33/C5 to support the rehabilitation of the education, scientific and cultural systems and that funds be decentralised to the Africa region and to field offices.

Presentation of sectoral actions concerning the incorporation of NEPAD into the 32C/5 Document (2004-2005)

29. Following an introduction by the Director of the Bureau of Strategic Planning and the reminder that the General Assembly of the United Nations had not as yet adopted its resolution considering NEPAD as the framework for cooperation with Africa when the Regional Strategy was prepared, an overview of sectoral initiatives of a regional or sub- regional nature was given by Mrs Claudia Harvey, Director/Windhoek Office, Mr P. Vitta Director/Nairobi Office, Mr Kwame Boafo, Chief of the Executive Office, CI Sector, Mr John Nkinyangi,Chief of the Executive Office, Social Sciences Sector and Mr Lupwishi Mbuyamba, Director/Maputo Office. Their presentations were covered by the relevant documents distributed to participants.

30. Participants opined that there is a need to carry out concrete activities as follow up to different consultation meetings already organized by UNESCO. In this context, a clear demarcation line has to be brought between those projects that are developed by Programme Sectors and those sub-regional and regional initiatives that focus on the NEPAD perspectives and that are flagship projects.

31. Furthermore, it was deplored that there seems to be a dearth of intellectual debate at the present time in Africa, compared to preceding decades. This culture of silence was greatly deplored.

Thematic debate II Towards an AIDS Free Generation by 2015

32. Presentations on this thematic debate were made by Professor Juma Shabani, Director, and Ms Patricia Machawira, Project Officer of the Harare Cluster Office respectively, Ms Lulmira Rodrigues, Programme specialist, UNESCO/Maputo.

33. It was highlighted that, at the meeting of the Committee of Co-Sponsoring Organizations of UNAIDS held in Livingstone, Zambia, on 4 March 2004, at the initiative of the Director- General of UNESCO, the co-sponsors agreed to a Global and Collaborative program on preventive education aimed at scaling up preventive education initiatives in as many countries as possible with an emphasis on Sub-saharan Africa. The high level meeting convened on HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa where Ministers of Finance, Health and Education from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Lesotho met together with nine UN system Executive Heads, had the objectives of identifying key

6 challenges facing these countries in scaling up their national responses to HIV/AIDS and defining the role of the UN system in supporting national efforts.

34. Follow-up actions to the HIV/AIDS Free Generation by 2015 initiative include:

 An on-line on HIV/AIDS education of the Virtual Institute on Higher Education in Africa  A regional conference on the implementation of the Livingstone Recommendations to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe in June 2004  A donors conference on HIV/AIDS in Africa.

35. The UNESCO Harare Cluster Office response is aimed at maximising the impact of education on the HIV/AIDS pandemic and minimising the impact of HIV/AIDS in the Education Sector through:

 Strengthening the HIV/AIDS capacity for pre-service teachers  District Education Management Information Systems  HIV/AIDS and Education online database  HIV/AIDS in the work place program.

36. The UNESCO Maputo office focuses on five sets of methodological tools recently developed by the office, designed to facilitate the application of the socio-cultural approach to HIV/AIDS prevention and care at various stages of the programme/project cycle. These sets include tools for:

 Socio-cultural field research  Analysis of stake-holders involvement in HIV/AIDS interventions,  Diversifying HIV/AIDS interventions  Development of socio-cultural appropriate IECS and  Knowing and understanding the target group – YOUTH.

37. Following these presentations, four participants, the UNICEF Representative and Chairperson of the UN thematic Group of UNAIDS and the Director of the UNESCO Office in Abuja made comments and suggestions.

38. The following recommendations were made :

 To produce a French version of the CD-ROM and on-line course on Preventive Education of the Virtual Institute on Higher Education in Africa. In this respect, the Director of the Harare Office indicated that Portuguese qnd French version would be available by September 2004.  Collect available HIV/AIDS material in the Africa Region for wider dissemination. Dir. Harare pointed out that the HIV/AIDS and Education online database already containes more than 500 documents collected from the whole Sub-Region and developed with the support of the Brasilia and Maputo offices and would be expanded further.

39. The Assistant Director-General for Africa stressed the importance of wider sharing of this information with Permanent Delegations at Headquarters and of establishing links with the Africa Portal currently being developed in the UNESCO website.

7 Thematic Debate III

African Cities A Multidisciplinary Perspective: Challenges and Prospects

40. The Panel began with a projection of the film “The Island of Mozambique: Place of Encounters and Exchanges between Cultures and Civilisations” presented by Mr. Lupwishi Mbuyamba, Head of the UNESCO Office, as an illustration of cities as centers of civilization and cultural exchanges and since the Island is classified by UNESCO as a cultural heritage site to be preserved and protected. The Panel welcomed the President of the Municipal Council of Maputo, Mr. Eneas Comiche, and Mr. Gaetan Siew, Secretary General of the African Union of Architects and Vice President of the International Union of Architects, invited through the good offices of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the Division of Relations with National Commissions and New Partnerships.

