Eleanor Finch
The Jomtien EFA Convening Agencies were constituted by a broad coalition of national governments, civil society groups, and development agencies. The World Conference on Education for All (EFA) was held in Jomtien, Thailand, in 1990, marking the start of a powerful movement. The initiative aimed to bring the benefits of education to every citizen in every society, with specific goals and targets. UNESCO and the World Bank were among the key development agencies involved, and the movement was kept alive by the International Consultative Forum on EFA, with its secretariat hosted by UNESCO.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1990 |
| Location | Jomtien, Thailand |
| Attendees | National governments, civil society groups, development agencies, UNESCO, the World Bank, and NGOs |
| Goal | Bring the benefits of education to 'every citizen in every society' |
| Focus | Basic learning needs of neglected groups and learning achievement |
| Subsequent Meetings | Paris (1991), Delhi (1993), Amman, Jordan (1996), Dakar (2000) |
| Outcome | The establishment of the E9 initiative, a working alliance between the nine most populous countries, donor countries, and agencies |
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What You'll Learn
UNESCO
The World Conference on Education for All (EFA), held in Jomtien, Thailand, in 1990, was an international initiative to bring the benefits of education to "every citizen in every society". A broad coalition of national governments, civil society groups, and development agencies committed to achieving several specific education goals. UNESCO was one of the key agencies that constituted the Jomtien EFA convening agencies.
One of the key recommendations from the Jomtien EFA was the declaration of a 'literacy decade' under the United Nations. UNESCO was entrusted with the overall coordination of this initiative, known as the UN Literacy Decade (UNLD), which took place from 2003 to 2013. As part of the UNLD, UNESCO's Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) coordinated the Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE). LIFE was a strategic framework that brought together various stakeholders, including national governments, NGOs, civil society, the private sector, and multilateral agencies, to collectively advance literacy efforts in 35 countries facing critical literacy challenges.
Additionally, UNESCO continues to provide leadership and encouragement for inclusive education developments worldwide. Countries must identify the types of technical support needed for the implementation of their EFA Plans, and UNESCO assists by ensuring that inclusion remains the guiding principle of development work with governments.
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World Bank
In 1990, the World Bank was one of the convening agencies that participated in the launch of the international initiative Education for All (EFA) in Jomtien, Thailand. The World Bank President at the time, Barber Conable, outlined education as a powerful instrument for reducing poverty and promoting development. The World Bank's delegation in Jomtien committed to achieving universal primary education, along with other multilateral and bilateral development agencies and leaders of developing countries.
The World Bank has continued to play a role in the EFA movement, with senior representatives attending subsequent conferences and meetings on EFA. For example, twenty years after the Jomtien declaration, the World Bank was represented at a follow-up conference in Jomtien, where participants called for renewed commitment to the EFA goals and a scaling up of efforts at the national, regional, and global levels to achieve them. This included a focus on measuring success not just by enrolment rates but also by learning achievements.
The World Bank's involvement in the EFA initiative is part of its broader commitment to education as a basic human right and a tool for poverty reduction and development. The Bank has supported education initiatives and programmes in developing countries, working with national governments, civil society organisations, and other development agencies to improve access to quality education for all.
One example of the World Bank's education initiatives is the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), which it co-founded in 2002. The GPE is a multi-stakeholder partnership that aims to strengthen education systems in developing countries, with a focus on ensuring that all children have access to quality primary and secondary education. The World Bank serves as a fiduciary fund agent for the GPE, managing grant funds and providing technical assistance to partner countries.
In addition to its work with the GPE, the World Bank has also developed and supported various other programmes and initiatives to promote education and skills development, particularly in low-income and conflict-affected countries. This includes providing financial and technical support for education sector reforms, teacher training, curriculum development, and the construction and rehabilitation of school infrastructure.
Through its participation in the Jomtien EFA convening and its ongoing work in the education sector, the World Bank has played a significant role in advancing the EFA agenda and promoting education as a fundamental right and a driver of social and economic development worldwide.
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National governments
The World Conference on Education for All (EFA), held in Jomtien, Thailand, from March 5 to 9, 1990, was not a single event but the start of a powerful movement. A broad coalition of national governments, civil society groups, and development agencies, such as UNESCO and the World Bank, committed to achieving specific education goals for all citizens in every society. This movement was sustained by the International Consultative Forum on Education for All (the "EFA Forum") and its Secretariat, hosted by UNESCO.
