AG/RES. 1855 (XXXII-O/02)
ADOPTION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT 2002-2005
(Adopted at the fourth plenary session held on June 4,
2002)
THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
HAVING SEEN:
Article 95 of the OAS Charter, which establishes that “[i]n order to achieve its various goals, especially in the specific area of
technical cooperation, the Inter-American Council for Integral Development
(CIDI) shall: a) 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”;
Resolution CIDI/RES. 102 (V-O/00), "Conclusions
and Recommendations of the Ministerial Dialogue of the Fifth Meeting of the
Inter-American Council for Integral Development,” which provides
guidelines for the preparation of the new Strategic Plan for Partnership for
Development 2002-2005; and
Resolution AG/RES. 1806 (XXXI-O/01), "Strategic
Plan for Partnership for Development 2002-2005," which authorizes CIDI
to approve, at its Sixth Regular Meeting, the Strategic Plan for Partnership
for Development 2002-2005 ad
referendum of the thirty-second regular session of the General Assembly,
and to begin its implementation on January 1, 2002; and
Resolution CIDI/RES. 105 (VI-O/01) "Adoption
of the Strategic Plan for Partnership for Development 2002-2005" by
which the CIDI meeting adopted such Plan ad
referendum of the General Assembly,
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the
experience acquired in implementing the Strategic Plan for Partnership for
Development 1997-2001, and the start-up of the Inter-American Agency for
Cooperation and Development in 2000; and
CONSIDERING:
That the Declaration and
Plan of Action of the Third Summit of the Americas, held in Quebec City
accords the OAS a key role in implementing the decisions of the Summits of
the Americas;
That the venue for implementing the Plan of Action
of the Summits of the Americas, in the priority areas of the Strategic Plan
for Partnership for Development 2002-2005, is the Inter-American Council for
Integral Development; and
That the member states have decided to conduct
technical cooperation activities for development that contribute to
fulfillment of the mandates of the Third Summit of the Americas,
RESOLVES:
1.
To adopt the
Strategic Plan for Partnership for Development 2002-2005 appended to this
resolution.
2.
To instruct
CEPCIDI to review the statutes and procedures to determine whether they need
to be amended in view of the entry into force of the new Strategic Plan and
to facilitate its implementation.
STRATEGIC PLAN FOR PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT 2002-2005
I.
Preamble
The struggle against poverty and inequality, and
especially the eradication of extreme poverty is a common and shared
responsibility of the member states, and are essential factors in promoting
and consolidating democracy. Furthermore,
the need to achieve integral, just and sustainable social and economic
development continues to pose a daunting challenge for the Hemisphere.
These principles have been front and center on the
agenda of the OAS with the establishment of CIDI, and of the Summits of the
Americas Process since 1994 and, especially, at the Quebec City Summit in
April 2001 when Heads of State and Government placed emphasis on developing a
coherent, results-oriented political, economic and social agenda, with a focus
on people and social equity. Leaders
placed special emphasis on the need to develop strong social initiatives to
ensure a balanced Summit Plan of Action. In this context, based on principles
of the Charter of the OAS, on the Summits mandates, priorities set out at
inter-American meetings of ministers, and the Strategic Plan of 1997-2001, the
member states have adopted this Strategic Plan that will guide the partnership
for development activities of the Organization in the 2002-2005 period.
Partnership for development embraces all the 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 for their development, particularly those to combat poverty.
It pays particular attention to horizontal and multilateral
cooperation, and to the participation of communities, civil society and the
private sectors in solving problems. 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 those with smaller and most vulnerable economies.
II.
Objectives
This Strategic Plan establishes a framework for
action at two strategic levels. First,
the policy level that aims at strengthening the dialogue as well as the
institutional arrangements and mechanisms that are critical to the ability of
both governments and the General Secretariat to implement the Plan. The
second, the programmatic level, identifies a number of priority areas that are
of special concern to member states and in which the OAS enjoys a comparative
advantage. These objectives are a
combination of new as well as a consolidation of existing practices. They are
intended to generate and implement policies for the reduction of poverty and
inequality, as well as to follow up and implement the mandates of the Summits
of the Americas.