41. Subsequently, an introduction was made by Ms Carrie Marias, Regional Adviser for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO Dakar Office, noting the pertinence of the theme of African Cities and their multidisciplinary Perspectives since cities and municipalities were gaining increasing importance as decentralization policies were being implemented in Sub-Sahara Africa. Mayors and local authorities were in touch with the people and community groups and could help meet their economic, social and cultural needs. In addition, cities worldwide and within Africa were uniting through networks such as Africities and the African Mayors Alliance against HIV/AIDS to exchange information on experiences, innovations and means for combating poverty and attaining socially and environmentally sustainable urban development. Also, cities and local authorities could be associated as partners with UNESCO in undertaking activities for local governance, cultural heritage, training in citizenship, human rights and other areas.

42. The UNESCO Management of Social Transformations Programme (MOST) for Cities and Urban Development was sponsoring policy relevant multidisciplinary research on key themes, promoting training and networking with a focus on young urban planners to help generate new ideas, and undertaking advocacy programmes. Many of these activities were prepared and implemented in cooperation with the other UNESCO programmes in the natural sciences, culture, and world heritage.

43. Urbanisation was increasing world wide and in Africa, with an alarming increase of shanty towns and informal settlements. Thus urban poverty was an issue to deal with.

44. Mr. Siew placed an emphasis on the role of culture in urban development and on cultural and natural heritage. A training manual on cultural heritage was being developed for local authorities as one of the follow ups to the UNESCO workshop on cities and cultural heritage organized during the third session of Africities in Yaounde, Cameroun. He referred to the importance of urban ecology and protecting the urban environment, and mentioned the role of science and technology and urban engineering in urban development. He highlighted the role of the architect as an interdisciplinary expert who works in teams with other specialists and gave some concrete suggestions on how activities on cities could be continued and developed by UNESCO through its different programmes through an intersectoral and cross- cutting approach.

8 45. The President of the Municipal Council of Maputo attended the meeting also in his capacity of Vice-President of the Council of Cities and Regions of Africa (CCRA), refered to the vídeo film Island of Mozambique and expressed the hope that UNESCO would help mobilize extrabudgetary ressources for its preservation and rehabilitation. Further, in response to some comments, he indicated that the one of the CCRA’s objectives was to promote an effective role for African local governments in NEPAD and that the Council had requested to become part of the African Union.

46. The Assistant Director-General for Africa informed the meeting that as a follow up to the Summit of African Cities in Yaounde, the Director-General entrusted him with the responsibility of an intersectoral Committee for cooperation with local authorities.

47. Four Commisions and the Director of the UNESCO Office in Addis Ababa, took the floor. As a result of their comments, the following recommendations were endorsed by the Consultation:  The clusters of Dakar, Bamako and Accra should jointly produce a Project for the preservation of the Niger River Basin and its inscription on the World Heritage List, to be implemented in cooperation with ECOWAS and the Executive Committee of NEPAD.  A consultative framework involving Governments, local authorities, civil society and the private sector should be set up to work out a new definition of African Cities.  The recommendations made at the Summit of African Cities in Yaounde should be taken on board in the 33 C/5.

9 PART II

Preparation of the Draft Programme and Budget for 2006-2007: Responses to the questionnaire on the 33 C/5

INTRODUCTION

48. Mr. Hans d’Orville, Director of UNESCO’s Bureau of Strategic Planning (BSP) presented an overview of the process leading to the preparation of the draft programme and budget for 2006-2007 (33 C/5). He reviewed the major developments related to the 32nd session of the General Conference, in particular the adoption of a real-growth programme and budget and the return of the United States, and the recent session of the Executive Board. He outlined the objective of the Consultation, namely to provide recommendations and suggestions to the Director-General and the Executive Board on the preliminary proposals for the 33 C/5. He put the Consultation also in the context of the ongoing reform process of the Organization, in particular with regard to results-based programming, and highlighted the recent revisions of the programme management cycle by the Secretariat designed to ensure a more strategic and policy-focused approach and to facilitate a more rational allocation of programme resources between Headquarters and the Field as well as between the various cluster offices. For the first time, cluster consultations would be held at the Maputo meeting, mainly to identify thematic programme priorities. The organization of a further round of cluster consultations later in 2004, following the fall session of the Executive Board, will seek to introduce a more participatory process, including the involvement of National Commissions and stakeholders at the national level, in the identification of priority needs at the cluster level, proposed to be included in the 33 C/5.

