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AG/RES. 1511 (XXVII-O/97)

STRATEGIC PLAN FOR PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT 1997-2001

(Resolution adopted at the seventh plenary session, held on June 5, 1997)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

HAVING SEEN resolution CIDI/RES. 9 (II-O/97) of the Second Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development, "Proposed Strategic Plan for Partnership for Development 1997-2001"; and

CONSIDERING that, in accordance with Article 94 of the Charter of the Organization of American States, the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) must formulate and recommend to the General Assembly a strategic plan which sets forth policies, programs, and courses of action in matters of cooperation for integral development, within the framework of the general policy and priorities defined by the General Assembly,

RESOLVES:

To adopt the Strategic Plan for Partnership for Development 1997-2001, recommended by the Inter-American Council for Integral Development at its Second Regular Meeting, as set forth in the appendix to this resolution.

APPENDIX

 

STRATEGIC PLAN FOR PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT 1997-2001

The American states have agreed to step up their efforts within the framework of the Organization of American States (OAS) to promote development in the Hemisphere. To that end, they have agreed to reinforce their work in order to strengthen peace and security; to overcome poverty and discrimination; to promote and strengthen the exercise of democracy and respect for all human rights; to support the areas of education, science and technology, labor, health, and culture; to foster integration and free trade; and to preserve the environment in a context of sustainable development, all in recognition of the interdependence between the issues on the Hemisphere's agenda and the importance of an integral sustainable effort aimed at development.

Through its various organs, agencies, and entities, the OAS has the responsibility to promote a political dialogue renewed by the meetings of heads of state and government in the Hemisphere and other high-level meetings, and to strengthen inter-American cooperation in a framework of partnership for development, in support of member states' efforts on each issue on the Hemisphere's agenda and on global challenges in the coming century.

Partnership for development embraces all member states, regardless of their level of development. This entails overcoming the traditional aid-oriented approach and developing instead forms of cooperation based on a partnership which, without attempting to impose models, would support economic and social measures taken by countries in their development, particularly those to combat extreme poverty. This concept of cooperation also means that the OAS limited resources must be effectively targeted at the most pressing needs of the member states, especially the relatively less developed countries and those with the smaller economies.

As the OAS works on its agenda, it will consider the measures that regional and global agencies and financial institutions, as well as public and private entities, are undertaking in the Hemisphere. Where possible, the OAS will engage them in joint activities, in order to pool efforts and make the best possible use of resources, and promote an increasing harnessing of external resources.

Within that framework, it is up to the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) to steer the dialogue and the cooperation toward integral and sustainable development, with particular emphasis on the effort to overcome poverty within the general policy and priorities that the General Assembly establishes and taking into account the responsibilities and functions of the various organs of the OAS.

CIDI reinforces the OAS' role as the major forum for inter-American dialogue, as an agent facilitating exchange of experiences and information, joint action, and mutual support among the institutions of the member states; as a promoter of responsive and efficient mechanisms to strengthen horizontal cooperation; and as a catalyst for mobilizing human, technical, and financial resources.

The actions of CIDI and of other organs, agencies, and entities of the OAS are complementary in addressing priority subjects of common interest, including issues such as the strengthening and development of international law at the hemispheric level; support to institutions dealing with public administration and the administration of justice; full participation by women and vulnerable groups in the development process and in political decisions; the struggle against drugs, terrorism, and corruption; public safety; and mine-clearing.

1. CIDI's Role

CIDI will serve as a forum for inter-American dialogue, foster the formulation of policies, and develop national and multilateral programs and projects, valuing direct participation by communities, including the public and private sectors, in solving the problems they face in their efforts to achieve sustainable development. It will also encourage the participation of the permanent observer states and promote mechanisms for coordination with cooperation agencies and international financial institutions.

CIDI will operate as a catalyst in promoting new types of cooperation among OAS member states institutions and between them and other institutions of the inter-American system, by giving preference to multilateral projects, supporting project implementation through appropriate national institutions. National projects should continue to be supported when they have a significant impact in terms of strengthening the development of the country in question, especially if they permit it to participate more actively in multinational projects or increase the chance that other international cooperation agencies, including the relevant financial institutions, will participate, or if the project also benefits other member states.

 

2. Objectives

CIDI's current Strategic Plan, which will last fours years (1997-2001), articulates the policies, programs, and measures in the area of cooperation for development, in accordance with the following objectives:

· To strengthen hemispheric dialogue for development;

· To strengthen cooperation for development among institutions operating in the Hemisphere;

· To increase the exchange of knowledge, information, and experiences;

· To strengthen and diversify the financing for partnership for development; and

· To strengthen regional and subregional integration.