Strategic
Objective 1: Improve
Mechanisms for Policy Dialogue
Ensure that the ministerial, sectoral, and
inter-American committees’ meetings are adequately prepared for substantive
policy dialogue. Furthermore,
that they address critical areas of common concern, and are action oriented.
Strategies
·
Provide the
ministerial, sectoral and inter-American committees’ meetings with research
and in-depth background papers on current and emergent issues in the priority
areas of interest, to facilitate formulation of the appropriate policies.
·
Identify or
create the appropriate institutional framework for follow-up and
implementation of the activities and actions identified and agreed to at these
meetings and provide it with the appropriate support.
·
Enhance the
process for evaluating the results of the meetings and monitoring the
implementation of the activities arising from these meetings.
Strategic
Objective 2: Building and
Strengthening Partnerships
Establish new and strengthen existing strategic alliances with
governmental, non-governmental, national, regional and multilateral
development institutions, as well as with the private sector and civil
society, to enhance the capacity to implement this Plan.
Strategies
·
Promote the
exchange of information, experience, best practices and expertise.
·
Facilitate
consultation, collaboration and coordination for the purpose of programming
joint cooperation activities.
·
Establish
and consolidate networks in priority areas of the Strategic Plan.
·
Increase and
enhance the General Secretariat’s responsibility to establish and develop
partnerships.
·
Maximize the
use of information and communication technology in the activities related to
the building and strengthening of partnerships.
Strategic
Objective 3: Capacity Building
Enhance the capacity of institutions in the member states to design and
implement cooperation programs, projects and activities and strengthen the
capacity of individuals to contribute to the social and economic development
of their countries.
Strategies:
·
Develop training programs and workshops, including distance learning.
·
Promote consultation and coordination to ensure the effective preparation
of multilateral projects.
·
Promote horizontal cooperation and the exchange of information on best
practices in the design and execution of activities.
·
Promote the use of appropriate technologies for information and
communication.
·
Organize
meetings and workshops to contribute the effective preparation of multilateral
projects.
Strategic
Objective 4: Resource
Mobilization
Secure increased financial and non-financial resources from diverse
sources, with special emphasis on non-reimbursable funding, for the
implementation of this Plan.
Strategies
·
Secure a continuing base of support from donors already committed to
partnership for development.
·
Promote
cooperation of national and multilateral agencies, private and public
foundations and international financial institutions and corporations.
·
Develop
contractual relationships with private sector institutions to obtain
reimbursable financing.
III. Priorities
Based on the proposed objectives, the accumulated
experience in the implementation of the Strategic Plan 1997 – 2001, and
taking into consideration the mandates from the Summits of the Americas, as
guides to the formulation of this Strategic Plan, the activities of
partnership for development for the 2002-2005 period will focus on the
following areas:
·
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
Tourism Development
·
Sustainable
Development and Environment
·
Culture
Cross
Cutting Themes
It is recognized that the participation and the
experience of civil society, through democratic processes, constitutes one of the vital elements for the success of
development policies carried out by the governments. Furthermore, the protection of the environment and the sustainable
use of natural resources are essential to prosperity, and the development of
human resources is key to
sustaining economic growth and reducing poverty.
Likewise, women's empowerment, their full and equal participation in
the development of our societies, and their equal opportunities to exercise
leadership are all central to integral development and
the elimination of the broad range of inequalities that still exist.
Therefore, the programs, projects and activities of
partnership for development (henceforth cooperation activities) in the above
mentioned priority areas, must integrate, to the extent possible, as elements
in their formulation, implementation and evaluation, the following: a) civil
society participation; b) environmental considerations; c) development of
human resources; and d) gender equality and equity.
The sectoral authorities,
through decisions adopted at meetings held within the sphere of CIDI, may
recommend adjustments to the content of the priorities defined below.
SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT AND THE CREATION OF PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT
Economic growth with equity is a basic condition
for promoting a better quality of life, overcoming poverty, and eliminating
discrimination and social exclusion, in particular of the most vulnerable
groups in the society. Employment is the most direct link between economic
activity and increasing the standard of living of all peoples.
It is essential to boost the productivity of the inhabitants of the
Americas by supporting productive and entrepreneurial initiatives. In this
framework, the focus will be on:
·
Contributing
to the efforts of member states to build the
capacity of Ministries of Labor to develop and implement effective
policies on labor and labor markets;
·
Contributing to the efforts of member states to strengthen information
systems related to the functioning of the labor market and analysis of
strategies for training and certification in job-related competencies as tools
for advancing in market requirements;
·
Implement programs aimed at improving labor conditions, with particular
emphasis on health and safety in the workplace.
·
Promoting public awareness regarding the ILO Declaration on Fundamental
Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up, and initiatives involving the
public and private sector to enhance respect for these rights.
·
Supporting initiatives aimed at increasing the productivity and market
access of small and microenterprises.
·
Supporting the development and implementation of policies and programs
aimed at facilitating access to the labor market and improving working
conditions for people in all countries in the region, with special attention
to those in the informal sector, to people belonging to ethnic and religious
minorities, other vulnerable persons including women, youth, indigenous,
migrant workers, persons with disabilities and persons with HIV/AIDS.
EDUCATION
Education is indispensable to strengthening democratic
institutions, promoting the development of human potential, alleviating
poverty, and fostering greater understanding among peoples. Educational
processes should be strengthened in order to contribute to the knowledge,
values and attitudes that favor the recognition of diversity, tolerance and
mutual respect, non-violence, the values of justice, social equity,
cooperation and partnership among the people.
It is essential that quality education must be available to all,
particularly children and youth whose participation is limited because of
gender, women, inhabitants of rural, marginalized areas, people with
disabilities, indigenous peoples, and minority groups.
In this framework, the focus will be on:
·
Promoting
the principles of equity, quality, relevance and efficiency at all levels of
education through partnership for development activities;
·
Strengthening
school management models that encourage greater community participation;
·
Supporting
efforts aimed at educational reform, particularly with regard to educational
methods, curriculum development, educational administration and resource
mobilization, among others;
·
Supporting
ongoing teacher education and training;
·
Supporting
countries in the implementation of projects and activities in secondary
education and higher education that meet the needs of a constantly evolving
labor market.
·
Advancing
the use of new technologies and teaching methods, to enhance equity and
quality in education.
·
Supporting
ongoing regional projects for comparable indicators and educational
assessment.
·
Supporting
the mobility, between countries of the Hemisphere, of students, teachers and
administrator at institution of higher education and of teachers and
administrators at elementary and secondary levels.
ECONOMIC
DIVERSIFICATION AND INTEGRATION, TRADE LIBERALIZATION, AND MARKET ACCESS
The creation and consolidation of a Free Trade Area
of the Americas (FTAA) will lead to substantive progress in trade
liberalization. The direct
results of this action will benefit the economic development of the member
states. In this framework, the
focus will be on:
·
Providing
technical assistance on FTAA issues to member states and, particularly, small
economies, to facilitate their integration into the FTAA process.
·
Strengthening
inter-institutional cooperation on trade issues by means of subregional and
regional forums.
·
Supporting
activities aimed at widely publicizing in civil society the benefits of
economic integration.
·
Supporting
activities to enhance the competitiveness of member states, particularly those
with smallest economies.
·
Supporting
the projects and initiatives that strengthen the capacity of the business
sector to generate employment and promote social well being via foreign trade.
