Ei-iE

The Second World Congress of Education International, meeting in Washington D.C., U.S.A., from 25 to 29 July 1998:

1. Reiterates its full support for programs intended to strengthen the teachers’ trade union movement and notes that structural and long-term cooperation is the basis for meeting the needs of teachers’ organisations in developing countries;

2. Notes that, the EI Document "For a transparent and constructive partnership" maps out the basic principles serving as guidelines for cooperation within EI, on the understanding that Development Cooperation is implemented in an ever changing environment, thus demanding a permanent debate on the quality of the cooperation and the specific answers needed for each individual situation;

3. Notes that Development Cooperation draws on the concepts of independence, the promotion of democracy, increasing autonomy, gender equity, sustainable development, long-term planning and mutual respect;

4. Realises that the principal needs of the majority of the teachers' unions in the developing countries lie in individual and collective membership services, improvement of working conditions, democratic reform of education systems, improved professional effectiveness and the democratic functioning of the union;

5. Emphasises that Development Cooperation is implemented on the basis of having the prime responsibility for the implementation of the cooperation in the hands of the organisation whose capacity and strength is to be enhanced. Other actors can coordinate, give guidance and support, facilitate and encourage, but their role is secondary to the responsibility of the host organisation;

6. Recognises that Development Cooperation should be implemented in the context of the regular activities of the host organisation, and the overall situation of the host organisation should therefore be taken into account prior to the implementation of the cooperation;

7. Emphasises the need for an in-depth insight into the structure, the democratic principles and administrative capacities of the organisation before the programmes of cooperation can be implemented; if the basic necessities for implementing a program are absent, cooperation should be oriented to strengthening these aspects;

8. Underlines the necessity and the respect for three guiding principles in all development cooperation activities: transparency, effectiveness and clarity. This means working on the basis of an open flow of information, in a critical dialogue between two equal partners, and with respect for each others' demands and priorities;

9. Insists on a type of cooperation in which the broad spectrum of the activities of the host organisation is taken into account, leading to a programme of cooperation which is well balanced with respect to target groups, areas to be covered and themes to be dealt with;

10. Calls upon EI:

a. to act first and foremost as a facilitator in this process of cooperation, and also calls upon EI to systematically collect and disseminate information, promote discussions on the quality of cooperation, and safeguard the principles agreed upon;

b. to set up a data bank registering basic information on all development cooperation activities;

c. to follow the UN Recommendation and allocate at least 0.7 % of its annual income for the implementation of activities in developing countries;

d. to put into place the revised and broadened task of the Solidarity Fund so it can handle the EI 0.7% allocation, as well as contributions from EI affiliates;

e. that at least 0.7% of the funds committed to development cooperation programmes be devoted to program costs as distinct from administration costs;

f. to organise annually a consultation meeting of those member organisations with an interest in Development Cooperation Programs;

g. to organise a triennial meeting of the cooperating organisations for Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe and the Caribbean;

h. to produce three times a year a bulletin containing up-to-date information on Development Cooperation and reference documents of interest.

11. Calls upon EI member organisations:

a. to provide EI with the information necessary to set up and maintain the data bank;

b. to allocate a minimum of 0.7% of their income to Development Cooperation Programs, which amount will be entirely separate from their annual membership dues to Education International;

c. to lobby their respective governments to meet the UN Recommendation and allocate at least 0.7% of their GNP to Development Cooperation;

d. to include in its membership education programmes awareness-raising activities in support of Development Cooperation.