49. The Director of the Bureau of Field Coordination (BFC), Ms. Lamia Salman El Madini, recalled that decentralization, one of the pillars of reform of the Organization, was not an end in itself, but a tool to bring together UNESCO and its Members States and to render UNESCO more responsive to their needs. She pointed out that any process of decentralization puts into question old habits, practices, acquired advantages and visions and must be accompanied by a change of culture and of mentality in order to succeed. After informing the delegates that an assessment of the implementation of the decentralization strategy was provided in document 169 EX/6, Part III, she then concentrated her intervention on three aspects which have been the object of much discussion during the debates of the governing bodies, i.e. ;

 The relations between the different types of Field Offices  The personnel of Field Offices  The relations between National Commissions and Field Offices

50. Concerning the first point, a great effort has been made by the Secretariat to clarify the principles of decentralization and the respective roles of the different Field Offices. A document to this effect was distributed to the participants. As for the personnel away from Headquarters, the room for maneuvering is very limited due to the budgetary constraints of the Organization and the fact that decentralization cannot, under any circumstances, undermine the unity of conception and action of UNESCO, which constitutes one of the major comparative advantages of a universal organization. In this framework, a review has

10 been undertaken to examine not only the profile of field staff, but also the modalities which would enable Field Offices to mobilize the necessary high-level expertise required by the Member States. Lastly, a draft guide of relations between National Commissions and Field Offices has been elaborated by an informal group of Secretaries-General and Directors of Field Offices and will be finalized at the end of the present cycle of National Commission consultations.

51. The regional consultation on the questionnaire on the 33 C/5 took place in plenary and was preceded by a full day of separate meetings of the ten clusters of the region, focusing on the identification of programme priorities as well as on questions of programme delivery and impact raised in the questionnaire. The results and recommendations were subsequently presented in a separate half-day plenary meeting. 52. The following sections reflect the comments and suggestions made during the debate in plenary on the various parts of the questionnaire, which were introduced by the Director of BSP, as well as a synthesis of the recommendations and observations of the cluster consultations, especially with respect to sections II and IV of the questionnaire.

53. A number of participants felt that they had been unable to consult all their technical commissions, given the late receipt of the questionnaire and also the unsuitability of the dates of the consultation. In some cases, this was compounded by connectivity problems, which prevented the receipt of the document by e-mail. Therefore, further comments and suggestions might be made later on in written replies to the questionnaire.

I. IMPLEMENTING THE THIRD AND LAST BIENNIUM OF THE MEDIUM-TERM STRATEGY FOR 2002-207 (31 C/4)

54. Participants underlined that the 33 C/5 – as the third and last biennial programme and budget of the current six-year medium-term period – must be drawn up in such a way that it will further the implementation of the strategic objectives of the 31 C/4 to the maximum extent possible. Some participants considered however that a comprehensive and results-based assessment of the accomplishments thus far with respect to the strategic objectives must be undertaken at the thirty-third session of the General Conference before any adjustments can be contemplated. Participants also underlined the evolving character of the strategic objectives and priorities (e.g. the dramatically increased needs as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa which warrants in the view of several delegations the introduction of a new cross-cutting theme in the 31 C/4 – see also para. 22 below). Proper monitoring, reporting and evaluation are key to ensure UNESCO’s credibility when determining its future programmes and priorities. Several participants however felt that it was inappropriate to conceive of major shifts in the 31 C/4 as it was soon coming to an end.

55. In that context, participants welcomed the formulation of a regional strategy for Africa, which they considered an asset responding as it does to the objectives and priorities of NEPAD. Together with the activities of the Africa Department, this was seen to ensure a continuity of focus. Some participants underlined the need to ensure a balanced mix of regional, sub-regional and national action to be included in future cluster strategic frameworks. The new programme management cycle outlined by the Secretariat was welcome and seen to facilitate a better interfacing of various national objectives at cluster levels. Several participants considered the holding of cluster consultations, preceding regional consultations, as an important and timely innovation of UNESCO’s strategic planning and programming process. To be fully effective, however, it was suggested that

11 these cluster consultations need to be well planned, well prepared, well organised and adequately funded. The establishment of a systematic calendar was desirable so that cluster consultations would be given sufficient time well before regional consultations.

56. Several participants welcomed UNESCO’s efforts to cast its programme activities fully within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals, providing sufficient cross- referencing, and recommended that this approach be sustained and refined, not only globally but also by activities at the field level. To that end, the collaboration with other actors of the United Nations system must be intensified and UNESCO must ensure its presence and input to efforts at the country level. UNESCO should in the context of the review of decentralisation, consider the introduction of alternative and innovative means of representation in countries where it does not maintain an office.