SCIENTIFIC
DEVELOPMENT AND EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY
Science, technology and innovation have a fundamental strategic role in
the integral development. The
promotion, exchange and transfer of technology allows for the rapid
advancement in the formation of societies with greater scientific and
technical knowledge and skills, and better comparative advantages. In this
framework the focus will be on:
·
Promoting
the public understanding of science and technology needed to advance the
establishment and the consolidation of a scientific culture in the region and
to stimulate of science and technology research and education in the region in
order to enhance regional connectivity, through information and communication
technologies essential for building knowledge-based societies;
·
Supporting
the development of high-level human capital for the development of science and
technology research and innovation that would encourage the strengthening of
the agricultural, industrial, commercial, and business sectors as well as the
sustainability of the environment;
·
Promoting,
with the support of existing cooperation mechanisms, the development of the
regional program of science and technology indicators taking into account the
need for standardized criteria among member states to develop those
indicators;
·
Fostering
the implementation and follow-up of the scientific and technological
activities mentioned above, with the support of hemispheric cooperation and
coordination mechanisms related to this field.
STRENGTHENING
OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS
Democracy and social and economic development are interdependent and
mutually reinforcing. Effective, efficient government institutions,
transparency, public accountability, and the separation of powers are
cornerstones of integral development. In
this framework, the focus will be on:
·
Promoting
the use of technology, cooperation, and sharing of information, experiences,
and best practices to facilitate public engagement and transparency in
governmental decision-making processes.
·
Contributing
to the efforts of member states in the development of educational programs to
teach democracy and human rights, including the human rights of women.
·
Promoting
cooperation between states for the application of the Inter-American
Convention against Corruption, particularly through government officials
responsible for ethics and representatives of civil society.
·
Promoting
policies, processes, and mechanisms conducive to protecting the public
interest and the use of mechanisms for public officials to issue a statement
of personal net worth.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM
Tourism’s potential as an
engine of sustainable economic growth and development of the member states is
widely recognized. Enhancing the
region’s competitiveness in this sector requires continuous diversification,
innovation and upgrading of the tourism product. In this framework, the focus
will be on:
·
Supporting
member states in their efforts to develop the tourism sector as an integral
part of their development policies;
·
Increasing
the focus on product development, especially the development of products for
niche markets;
·
Developing
and adopting products standards in keeping with the international tourism
market;
·
Promoting
the sustainable development of tourism, fostering public awareness on the
importance of the linkage between tourism and the environment;
·
Adopting and
using information and communication technology as a management and marketing
tool;
·
Supporting
education, at all levels, as well as the development and training of human
resources in the tourism industry;
·
Supporting
the dialogue between the public and private sector aimed at strengthening the
sustainable development of the tourism industry;
·
Promoting
confidence-building measures through improved security at airports, seaports
and borders;
·
Assisting in
the design and the implementation of targeted marketing and promotional
strategies in order to develop and expand the tourism industry.
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Environmental protection and the sustainable use of
natural resources are essential to prosperity, and to the sustainability of
our economies, the quality of life and the health of present and future
generations. In this framework, the focus will be on:
·
Supporting
efforts of member states in the development of policies, legislation,
agreements, standards, and investments to promote the use of clean energy and
technologies prevent pollution and the deterioration of natural resources and
remedy their serious effects where they are found to exist.
·
Contributing
to efforts to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters, and preventing and
adapting to global climate change, in accordance with relevant international
agreements.
·
Promoting
public participation in sustainable development efforts as an integral
component of natural resource planning and management, so as to ensure that
the interests of the communities will be taken into account.
·
Promoting
national and regional consultation and coordination, as appropriate, to ensure
that economic, social, and environmental policies are mutually supportive and
contribute to sustainable development, based on the existing initiatives of
the relevant regional and international organizations.
·
Promoting improved environmental management at the municipal level,
through exchange of information between local communities and capacity
building, including strengthening of local institutions and services.
·
Contributing
to the efforts of the member states to develop educational and public
information programs that stimulate awareness on the sustainable use of
natural resources and conservation of the environment.
