UNESCO and Commonwealth Secretariat reaffirm commitment to working together

Senior representatives from the Commonwealth Secretariat – the Director of Social Transformation Programmes and the Head of Education – have held meetings with their counterparts at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), based in Paris.

These meetings, which focused on areas of mutual concern for the two international organisations and potential future collaboration, took place at the tail end of last week, during which UNESCO promoted the Commonwealth and its work. Meetings are also continuing this week.

Last week’s celebration of the Commonwealth included a photographic exhibition at UNESCO’s headquarters with images taken from all over the 54 member countries, national dishes from Commonwealth states being served in the organisation’s restaurant, and a reception attended by UNESCO’s Director-General, Irina Bokova, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO Getachew Engida, Dr Sylvia Anie, Director of Social Transformation Programmes at the Secretariat, and Dr Pauline Greaves, Head of Education at the Secretariat.

“UNESCO and the Commonwealth Secretariat are strategic partners and have worked and continue to work in many areas that support the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for education and the Education for All Goals,” said Dr Anie. “This ongoing co-operation and collaboration has strengthened the work that the Secretariat undertakes throughout the member countries.”

“This week of promoting the Commonwealth can be a catalyst in reinforcing the reality that partnership and collaboration is pivotal to successful outcomes in the areas of human and social development and can have a transformative effect on society when shared vision and strategy is applied,” Dr Anie added.

“The importance of the week’s events is that it provides an opportunity for us to continue to explore new approaches and ways in which we can collectively work together to address the numerous challenges that are being faced by millions of citizens around the world.”

Working together

Dr Anie spoke with Hans d’Orville, Director of UNESCO’s Bureau for Strategic Planning. The pair discussed the many challenges and difficulties facing countries that are struggling to achieve the second MDG: that of achieving universal primary education. They also spoke about how the two organisations could engage and work more closely together.

She also met with Maria del Pilar Alvarez-Laso, Head of UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector. They discussed ways to build capacity in countries in order to help achieve the MDGs. They also spoke about ensuring that there is continued political will and national ownership with these capacity-building projects.

Dr Anie and Ms Alvarez-Laso were joined by Elizabeth Longworth, Deputy Assistant Director-General in UNESCO’s Sector for Social and Human Sciences. After Ms Alvarez-Laso and Ms Longworth expressed interest in the Secretariat’s work on migration, Dr Anie explained the collaborative work with the Ramphal Centre on migration, which was launched in 2008 to operate as an independent intellectual hub to bring Commonwealth-wide expertise to assist policy-making for the association’s 54 member states.

Identifying priority areas

During the week of celebrating the Commonwealth, Dr Pauline Greaves, Head of Education at the Secretariat, met with Edem Adubra, Chief of Section in UNESCO’s Teacher Education Department, as well as Josina Sibblies, also from their Education Section. They discussed the Co-operation Agreement between the Secretariat and UNESCO as well as issues on teachers and school leaders' development and management, and education and sustainable development. They further agreed to work more closely together through joint projects and activities.

From 11 to 15 October, Dr Anie is attending the 185th session of the Executive Board, on behalf of Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma. The Executive Board examines the programme of work for the organisation, and corresponding budget estimates.

UNESCO has shared the consultation document on preparation of its Draft Programme and Budget for 2012-13 with the Secretariat, which was invited to give comments, which has duly been done.

During this week, Dr Anie is expected to sit down with Dr Qian Tang, Deputy Assistant Director-General for Education, and Saniye Gülser Corat, Director of UNESCO’s Division for Gender Equality.

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