57. Many participants expressed satisfaction that UNESCO had in general fulfilled well the five main functions assigned to it in the 31 C/4: a laboratory of ideas, a standard-setter, a clearing house, a capacity-builder in Member States and a catalyst for international cooperation. Several delegations called for a further strengthening of UNESCO’s capacity-building activities, drawing both on regular programme and extrabudgetary funds, as well as on IICBA, the only category I UNESCO institute located in the region. Cluster offices should be provided with adequate means to perform this function especially in countries without a UNESCO presence. National Commissions should be more systematically involved in capacity-building exercises.

58. Several participants underlined that UNESCO must more visibly assume its role as a catalyst for international cooperation in terms of policy issues and of mobilization of funds, and as an intellectual forum in all its domains. In particular, participants called for corresponding action at the cluster level, fully involving the resources and capacities of National Commissions and civil society.

59. Acknowledging that UNESCO’s functions were not static but evolving, some participants nevertheless felt that seemingly new functions, like that of advocacy and awareness raising or knowledge broker, were already embedded in the five principal functions and thus should not be explicitly added.

II PROGRAMME PRIORITIES (synthesis of the recommendations of the ten cluster consultations)

60. Participants expressed their satisfaction that in the 32 C/5 and the work plans subsequently approved by the Director-General, UNESCO had to a large extent responded to strategies and policies in its areas of competence elaborated in the context of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), as was envisaged in the regional strategy for Africa adopted in 2002. Participants called on UNESCO to continue and even reinforce this welcome approach so as to provide maximum support to African countries in the pursuit and implementation of their own development goals and strategies. To ensure an improved coherence of action by all Sectors and to enhance efficiency of interventions, several participants expressed their desire to see the Africa Department of UNESCO strengthened.

61. In general, participants agreed that the present structure of the 31C/5 and the 32C/5, with each of the Major Programmes built around one principal priority and a limited number of other priorities should be maintained in the 33C/5 – in order to avoid a dissipation of

12 resources. As highlighted by a number of participants, maintaining these priorities in the 33C/5, which is the third and last biennial document covering the period of the Medium- Term Strategy, should allow the Organization to consolidate its achievements and address possible lacunae for the Organization’s action in the six-year period of the 31C/4 programming cycle. Some participants considered, however, that the formulation of the principal priorities should be tightened with a view to attaining more demonstrable impact and results. As in past years, principal priorities should receive increased financial allocations, subject to satisfactory evaluations. There should also be an increase in qualified staff in the areas of the principal priorities and these should be for the benefit of field offices. Many participants considered that Education should continue to be allocated the largest percentage of the overall budget, while maintaining in general the present equilibrium. Others felt that the Social and Human Sciences and the Communication and Information Sectors - both of which had received comparatively lower allocations in the 31 C/5 and 32 C/5 - as well as the Culture Sector should benefit from increased funding in the 33 C/5 and an improved percentage distribution of resources by sector.

EDUCATION

62. All participants favoured the retention of the principal priority "basic education for all”. Various suggestions were made to seek a concentration around the areas of promoting quality education, emphasising pre-service and in-service teacher training, prioritizing HIV/AIDS prevention education and ensuring girls’ access to education. Special attention should further be given to the promotion of basic Education for All through a variety of formal, alternative and non-formal education approaches, in particular also with respect to vulnerable groups, such as school dropouts, the physically challenged and adult illiterates. For post-conflict countries, the rebuilding of education systems, the improvement of curricula and revision of textbooks (especially with an inclusion of education for a culture of peace) were seen by many participants as an area deserving increased attention and support. In the context of basic education and with a view to attaining the MDGs and implementing PRSPs in the fight against extreme poverty, expanded access to basic education for girls should receive particular attention by UNESCO.

63. Some participants were in favor of further strengthening this principal priority in terms of resources, yet others considered that it already had reached a reasonable level with 79% of MP I.

64. Concerning other priorities, the same themes contained in the 32 C/5 were proposed to be retained: education for a culture of peace; science and technology education; technical and vocational education; distance education; secondary education; and higher education. Some participants however considered that among them science and technology education as well as technical and vocational education and training (partnering with ILO and drawing on the recommendations of the 1999 Seoul Congress) should receive higher priority. For higher education, more recourse should be had to the use of ICTs. Other participants suggested that there should be flexibility so as to allow reallocation of resources and adaptation to changing and emerging needs.

65. Concerning EFA, some participants highlighted the importance of promoting quality education with a view to ensuring that an expansion of primary education would go hand in hand with the expansion of secondary education and the subsequent higher levels of education. To that end, appropriate funding will need to be provided and UNESCO should

13 assist countries more pro-actively in the completion of their EFA plans – where possible facilitating consultations and harmonization at the sub-regional level, such as in the case of ECOWAS – and in the building of requisite capacities with a view to obtaining early and sufficient funding under the World Bank’s fast-track initiative. In this context, the importance of strengthening support to the E-9 countries was also stressed. UNESCO should also pursue vigorously the creation of effective donor partnerships in support of funding the implementation of EFA plans. Governments in Africa should ensure that their national budgets fully reflect the EFA priorities. All these measures would also bolster the contribution of EFA in the fight against poverty (where possible through linkage with PRSPs) and the attainment of the MDGs at the national level by 2015. For its part, UNESCO should more clearly decentralize funds for EFA purposes to Field Offices and increase the overall level of funding.