 

3. Components of the Cooperation Strategy

CIDI's strategy operates on three mutually-reinforcing levels: as a forum for inter-American dialogue on development; as a catalyst for and promoter of programs, projects, and other cooperation activities; and as a mechanism to facilitate the exchange of information, experiences, and knowledge.

3.1 Forum for Inter-American Dialogue

The ministerial and high-level meetings held within the framework of CIDI will orient the activities to be implemented and will serve as the principal means for the governments to share their experiences and exchange information in their search for answers to the development problems of the countries of the Hemisphere and to find concrete opportunities for partnership for development in action.

As for the process of preparing for and following up on the inter-American summits and other high-level meetings, CIDI, like the other organs of the OAS, will develop mechanisms that make it a useful resource for preserving the institutional memory of that process and for lending its support to efforts to fulfill the commitments undertaken, especially for those issues that have been or will be referred to by the OAS.

The fora that will shape the design and execution of inter-American cooperation for development within the framework of the OAS are the following:

· The General Assembly;

· CIDI's regular and sectoral meetings, at the ministerial level or its equivalent; and

· High-level or expert ministerial meetings convened for specific topics.

CIDI will also promote the exchange of information among the sectoral inter-American fora in order to facilitate integral and sustainable action.

3.2 Programs, Projects, and Activities

In partnership for development, the institutions of the member states should collaborate in actions promoted and facilitated by CIDI, via programs, projects, and activities aimed at institution building; training of human resources, through a strategy which includes the current system of fellowships and the participation of universities and research institutes; exchange of information and experiences; horizontal cooperation; and development of pilot projects. CIDI will foster the sustainability of joint cooperation, strengthening the development of institutional conditions that will ensure that the impact of its results persists over time.

The nonpermanent specialized committees (CENPES), as technical bodies, will support CIDI by evaluating cooperation proposals and making recommendations within the framework of CIDI's priorities. The CENPES will bear in mind the need to maintain an adequate regional balance. They will also make appropriate technical policy recommendations.

3.3 Information Resources

CIDI will contribute to the exchange of knowledge and specialized information related to its priorities, such as relevant sources of project financing, identification of supply and demand for horizontal cooperation, and official documents, by making innovative use of OAS resources, including the national offices, the Columbus Memorial Library, and electronic systems.

 

4. Priorities

Over the next four years, CIDI, via partnership for development, will strive for innovative impact focusing on integral and sustainable development which contributes in particular to the struggle to overcome poverty, through efforts in the following fields:

· Social development and creation of productive employment;

· Education;

· Economic diversification and integration, trade liberalization, and market access;

· Scientific development, and exchange and transfer of technology;

· Strengthening of democratic institutions;

· Sustainable development of tourism;

· Sustainable development and the environment; and

· Culture.

 

5. Guidelines for Action

CIDI's efforts to address its priorities are complementary with those of other organs, agencies, and entities of the inter-American system, such as the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM), the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Pan American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH), the Inter-American Indian Institute (III), the Inter-American Children's Institute (IIN), the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

To make progress in achieving CIDI's priorities and, given the mandates of each of the organs, agencies, and entities of the inter-American system, the following guidelines for action are identified:

5.1 Social Development and Creation of Productive Employment

CIDI will follow the four issues set forth in the Inter-American Program to Overcome Poverty and Social Discrimination, prepared at the First High-Level Meeting on Social Development, held in February 1997: development and modernization of public institutions and social management; strengthening mechanisms for participation by civil society in overcoming poverty and discrimination; promotion and financing of social investment; and strategies and programs to combat marginalization of and discrimination against indigenous populations and other groups at risk. In the areas of social development, CIDI will place special emphasis on promoting the role of women. Also, it will continue to support the Social Network of Latin America and the Caribbean, which includes social investment funds and similar institutions in the region.

The efforts to overcome poverty and discrimination, in the context of integrated social policies, should center on health, nutrition, employment, and education, with a special focus—as appropriate according to each country's laws—on children, youth, women, especially heads of household and teenage mothers, indigenous communities, migrant workers and their families, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and other priority social groups.

CIDI will assign priority to promoting policies that generate employment and income, allocating more resources to human resources training and retraining, with a view to enhancing productivity and supporting small business and micro enterprise as a matter of priority. Low-income workers and small producers, particularly those in the groups most at risk, should have preferential access to adequate financing, training, and technical cooperation.