CULTURE
Respect and appreciation for cultural diversity
contribute to social and economic vitality and are factors that help promote
governability, social cohesion, human development, human rights, and peaceful
coexistence in the Hemisphere. In
this framework, the focus will be on:
·
Supporting
programs that promote respect, awareness and appreciation for the ethnic,
religious, racial, and linguistic diversity that enriches the cultural
identity of the member states.
·
Supporting
initiatives designed to recognize promote and disseminate the unique cultures
of indigenous peoples and their contribution to the creation of national
identities in the member states in which they reside.
·
Contributing
to the preservation of the collective memory and historical and cultural
patrimony of the member states, through the promotion of cultural industries
and training in the administration of cultural institutions, among others.
IV.
Mechanisms
In order to achieve the partnership for development objectives
previously indicated, the following execution and financing mechanisms are to
be used:
1.
Execution Mechanisms:
a.
Political Dialogue: The Inter-American Council for Integral Development
CIDI will serve as the main forum for
inter-American dialogue within the OAS in areas related to social and economic
development. It will also
generate mechanisms to strengthen the partnership for development and will act
as a catalyst in mobilizing human, technical, and financial resources and in
implementing the mandates emanating from the Summits of the Americas in their
particular areas of competence.
CIDI will promote, facilitate, and guide the
hemispheric dialogue on sectoral and specialized policies on topics related to
the social and economic development of the hemisphere.
In so doing, it will give priority to commitments made by the Heads of
State and Government at the Summits of the Americas. To this end, CIDI will create and promote mechanisms for
preparation of the dialogues, it will support ministerial meetings in its area
of competence, it will implement the relevant mandates, and it will promote
coordination among the different regional or sub-regional financial and
development institutions and agencies working in the field.
In these efforts, CIDI will be guided by the basic
need to provide maximum support for the specialized or sectoral meetings that
define policies and activities in the priority areas of the Strategic Plan,
particularly those in the sectoral areas derived from the Summit of the
Americas process. The Executive
Secretariat for Integral Development will be responsible for providing support
for these meetings, and for taking the necessary steps to ensure that the
meetings are adequately prepared and fully support the implementation of their
decisions. It will accomplish
this by coordinating the relevant Units of the General Secretariat and the
IACD.
b.
Programs, Projects and Activities:
Partnership for development activities carried out
in the framework of the Organization of American States must be consistent
with this Strategic Plan, maintain an appropriate geographic balance, and, to
the extent possible, will promote horizontal cooperation, a multilateral
focus, the exchange of best practices and the development and strengthening of
strategic alliances.
c. Training Programs
The development of human potential was given the
highest importance in the framework of the Third Summit of the Americas in
Quebec City, Canada. Development of human resources is an indispensable
component of partnership for development, recognized as a cross cutting theme
in this Strategic Plan.
Accordingly, the fellowship, scholarship and
training program will be strengthened and improved in order to encompass a
wider range of learning opportunities, as well as professional and academic
exchanges, distance education, and other similar activities.
Advantage will also be taken of the different
instruments provided by new information and communication technologies, to
benefit from systems of distance learning, multimedia and education by
satellite.
1.
Financing
a.
Special Multilateral Fund of CIDI
(FEMCIDI)
The voluntary contributions of member states to the activities carried
out under the Strategic Plan are credited to FEMCIDI, and placed in the
sectoral accounts associated with the priority areas of the Plan and/or in the
Integral Development Account, in accordance with the Statute.
The partnership for development activities financed by this fund,
should include, whenever possible, strategies for co-financing,
self-sustainability and mobilization of external resources.
b.
Specific and Trust Funds
Contributions or donations made for a specific purpose by any state or
public or private entity for implementation of partnership projects or
activities may go into a Specific Fund or a Trust Fund managed by the OAS
General Secretariat. They will be
allocated in accordance with the terms of written agreements between the
contributors and the OAS General Secretariat, pursuant to the General
Standards.
Specific Funds, with multiple donors, may develop new methods of
programming and implementing projects that include the participation of all
donors.
c.