66. Many participants emphasized the importance of UNESCO’s action for promoting quality education. More pronounced action is desirable with respect to the reform and revision of curricula and learning/teaching materials, the monitoring of learning achievements and the support to centres of excellence. Many participants emphasized the important role of the Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet) to promote social cohesion, education for human rights and democracy. Some participants called for a strengthening of the ASPnet for West Africa (RESEAO) which should be expanded to become a truly African network.

67. Some participants called for increased attention to functional literacy, paying special attention to the use of national languages, the protection of the environment, and the development of related skills.

68. With respect to the right to education, several participants suggested that UNESCO’s standard-setting role should be maintained at all levels, including a monitoring of norms and standards as well as of national policies and initiatives in the area of education, also drawing on contributions by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Reference was made to the valuable role played by the Southern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Education Quality. UNESCO was asked to continue promoting the right to education at national levels through popularization and dissemination of the various instruments, including in local languages, and sensitization of decision-makers, civil society representatives and parliamentarians.

69. The extent and impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa calls for urgent and significant attention by UNESCO through prevention education as well as education for management of impact on the education sector. To this end, several participants proposed that HIV/AIDS prevention education become a new, third cross-cutting theme for the Organization, while others called for more pronounced intersectoral action and cooperation clearly to be identified as such in the 33 C/5. Some participants considered that more support was required, particularly in the field of guidance and counseling to Member States. Particular emphasis should be placed on inducing behavioral changes; introducing HIV/AIDS prevention education in the curriculum at all levels of education, tailoring culturally sensitive and appropriate approaches and materials as well as mobilizing the media. To that end, UNESCO should enhance its delivery capacity in terms of both expertise and funding and consider setting up a dedicated unit. The need for a close cooperation with UNAIDS and WHO was also underscored.

70. Participants considered that UNESCO as the lead agency for two important education-related decades - the United Nations Literacy Decade (2003-2012) and in the Education for

14 Sustainable Development Decade (2005-2014) - needs to play a vastly more active role and develop programmes, strategies and projects and mobilize resources for these activities. Concern was expressed about the diminishing lead role of UNESCO with respect to the Education for Sustainable Development Decade, which needs to be recovered.

71. The urgent need for UNESCO to develop and make use of the potential of information and communication technologies (ICT) for all levels of education was underlined by all participants. To that end, participants strongly recommend that in the 33 C/5 a dedicated intersectoral main line of action (MLA) be introduced, largely between the Education and the Communication and Information Sectors and that IICBA be fully involved in the areas of its competence (and its resources be increased). This joint MLA should cover, among others, higher education and ICT-based teacher training and training of trainers; the use of ICTs in educational planning and administration; the creation of additional community multimedia centres and their use for educational purposes; open and distance education approaches and virtual learning at all levels, including also for HIV/AIDS and for countries in conflict and post-conflict situations; ICTs and special education; the use of ICTs in science and education; the establishment of virtual laboratories for scientific cooperation and of virtual libraries; and the introduction of solar energy for ICT operations. It was recognized that UNESCO action in this area would be handicapped by the digital divide, especially in terms of lack of capacities, infrastructure and equipment as well as connectivity. UNESCO would be called upon to devise innovative approaches and strategies.

NATURAL SCIENCES

72. Participants unanimously agreed that the current principal priority (“water and associated ecosystems”) and the two other priorities (“capacity building in the basic and engineering sciences” and “protection of the environment and sustainable use and management of natural resources”) should be maintained for the next biennium, but that they should be more focused in terms of programme content.

73. Several participants held that the principal priority should again be reinforced. Emphasis should be placed on enhancing the capabilities of countries of the region to secure sustainable and safe drinking water supplies, urban water development and management strategies as well as issues related to urban and peri-urban drainage and sanitation, the rehabilitation of degraded water ecosystems, research on disappearing water resources, aspects of conflict prevention and resolution in relation to water issues, the creation of sub-regional water observatories, research in the sustainability of certain ecosystems and in particular of mangroves systems, as well as drawing on local knowledge for the protection of the environment. Other participants laid stress on enhancing the capabilities of countries of the region to disseminate the results of existing scientific and technical research and on the extraction, processing and delivery of water, especially to rural communities.