CIDI will support preparation and follow-up of the Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor (CIMT) and the working groups established in its X Conference, which was held in 1995: Economic Integration and Its Impact on Employment and Labor Migrations; Social Dialogue and Collective Bargaining; Modernization of the Ministries of Labor and Information on Labor Markets; and the Labor Force of the Future: Productive Restructuring and Vocational Training; or others formed in the future.

Promoting development must also include special attention to marginal rural areas and those areas that have been cleared of mines, particularly in the Central American region.

5.2 Education

In education, the General Assembly decided that the priorities should be social development programs and projects concerned with the formulation of policies and initiatives that deal with children in an integrated way, which contribute to expanding basic education and help enhance its quality through improved management practices in educational systems and training for teachers and other educational personnel, and those that link education to the productive sectors.

It also recommended development and, when possible, the harmonization of mechanisms for the international recognition of certificates, diplomas, and degrees so as to facilitate economic integration and the mobility of the labor force within the Hemisphere.

Therefore, within CIDI's institutional framework, it is imperative that the dialogue of ministers of education be renewed, so that they can identify relevant areas and activities for OAS action.

5.3 Economic Diversification and Integration, Trade Liberalization, and Market Access

Pursuant to the pertinent resolutions of the General Assembly, which established the Special Committee on Trade (CEC), its Advisory Group, and the OAS General Secretariat Trade Unit, and incorporated the agreements emanating from the Miami Summit of the Americas and from the hemispheric meetings of the ministers of trade, CIDI will continue considering trade issues and related matters, giving special support to the efforts toward economic integration, trade liberalization, and market access and to the process of creating the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

Accordingly, given the need to coordinate the various tasks carried out by the areas of the Organization with entities which are not part of the inter-American system and are involved in these topics, CIDI will support national and multilateral projects and activities that further promote the sharing of experiences and information, especially those that promote technical cooperation on issues related to the creation process of the FTAA. Also, within its area of competence, CIDI will foster actions related to this priority area, in subjects such as science, technology, ports, and customs.

The Trade Unit, in compliance with the agreed annual work programs, will continue providing technical support to and preparing studies requested by the working groups which were formed within the framework of the FTAA creation process. This should be carried out in a manner consistent with the work of the other members of the Tripartite Committee set up within the framework of the follow-up on the agreements adopted at the Miami Summit of the Americas.

5.4 Scientific Development, and Exchange and Transfer of Technology

The OAS member states have agreed to foster actions which will promote the development of their scientific and technological capacities, and particularly to strengthen research and assimilation of technological knowledge, as well as the linkage between science, technology, and development in compliance with the mandates established in the Declaration and Plan of Action adopted at the Meeting of Ministers responsible for Science and Technology, which took place in Cartagena, Colombia, in March 1996.

CIDI will give support to meetings on science and technology and work with the Permanent Committee responsible for the Common Market of Scientific and Technological Knowledge (MERCOCYT) program to coordinate the follow-up of recommendations of the Cartagena Plan of Action. Special emphasis will be given to the implementation of MERCOCYT, as well as to access by the member states to the telecommunications and information services and infrastructure. It will continue bolstering efforts to promote the use and exchange of environmentally sound technologies and will take into account the work done by the Hemispheric Inter-University Scientific and Technological Information Network (RedHUCyT) and the Inter-American System of Metrology and continue regional efforts to improve science and technology indicators, as well as subregional efforts, such as the ones carried out by the Commission for the Scientific and Technological Development of Central America and Panama (CTCAP).

5.5 Strengthening of Democratic Institutions

CIDI will support the efforts of the member states and of the competent organs of the OAS to strengthen democratic institutions in the Hemisphere, particularly by conducting educational programs that promote democratic values, respect for all human rights, and the fight against corruption; exchange of information and experiences, in order to improve national electoral systems and the administration of justice; and modernization of public institutions.

The General Secretariat, through the Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (UPD), in compliance with the agreed annual work programs, will continue to provide support to member states that request it, within available resources and according to the criteria to be established by the General Assembly, in their efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, giving priority to institution building in the legislative and judicial branches of government. It will also help the states strengthen their electoral systems and conduct educational programs, encouraging analysis and research in the field of democratic development and other projects approved in its annual program of activities. At the interested member state's request, the UPD will continue to conduct electoral observation missions, in accordance with the specific provisions that the General Assembly approved to that end.

