GRM FOLLOW-UP TO THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON

UNCLAS MAPUTO 001294 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV SOCI PREL MZ SUBJECT: GRM FOLLOW-UP TO THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON GLOBAL LITERACY REF: STATE 118971 ¶1. In response to the invitation from First Lady Laura Bush to participate in a literacy luncheon in New York on the margins of UNGA (reftel),Mozambican First Lady Ana Guebuza directed Minister of Education Aires Ali to write a letter to the U.S. National Committee for UNESCO, providing an update on Mozambique's efforts after the White House conference on Global Literacy. ¶2. Begin letter text: REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE OFFICE OF THE MINISTER Letter no. 1744/GM/MEC/07 It is with pleasure that we share the progress and experiences following the White House Conference on Global Literacy organized by the First Lady of the United States, Laura Bush. This fact increases our responsibility and encourages us to vigorously continue our fight against illiteracy in our country, continent and the world in general. We can inform you that the participation of Mozambique in the White House Conference was preceded by two events worth mentioning: the launch of the Movement for Advocacy, Awareness and Mobilization of Resources towards Literacy and the launch of the II Decade of Education for Africa that took place in Maputo. This coincidence became the galvanizing force behind the initiatives that Mozambique has been developing, guided by its Five-year Program and absolute poverty reduction program (PARPA),based on the principles of participation and partnership between the Government and non-governmental institutions and civil society. In fact, after the White House Conference, the following took place: -- Draft of the National Action Plan of the Movement, aimed at promoting the participation of more partners in the implementation of the Literacy and Education of Adults and Non-Formal Education programs; reinforce the will and political commitment for program support, mobilize human resources and operational infrastructures; facilitate dialogue between different players, disseminate and share information, promote good practices to create national momentum, comprised of diverse partnerships and mobilized management of resources, adapting them to the fulfillment of the goals of literacy and education of adults and challenges of the Decade. -- Promotion of the expansion of the initiative "Family Without Illiteracy" as an alternative to the minute financial resources, mobilizing and raising awareness among Primary and Secondary School students, so that they can teach their parents, brothers/sisters, grandparents to read and write, in their homes, with the pedagogical support of their teachers and the control of the schools' management. -- Promotion of literacy of the members of district consultation counsels, in the context of Good Governance, Decentralization, and Community Development. Currently, the Government of Mozambique defines the District as a center of development, and therefore makes it a priority to build capacity and provide power to the local leaders, as honorable representatives of the desires and hopes of the communities. As far as the interaction of Mozambique with the other participants in the Conference, a delegation participated in the Africa Regional Conference that took place in Bamako, Mali, September 10-12, 2007. Mozambique was represented in this event by H. E. the First Lady of the Republic and H.E. the Vice-Minister of Finance. The country had the pleasure of sharing our innovative and creative experiences resulting from some of the ongoing initiatives. In regards to what recent actions will impact literacy, we can again highlight Mozambique's "Family Without Illiteracy" initiative, the promotion of literacy to members of the district consultation counsels, and income management programs (organic garden, improved house building with stabilized blocks and management of small businesses). Maputo, September 13, 2007 /s/ AIRES BONIFACIO BAPTISTA ALI MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE H.E. Ms. Susanna Connaughton, Executive Director of the United States National Committee for UNESCO Cc: Office of the Spouse of the President of the Republic H.E. The Representative of UNESCO-Maputo End letter text. Chapman