The EFA movement emphasized the need for active partnerships and international collaboration. The Amman Forum, which took place in Jordan in 1996, noted that one of the most successful outcomes since Jomtien had been the formation of greater and more active partnerships. This included the involvement of NGOs, which played a significant role in the movement.
The goals set forth at Jomtien were not solely focused on increasing attendance but also on addressing the basic learning needs of neglected groups and improving learning achievements. This inclusive approach required the support and involvement of national governments to implement and sustain these initiatives over time.
While the EFA movement garnered significant support and momentum, it was acknowledged that the goals set in Jomtien had not been fully realized. At the meeting in Dakar, NGO representatives expressed disappointment that the Jomtien goals had not been met. They stressed the importance of a sound democratic system and equitable sharing of benefits to ensure the success of the EFA initiative.
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Civil society groups
The original Education for All (EFA) initiative was launched in Jomtien, Thailand, in 1990. It aimed to bring the benefits of education to 'every citizen in every society'. To achieve this goal, a coalition of national governments, civil society groups, and development agencies such as UNESCO and the World Bank committed to achieving specific education objectives.
Historically, the concept of civil society has evolved twice from its original classical form. The first shift occurred after the French Revolution, and the second occurred during the fall of communism in Europe. In its pre-modern classical republican understanding, civil society is associated with early-modern thought during the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century.
Civil societies have become increasingly involved in environmental policymaking, setting agendas to address environmental harm and informing the public about environmental issues. This has led to increased public demand for environmental change.
While civil societies typically promote democratic values, this is not always the case. For example, civil society organizations were utilized to mobilize people against democracy in the fall of the Weimar Republic in Germany. The proliferation of special interest groups in well-established democracies can potentially distort policy outcomes in favor of the wealthy or well-connected.
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Multilateral and bilateral agencies
The World Conference on Education for All (EFA), held in Jomtien, Thailand, in 1990, brought together a broad coalition of national governments, civil society groups, and development agencies. This conference was not a single event but the start of a powerful movement, with subsequent major meetings in Paris (1991), Delhi (1993), and Amman, Jordan (1996). The latest meeting of the World Education Forum, held in Dakar in 2000, reviewed the progress made during the Jomtien Decade and renewed the commitment to achieving the EFA goals and targets.
The EFA movement has been described as "a major international collaborative effort of international interchange, policy discussion, negotiation, and purposive action." It has been kept alive by the International Consultative Forum on EFA (the "EFA Forum") and its Secretariat, hosted by UNESCO. The EFA Forum's mandate includes serving and supporting national follow-up activities, maintaining cooperation among countries, and involving NGOs and multilateral and bilateral agencies.
The involvement of multilateral and bilateral agencies in the EFA movement demonstrates the recognition of education as a global priority and the understanding that achieving universal education requires collective efforts and resources. These agencies provided technical expertise, financial support, and coordination to help advance the EFA agenda. They collaborated with other stakeholders to address the basic learning needs of neglected groups and improve learning achievements.
The specific agencies that constituted the convening agencies for the EFA movement in Jomtien are not explicitly stated in the available sources. However, it is clear that UNESCO played a pivotal role in hosting the EFA Forum's Secretariat. Additionally, the World Bank is mentioned as a development agency committed to achieving specific education goals. These organizations, along with other multilateral and bilateral agencies, likely formed the core of the convening agencies, providing leadership and coordination to the EFA movement.
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Frequently asked questions
EFA stands for Education For All. It was an international initiative first launched in Jomtien, Thailand, in 1990, with the aim of bringing the benefits of education to every citizen in every society.
The EFA Forum was constituted by a broad coalition of national governments, civil society groups, and development agencies, such as UNESCO and the World Bank.
The EFA Forum's mandate was to serve national follow-up activities, support these activities effectively, maintain the spirit of cooperation amongst countries, multilateral and bilateral agencies, and involve NGOs.
One of the most successful outcomes of the EFA Forum was the establishment of greater and more active partnerships, as noted by the Amman Forum. The EFA movement resulted in a major international collaborative effort of international interchange, policy discussion, negotiation, and purposive action.