5.6 Sustainable Development of Tourism

The member states have stressed the importance of strengthening dialogue among the ministers of the Hemisphere on matters related to tourism, such as education and training, data systems, taxation, and other measures that provide support to the development of the tourism industry.

In this area, CIDI will support tourism cooperation activities, taking into account the need to preserve the national heritage, including cultural and environmental aspects. In this context, it will strengthen the Inter-American Travel Congress to ensure full participation by the private sector and other productive actors; to reinforce existing links with subregional, regional, and global tourism organizations; and to promote the exchange of knowledge and joint activities.

5.7 Sustainable Development and the Environment

The OAS, through CIDI and with the support of the Inter-American Committee on Sustainable Development (CIDS), will promote execution of the Inter-American Program for Sustainable Development, which identifies the activities through which the OAS will contribute to implementation of the agreements reached at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, particularly those in Agenda 21, as well as the agreements reached at the Miami Summit of the Americas and at the Summit of the Americas on Sustainable Development, held in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, in the areas of health and education; sustainable agriculture and forestry; sustainable cities and communities; water resources and coastal areas; and energy and mining. Similarly, the OAS, through the Program, will address aspects related to technology transfer, financing, and public participation in efforts to achieve sustainable development.

CIDS will give the highest priority to coordination and follow-up of the decisions of the Summit of Santa Cruz that were entrusted to the OAS, as well as to those of regional and subregional high-level meetings to be held within the framework of that summit. This will include reviewing progress on the Plan of Action and recommending the establishment of effective collaboration and coordination mechanisms between the OAS and the relevant instances of the inter-American and United Nations systems, as well as other fora in the Hemisphere which are involved in these matters.

5.8 Culture

In compliance with the mandates of the General Assembly, CIDI will strengthen and improve the Inter-American Cultural Program, in order to support the efforts of OAS member states, especially in topics such as preservation, enrichment, and promotion of cultural and linguistic identity in the Hemisphere, fostering of the arts, and conservation of historical and archaeological sites.

Member states should update and implement the Inter-American Cultural Program, in the framework of the agreements of the Miami Summit of the Americas and of meetings of ministers and authorities responsible for cultural policies in the Hemisphere, as well as of global meetings, particularly those sponsored by UNESCO.

All cultural activities of the OAS, including those carried out by the Art Museum of the Americas, the Columbus Memorial Library, through Américas Magazine, and through electronic means of dissemination, will be undertaken in the framework of the Inter-American Cultural Program.

 

6. Guidelines for the Formulation and Integration of Inter-American Cooperation Programs and Work Plans in Each of the Priority Areas

The inter-American programs and work plans developed in the framework of the Strategic Plan will further OAS member states' cooperation efforts and will be geared to:

· Facilitating inter-American dialogue and promoting cooperation, with the emphasis on multilateral activities that give the necessary priority to those areas in which the OAS has comparative advantages;

· Focusing efforts on a limited number of lines of actions aiming for a significant qualitative impact on areas critical to member states' development, and fostering participation of all sectors of society;

· Encouraging analysis and development of areas in which partnership for development can contribute significantly toward solving development-related problems;

· Promoting collaborative effort in areas that, by their nature and given the scale of the technical or economic resources needed, will require a pooling of talents and efforts;

· Promoting the exchange of knowledge about and experience with policy implementation, institution building and technical development, by such means as meetings, advisory services, exchanges of information, and the transfer of technology;

· Promoting the training of human resources under fellowship, exchange, and internship programs and other modalities;

· Ensuring coordination and complementarity with the other organs, agencies, and entities of the inter-American system that are conducting cooperative activities in areas related to each program; and

· Promoting collaboration among governmental and nongovernmental organizations and institutions of the OAS member states and of other member states of the United Nations, especially OAS observer states, as well as with similar international organizations and institutions that wish to participate in cooperation.

The inter-American programs will be periodically updated and will be part of this Strategic Plan.

 

7. Financing of the Strategic Plan

Insofar as their means and their legal domestic requirements allow, member states will endeavor to contribute more resources toward funding the activities of CIDI. Implementation of projects and activities of the Strategic Plan will involve resources from OAS member states and other sources, based on the concepts of partnership and burden-sharing. Decisions taken at sectoral meetings of CIDI which affect its resources will be incorporated into the annual Integral Programming Proposal for consideration by CEPCIDI and/or, as appropriate, by the Permanent Council.

