SUMMIT IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW GROUP (SIRG) OEA/Ser.E First Regular Meeting of 2010 GRIC/O.1/doc.6/10 April 13, April 2010 Liberator Simon Bolivar Room – OAS Headquarters Original: English Washington, D.C PRESENTATION ON THE LINK BETWEEN INTER-AMERICAN MINISTERIAL MEETINGS AND THE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS PROCESS (By Mrs. Lenore Yaffee García, Director OAS Office of Education and Culture, SEDI Department of Human Development, Education and Culture)

Linkages between the Sectoral Ministerials and the Summits Process Lenore Yaffee García, Director OAS Office of Education and Culture, SEDI Department of Human Development, Education and Culture Summit Implementation Review Group Washington, D.C., April 13, 2010

The Policy Framework SUMMITS OF THE AMERICAS MINISTERIAL MEETINGS INTER-AMERICAN COMMITTEES with representation from all 34 member states Bidirectional process Concrete examples: 1. IV Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Culture proposed modifications to Draft Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain (V Summit of the Americas). The Government of Barbados (CIC Chair) submitted these to the SIRG process on behalf of the Ministers. These were incorporated nearly verbatim into the final Declaration (paragraph 44) 2. The Inter-American Committee on Education (CIE) also proposed substantial modifications to the education text of the draft Declaration of Port of Spain. These were submitted to the SIRG process through the Government of Ecuador (CIE Chair) and largely incorporated into the final version, (paragraphs 36, 37, 38)

Ministerial Meetings and Inter-American Committees Facilitate exchange of information and experiences. Set priorities at regional level. Make the mandates real. SEDI Departments serve as Technical Secretariats for both the Ministerial processes and the Inter-American Committees. Example: Office of Education and Culture (OEC) assists the Inter- American Committee on Education (CIE) and the Inter- American Committee on Culture (CIC) to coordinate, implement, and identify funding for their biennial Work Plans, in response to Ministerial priorities. IV Regular Meeting of the CIC, Washington, D.C., November 12 – 13, 2009

Opportunities Convening power -- governments at highest level plus international, subregional and civil society organizations. Not just a talk shop. Work in the sectors under Inter- American Committees allows for concrete results -- the mandates are not hollow promises. SOA and OAS imprimaturs help governments convene key partners for technical expertise, financial support. Results of technical cooperation and policy dialogue in the sectors brought to attention of Heads of State, Ministers SOA and Ministerial mandates mean OAS sectors execute only projects that are policy-relevant in areas identified as high priority by political bodies. Networks – ideal mechanisms to promote cooperation.

Challenges The process currently is not designed to maximize input from sectoral authorities. Chronologies are not synchronized. There is not always agreement between agencies of any given government on priorities.