1. Country Level MDA Structure

2. Purpose of the Advisory Group
Who shall do the assessment?
What needs to be done and how shall this be done?
Diversity of the Advisory Group gives strength and advantages to give collaborative support for the MDA.
Need to ensure that each area is assessed professionally and cover central issues of EFA.
Assistance is also needed in many aspects, including in human resources.
Need to form a drafting committee for a joint coordinated and collaborative framework for action.

3. Some questions and points for consideration
There are many INGOs that have excellent education advisors. UNICEF has many senior specialists at the country level. How do we harness them? The composition of committees per country will differ.
Assistance is also needed in countries where there is no UNESCO presence and where the challenges are more than the opportunities.
At the country level, the MoE will take the lead and NGOs agree to be partners. But at sub-regional level, what will be the arrangement? Will UNICEF and UNESCO group countries together and form the sub-regional working group?

4. Some questions and points for consideration
There are existing national/regional/sub-regional forums that can be tapped into instead of forming a new one.
In South Asia, the EFA forum is not very active. But an alternative is the SAARC or South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, which includes India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan may also join SAARC.

5. Other suggestions/concerns
Give emphasis on advocacy
Involve groups that can provide financial support for this assessment process (e.g. the World Bank).
Invite parliamentarians/legislators to be involved in the assessment at the national level to get political and legislative support.

6. National MDA Task Force Example: Nepal EFA MDA Committee
Name Designation
Secretary, MOES & NatCom Sec.Gen. Coordinator
Director, DOE Planning Member Secretary
Joint Secretary, NPC Education Sector Member
Joint Secretary, MOES Planning Member
Director General, DOE Member
Executive Director, NCED Member
Executive Director, CDC Member
Director, NFEC Member
Deputy General Secretary, UNESCO NC Member
Dr. Hirdaya Ratna Bajracharya, CERID Member
Dr. Kedar Nath Shrestha, K.U. Member
Dr. Bidhya Nath Koirala, T.U. Member
Rep. National Dalit Commission Member
Rep. National Women Commission Member
Rep. MOWCSW Member
UNESCO Advisor