7.1 Special Multilateral Fund of CIDI (FEMCIDI)

OAS member states' voluntary contributions for activities undertaken to implement the Strategic Plan will be deposited by FEMCIDI into sectoral accounts associated with the priorities of this plan and/or the Integral Development Account, in compliance with the Statutes.

7.2 Specific or Trust Funds

Contributions or grants made for a specific objective by any state or public or private entity to carry out partnership for development projects or activities may be deposited in specific or trust funds, managed by the OAS General Secretariat and will be allocated according to the terms of written agreements between the contributor and the OAS, in compliance with the General Standards.

7.3 Regular Fund

OAS Regular Fund resources shall be used to finance CIDI and its subsidiary bodies and the regular operations of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development, as well as technical supervision and administrative support of programs and multilateral integral development programs, as specifically approved by the General Assembly in the program-budget.

7.4 Other Sources of Financing

CIDI will develop a strategy for mobilizing additional financial resources with public and private entities to increase the amount available for cooperation. This strategy will seek new forms of co-financing, promote direct participation of communities—including the public and private sectors—in the process of solving development problems and encourage the use of specific funds to strengthen cooperation among member states. The strategy should also focus special attention on establishing innovative and self-sustaining mechanisms, such as seed funds, capital formation funds, and the use of OAS mechanisms to mobilize additional resources for cooperation and enhance opportunities for cooperation.

Institutions executing projects and activities in the member states will be encouraged to share the costs and partake of the benefits of the cooperation. To that end, the activities, projects, and inter-American programs of cooperation presented to CEPCIDI for an evaluation of what FEMCIDI can contribute in the way of resources will identify what the national contribution of financial, human, and material resources will be for optimum partnership for development.

8. Role of the Actors in Partnership for Development

8.1 Member States

The member states make decisions at the political level on the issues in which CIDI undertakes partnership for development. Decisions regarding resources to be assigned to actions in each priority area and the duration of support for such actions are taken by the General Assembly, CIDI, or their competent subsidiary bodies, as appropriate (the Permanent Council and CEPCIDI).

OAS member states will establish, within the framework of CIDI, mechanisms to identify, prepare, program, budget, implement, and evaluate technically sound activities, so as to promote effective joint action by the institutions involved in each specific activity.

The proposals for cooperation from member states will be channeled through their respective representatives to the OAS.

Member states pledge their voluntary contributions to FEMCIDI annually.

8.2 Participating National Institutions

To strengthen the role of participating institutions in the design, organization, and implementation of join cooperation activities and to promote joint activities, interested institutions will:

· Identify needs and opportunities for cooperation in the framework of the policies, inter-American programs, and guidelines for action established by the member states;

· Generate, promote, and facilitate preferably multilateral projects and activities;

· Prepare project proposals and progress reports;

· Provide complementary financial, human, or material resources; and

· Strengthen the presentation of projects by member states.

8.3 OAS General Secretariat

In order to promote cooperation among the member states, the General Secretariat will support the implementation of the Strategic Plan and, to that end, will coordinate, through the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development, the contributions made by the units, offices, and other sections of the General Secretariat, in order to:

· Provide support to policy discussions of the various fora of CIDI;

· Serve as a catalyst and promoter of programs and projects to attract and/or raise external resources:

· Promote coordination with the cooperation and financial institutions that operate in the Hemisphere; ascertain the possibility of these institutions' providing complementary financial, human, or material resources; and develop joint action plans with such institutions, as is now being done by the OAS-IDB liaison group;

· Develop a program for marshaling additional financial resources for development that envisages participation by the member states and permanent observers and that will encourage participation by international organizations and other governmental and nongovernmental organizations;

· Prepare, through the Executive Secretariat for CEPCIDI's consideration, evaluation criteria which contribute to increase effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of results of the projects and activities;

· Participate increasingly as a promoter rather than an executor of technical cooperation projects;

· Publicize the activities that the OAS promotes in the area of partnership for development, paying particular attention to the results achieved;

· Develop a program of support for human resources training and development that includes the OAS system of fellowships and encourages universities and research institutes to participate, according to the cooperation priorities set by the member states;

· Compile up-to-date information on the cooperation activities completed in recent years or in execution, including the resources used and their status, for consultation by member states; establish and maintain a database to serve as a clearing house for the matching of offers and requests for cooperation, as well as for the exchange of experiences and information on policies and programs in the areas identified as priorities in this strategic plan;

· Present cooperation proposals to competent organs of CIDI, with the consent of the permanent missions to the OAS of the participating member states; and

· Prepare studies and supporting documents for CIDI meetings.

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