74. With respect to the category of other priorities, most participants expressed their support for retaining those of the 32 C/5 for the 33 C/5. However, suggestions were made for special focus and budgetary reinforcement to be accorded to issues critical for sustaining economic prosperity and the well-being of local populations. UNESCO was particularly urged to increase substantially its assistance to Africa in the field of renewable sources of energy, in particular solar energy. UNESCO was also encouraged to explore possible areas of intersectoral cooperation between the Science Sector and other sectors in the area of

15 renewable energies, in line with the recommendations of the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Resolutions of the UN General Assembly.

75. Many countries suggested that science and technology education at all levels needs to be significantly strengthened (including support to young scientists and the mobilization of potential donors for the establishment of libraries and laboratories) and that UNESCO should expand the joint intersectoral action of 32 C/5 between the Education Sector and the Natural Sciences Sector. This will also represent a follow-up to the World Summit for Sustainable Development and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation as well as the pursuit of the relevant Millennium Development Goals. UNESCO was also called to continue supporting SIMDAS.

76. Overall, there was general agreement that UNESCO needs to intensify its response in respect of the following other priorities which should be more vigorously addressed: the development of science and technology policies (following up to the Budapest World Conference on Science), the access of girls and women to science, the popularisation of science, the promotion of a culture of maintenance including the provision of tangible support to the countries of the region (and the involvement of the ASP school network), and stronger financial support for the programme on sustainable living in small islands and coastal regions. In addition, it was suggested that UNESCO improve the cooperation among and the visibility of its scientific and environmental programmes (IGCP, IHP, IOC and MAB), as some countries noted that they were only aware of a limited presence and activities of MAB, but not of the other programmes and their national committees. Some other countries suggested that IOC should support African countries within the framework of NEPAD in the protection of marine and coastal areas. Overall, a suggestion was made to improve linkages between researchers, policy-makers and implementers.

77. Participants also felt that the joint intersectoral initiatives in the 32 C/5 of linking biological and cultural diversity should be continued and that additional intersectoral mechanisms should be established within UNESCO for the follow-up of the recommendations of the Mauritius Meeting (Barbados + 10) in line with the resolution adopted by the General Conference at its 32nd session. Another for intersectoral action is the ethics of science and technology which should involve the Natural Science and the Social and Human Science Sectors as well as the Education Sector.

SOCIAL AND HUMAN SCIENCES

78. Most participants were in favor of retaining the principal priority and the other priorities for MP III, but indicated that the principal priority should be more focused in terms of programme content. Some others, however, suggested – from the African vantage point - the designation of a new principal priority theme – with the current principal priority to become an other priority. The suggestions for the new principal priority were along the following lines: the culture of peace, the promotion of human rights and democracy, and the fight against discrimination. It was also suggested that poverty eradication should be pursued with a special focus on social and economic human rights.

79. Several participants proposed that the promotion of human rights, human rights education and the fight against discrimination should be designed as an intersectoral activity in the 33 C/5, involving all sectors as is envisaged in the strategy adopted by the General Conference

16 at its 32nd session. Appropriate measures should also be taken to train the staff of UNESCO and of National Commissions in this area.

80. As regards activities under the “ethics of science and technology, in particular bioethics”, the suggestion was made to place more emphasis on information and sensitization of the public- at-large and decision-makers, on the development of further normative instruments, on the promotion of ethics education, on the ethics of the use of science and technology, capacity- building and on multi-disciplinary action.

81. Some participants suggested that among the other priorities particular emphasis be given to social transformations, MOST, (especially with respect to African cities, an area for which sufficient programme resources need to be decentralized) and the fight against poverty.

82. Overall, participants expressed satisfaction with the focus and scope of normative and standard-setting activities undertaken in the framework of MP III, but suggested that efforts be made to assist countries in translating normative documents into local languages..

83. Some participants suggested that UNESCO promote teaching and research in the area of human rights to include economic rights and the fight against discrimination, focusing on a better understanding of the causes of non-respect of human rights and of discriminations with a view to combating them and safeguarding social cohesion. Other participants suggested that studies be carried out to analyse the geopolitical situations of various countries to stem conflicts. In general, participants underlined the positive role played by UNITWIN and UNESCO chairs and their potential in furthering research activities of MP III.

84. Several participants emphasized the need to refocus and strengthen activities pertaining to a culture of peace and education therefor. The importance of the ongoing Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World was highlighted.

CULTURE

85. Participants agreed to maintain the same principal priority as in the 32 C/5 “promoting cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue”, but requested that it should be more focused in terms of programme content and more responsive to the situation of poorer countries. Globalization and numerous conflicts in particular in Africa make it imperative to promote cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, including inter-religious dialogue. Several participants considered that the resources allocated to the principal priority should be strengthened and that greater attention should be given to research and training.

86. Several participants suggested that UNESCO study the possibility of setting up an observatory on the dialogue among cultures and the promotion of a culture of peace, in particular for Central Africa.

