ICEVI and WBU Proudly Announce

A Global Campaign on Education for All Children with Visual Impairment

The Global Campaign on Education for All Children with Visual Impairment (EFA-VI) is progressing well. Here is an update of the activities since the launch of the campaign in July 2006.

1. The Global Task Force of the campaign met thrice since its launch to formulate guidelines for the implementation of campaign activities.
2. Comprehensive guidelines for the preparation of country plans for EFA-VI have been developed and circulated widely through conferences and mails.
3. The ICEVI website has been redesigned with a dedicated section for the global campaign.
4. The Global Task Force listed five focus countries (Vietnam, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) for the introduction of the campaign during the academic year 2007-08.
5. Vietnam in the East Asia region has formed a national task force, prepared a national plan, signed a memorandum of understanding with the ICEVI, and already commenced capacity building activities as a part of the EFA-VI.
6. Paraguay and Dominican Republic in the Latin America regions have also formed national task forces, prepared national plans, and commenced campaign activitie.
7. Pakistan and Bangladesh from the West Asia region have prepared national plans which are being reviewed by the Global Task Force.
8. In addition to these focus countries, EFA-VI activities have also been commenced in Fiji and India.
9. The EFA-VI Africa launch took place at the 4th Africa Forum held in Nairobi from 6 to10 May 2007.
10. The Global Task Force met in London on 1-2 October 2007 and planned specific strategies for the implementation of the campaign in the Africa region.
11. The Global Task Force has proposed the appointment of a regional coordinator for Africa and the establishment of an Africa regional secretariat at the Africa Union of
    the Blind (AFUB) to stimulate and support EFA-VI activities in the Africa region.
12. The EFA-VI Research Task Force has begun working on defining the nature of data to be gathered to document the impact of the campaign.
13. A core committee is looking into the types of materials that need to be developed to promote the EFA-VI campaign.
14. A Resource Mobilisation Task Force has been formed to develop a strategy for mobilising resources for the campaign.  This Task Force has developed Terms of Reference for resource mobilization and is now developing a strategic plan for fund raising.

While there is a long road ahead, the EFA-VI Global Campaign is on schedule to achieve Phase I (2006-2010) objectives.