Regular Fund
The resources of the OAS Regular Fund will be used to finance CIDI and
its subsidiary organs and agencies and the regular operations of the Executive
Secretariat for Integral Development. They
will also go to the technical supervision and administrative support of
multilateral programs for integral development, based on specific approval of
the funds in the program-budget by the General Assembly.
d.
Additional Resources for Financing Cooperation Activities
i)
Non-reimbursable Resources
The IACD will take those measures necessary to diversify sources of
non-reimbursable financing for partnership activities and projects and
increase existing resources. To this end, efforts will be concentrated on:
a.
Promote an
increase and greater use of specific funds to strengthen cooperation among
member states.
b.
Promote
contributions from observer states and the private sector for specific
activities.
c.
Seek new
methods of co-financing which encourage direct participation by communities
including both the private and public sector.
d.
Develop
project formulation methodologies that can attract both direct funding, as
well as non-financial contributions such as offers of training or experts.
ii.
Reimbursable
Resources
For the purpose of offering alternative sources of
financing, the IACD will identify and facilitate to member states lines of
credit and other mechanisms of reimbursable financing, subject to the policy
guidance provided by the Management Board.
V.
The Cooperation Actors
1.
The Member States
The member states define the policies of
partnership for development, through the decisions adopted by the General
Assembly, CIDI, CEPCIDI, as well as the Management Board of the IACD, who will
establish the mechanisms of identification, processing, programming, budget,
execution, and monitor and evaluate partnership for development activities
with the intention of making them more effective and efficient.
Within the spirit of the
partnership for development, the national institutions taking part in the
development, organization and execution of cooperation activities, will have
to take into account the priority areas and the guidelines contained in this
Strategic Plan, to ensure that the projects and activities related to the Plan
are tied to mandates of Summits and give priority to those of a multilateral
character. Also, they will
contribute, within their possibilities, complementary financial, human or
material resources.
Member states, through the exchange of information
on best practices and experts in the priority areas, will assist other
countries in their efforts to improve the design of proposed partnership for
development activities and projects and to implement them.
The IACD will provide the necessary technical assistance to achieve
this goal.
2.
The OAS General Secretariat
The General Secretariat, through SEDI, will provide
support to CIDI’s forums for dialogue and its subsidiary bodies to generate
and implement policies for integral development.
The IACD will provide the technical support required by the member
states for the implementation of the present Plan. The General Secretariat will promote and support the
implementation of partnership for development activities and will assist in
the implementation of this Plan. The
SEDI will coordinate the cooperation activities of the different Units,
Offices, and other dependencies of the General Secretariat related to the
priority areas covered by the Plan in keeping with the mechanisms established
by the Secretary General.
The IACD, in keeping with its Statutes, should
promote, coordinate, manage, and facilitate the planning, financing and
execution of partnership for development programs, projects and activities, in
particular, in the framework of this Plan.
VI.
Evaluation and Monitoring of the Strategic Plan
CIDI is responsible for monitoring and evaluating
fulfillment of the Strategic Plan. In
the framework of its regular meeting, CIDI shall evaluate partnership for
development activities and the monitoring of the policies defined.
To this end SEDI shall present to CIDI, through CEPCIDI, a qualitative
and quantitative reports on the evaluation of the implementation of policies
and on the results achieved in partnership for development activities carried
out in the framework of this Plan, in terms of their impact, efficacy and
efficiency, use of resources and of the quality of technical cooperation
services rendered.
To achieve this, the IACD is to implement
mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the performance of the projects financed
with funds entrusted to the management of the IACD, so that they contribute to
increase its efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability.
These mechanisms will define where appropriate, the participation of
the Units, Offices of the General Secretariat in the member states and other
dependencies of the General Secretariat, as well as the frequency whereupon
the executing institutions must present reports on the projects that they
execute.
Based
on the evaluation reports presented, CIDI can modify the strategic plan
fitting its execution and the designated objectives.