87. In general, participants favored the other priorities: reinforcing normative action in the field of culture, creativity and strengthening between culture and development. It was agreed that the focus on standard-setting activities be maintained in the 33 C/5 and that ongoing activities should be evaluated. More emphasis should also be placed sensitization of Member States to induce ratification of existing instruments and to promote and monitor their implementation at national levels.

17 88. Some participants were not entirely satisfied with the present interaction/synergy between instruments and standard-setting activities. They considered that complementary activities should be carried out, including research on and support for the development of national cultural policies and their effective implementation (in line with the Stockholm Plan of Action), as well as training of cultural administrators and of professionals in charge of cultural heritage management. Awareness-raising and training for the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage, including national and local languages, should also be strengthened and the importance of museums for intangible heritage taken into account. The rehabilitation of cultural heritage and assistance for the restitution of stolen or lost cultural artifacts in pre-conflict and post-conflict situations should receive priority attention in the 33 C/5.

89. Participants agreed that Major Programme IV should continue and consolidate its focus on intersectoral and interdisciplinary activities. Additional areas to be considered in this context are HIV/AIDS preventive education, youth, cultural tourism and support for the development of diaspora networks; ICTs and culture; promotion of cultural rights of minorities; promotion of ethics and human rights; culture of peace and fight against discrimination.

90. Under cultural heritage, there was consensus that the present focus be maintained. It was noted that more work was needed in the preservation of monuments and the encouragement of African Member States to submit candidatures, especially for natural heritage sites, for inscription in the World Heritage List, so as to overcome the present under-representation of the Continent. The World Heritage Centre should be endowed with more resources in order to play a pro-active role in assisting Member States in this regard and in the management and protection of heritage sites. Several members underscored the importance of the intangible cultural heritage which should be accorded due attention. UNESCO was asked to assist member countries in the preparation of inventories of cultural heritage. Participants also recommended that efforts be made to offer education on cultural heritage issues to youth.

91. As regards the Global Alliance for Cultural Diversity, several participants raised the need for a greater interaction between UNESCO offices and the SADC Association of Museums and Monuments (SADCAMM). Several other participants asked that more information should be made available to Member States on the Alliance. The importance of crafts, music and cultural industries as key factors for socio-economic development and poverty eradication was underlined. UNESCO was also urged to support and strengthen private partnerships and initiatives, such as book fairs, research and documentation. Some participants felt that UNESCO action was lacking in their countries with respect to the support for creativity and the creation of cultural industries. There was also a need for UNESCO to get involved in the fight against piracy of cultural goods.

COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION

92. All participants were in favour of retaining the principal priority and other priorities of the 32 C/5 for the 33 C/5. Many suggested that the principal priority be strengthened in terms of its resource base, but that it should be more focused in terms of programme content and focused on community needs.

93. Some participants suggested that UNESCO should translate the four principles that guided its contribution to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) through the allocation

18 of increased resources. UNESCO should also provide, through its clusters, assistance to countries for the preparation of National Action Plans pursuant to the recommendation of WSIS. UNESCO should also prepare for the second phase of WSIS to be held in Tunis at the end of 2005 and its follow-up. Some participants underscored the need for UNESCO to intensify capacity-building (including training of media personnel notably through IPDC) and that it develop appropriate policy frameworks for communication and information for all. Some participants also recommended the strengthening of audiovisual, print media, electronic newsletters, Internet cafes and community radios with a view to improving universal access to information. Some others pointed to the need of strengthening ICT-based networks.

94. As regards further intersectoral action, participants suggested linkages between ICTs and education (as is already elaborated above under “Education”) and the promotion of cooperation between virtual universities and training centres (together with ED).

95. With respect to the freedom of expression and the access to information, the suggestion was made that UNESCO broadens its action to include rural areas and that it strengthens its support for media using local languages in those rural areas.

96. Some members suggested that in their view in the 33 C/5 there be a consolidation of existing activities rather than the launch of new initiatives.

III. OTHER PROGRAMME ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENTS

97. As regards UNESCO cooperation at the country level with other organisations and programmes of the UN system, some participants suggested that UNESCO through cluster offices should become more actively involved in the preparation of country-level documents such as CCA, UNDAF and PRSPs with a view to facilitating the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.

98. Several participants supported that the mainstreaming of the rights of women, youth and marginalised groups in all activities of the Organisation be maintained for the 33 C/5. As regards Africa, NEPAD and its priorities should likewise be mainstreamed in all programmes so as to enhance and accelerate the process of sub-regional and regional integration and the implementation of poverty reduction programmes.

99. Participants suggested that UNESCO should support activities aimed at the unification of Africa and at inter-ethnic and inter-religious dialogue in certain sub-regions of Africa and should also initiate action to help prevent conflicts through activities in education and communication.

