Policy Dialogue

The IBE's mission in the field of "policy dialogue" is reinforced by the activities of this key programme and results from the mission entrusted to the IBE by   UNESCO's General Conference in 1999.  It is linked with the third strategic axis of UNESCO's education (31 C/4) which aims to:  "to promote experimentation, innovation as well as diffuse and spread information and   best practices, as well as dialogue on   principles of action in the field of education".  But it is also based on two other Axes:  (i) "to promote education as a basic right, in accordance with the universal Declaration of   human right" and (ii) "to improve the quality of education by diversification of its contents and methods and through the promotion of universally shared values". 

For the IBE,   the concept of "policy dialogue" is comprised of two main dimensions:   international dialogue on educational policies and policy dialogue as the central component in the design and implementation of any "modern" educational policy.

International dialogue on educational policy can become a reality in various ways such as through UNESCO's International Conference of  Education (ICE). The IBE has played a role since 1934 in organizing the oldest and most far reaching forum on education. The conference creates dialogue between political leaders, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations. The promoting of policy dialogue as a component of educational policies is realized mainly through training activities. The first were organized in 2003 in French-speaking Africa, through the framework of ministries for education.