100. As regards terrorism, the suggestion was made that UNESCO should undertake studies about this phenomenon in order to understand it better with a view to helping to discourage the emergence of such tendencies.

101. With respect to intersectorality, which is addressed more extensively in section II above, some participants also noted that the cross-cutting theme projects were also a suitable modality to promote cross-cluster engagement.

IV.PROGRAMME DELIVERY AND IMPACT

19 102. With respect to the results-based approach (RBM), all participants welcomed the approach developed by the Bureau of Strategic Planning (BSP) and expressed their satisfaction with the progress achieved thus far, which will also facilitate programme monitoring and evaluation. It will be incumbent upon the Secretariat to account in future for the results obtained in the implementation process thereby facilitating future decision- making. Some delegations pointed to the need of ensuring the availability of measurable performance indicators and of complementing quantitative performance indicators with qualitative impact indicators, wherever possible. Training in RBM should be offered to all UNESCO staff as well as staff of National Commissions.

103. With respect to decentralisation, many participants acknowledged that progress had been made in decentralisation. Nevertheless, they expressed concern that field offices were still under-staffed and received insufficient budget allocations for operations and programme activities. This needed urgent attention, as it was a critical factor for Africa where the field offices are the main channels for UNESCO to support sub-regional and regional integration processes. It was reiterated that urgent action was required to ensure that each cluster office has at its disposal a specialist for all core competency areas. Many participants insisted that these specialists should be at appropriate high levels of expertise. Efforts must be made to accomplish an effective coordination between Headquarters and the field offices. At present, some participants expressed a concern about a lack of follow-up to issues previously raised. Likewise, some participants pointed to the need for innovation on how to ensure visibility in countries where no cluster offices are located.

104. As regards decentralisation of programme resources, virtually all participants called for a minimum decentralisation rate of 50% for regular programme resources by each major programme. Many participants favored the allocation of decentralised programme resources by sub-programme, so as to avoid a dispersion of funds and to instil an element of flexibility.

105. Many participants expressed their support for a reintroduction of the budgetary provisions under “Cooperation for Development”.

106. Most participants considered that regular cluster consultations should henceforth be institutionalised. They expressed their preference that future cluster consultations be financed from the regular budget, through allocations to cluster offices. Certain participants however supported a mixed approach, i.e. using resources for planned programme activities and Participation Programme funds. In that regard, the possibility of introducing a provision for interregional Participation Programme activities should be examined, as this would allow the exchange of experience among National Commissions of different clusters.

107. The need to reinforce the operational capacities of National Commissions was unanimously underscored during the consultation. In this regard, the efforts deployed by UNESCO for the training of personnel of the National Commissions, to equip them through the Participation Programme, to facilitate contact and cooperation between and among them and to mobilize partners through them should be continued. A growing need was emphasized to train staff of National Commissions to help them be better involved in UNESCO’s relations with UN and other funding agencies at country level. With regard to partnerships with civil society, it was pointed out that relations with Parliamentarians should be strengthened, particularly in the framework of NEPAD and FAPED.

20 108. Some participants requested that the Division of Relations with National Commissions and New Partnerships be reinforced with additional funding for the capacity building of National Commissions.

109. The good relations between most of the Field Offices and the National Commissions were noted. Those relations should be maintained and reinforced on the basis of the Guidelines for Interface and Cooperation between UNESCO Field Offices and National Commissions for UNESCO, which will be finalized shortly. Several participants pointed out that National Commissions should benefit from a better status in the Member States so as to play an optimal role in the reform process, particularly in the domains of communication policies and partnerships. They also requested more budgetary transparency in the implementation of decentralized programmes.

V. BUDGET AND RESOURCE ISSUES

110. As regards the budget ceiling for the 33 C/5, a number of participants indicated that they needed further consultations with their competent national authorities before pronouncing themselves on this issue.

111. Some delegations suggested that the 33 C/5 be prepared in a more didactic and simplified version.

112. Some delegations underlined the importance of continuing to raise substantial levels of extrabudgetary resources in order to complement the limited funds available from the regular budget for priority activities. Training in fund mobilisation techniques will need to be intensified in order to meet this objective.

Closing Ceremony

113. The Closing Ceremony was held at the Municipal Council of Maputo City in the presence of Ms Graça Machel, President of the Mozambique National Commission, of Ms Lidia Brito, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, and Mr Eneas Comiche, President of the Municipal Council of Maputo. Following a brief presentation of the conclusions and recommendations of the Consultation made by the Rapporteur General, Mrs Machel delivered the closing speech. The Representative of the Director-General, Mr Noureini Tidjani-Serpos, thanked the authorities of Mozambique for the quality and warmth of their hospitality and welcomed the successful results of the Consultation.