International Commitments

Irish Contribution

Irish Aid Programme and Education - Education is a key focus area for Irish Aid. The Irish Aid programme has as its absolute priority the reduction of poverty, inequality and exclusion in developing countries and we are well aware of the role education plays in reaching these goals. In the years 2000 to 2004, Irish Aid’s expenditure on education amounted to almost €200 million. Of this, almost €170 million was spent in support of education in our Irish Aid partner countries in Sub Saharan Africa. Most of this money went into support for primary schooling.

International Events

The World Conference on Education for All (Jomtien, Thailand, 5-9 March 1990)
In 1990, delegates from 155 countries, as well as representatives from some 150 organizations agreed at the World Conference on Education for All in Jomtien, Thailand (5-9 March 1990) to universalize primary education and massively reduce illiteracy before the end of the decade.

• The World Declaration on Education for All: Meeting Basic Learning Needs
• Framework for Action: Meeting Basic Learning Needs

Mid-Decade Meeting on EFA (Amman, Jordan, 16-19 June 1996)
Six years after the Jomtien Conference, the Mid-Decade Meeting of the International Consultative Forum on Education for All, in Amman, Jordan (16-19 June 1996) brought together some 250 decision-makers from 73 countries, including ministers of education, and multilateral, and bilateral agencies and non-governmental organizations. Their aim: to assess the advances made since the Jomtien Conference.

• The Amman Affirmation
• Final Report

United Nations Resolution on a UN Literacy Decade

The World Education Forum (Dakar, Senegal, April 2000) was the first and most important event in education at the dawn of the new century. By adopting the Dakar Framework for Action, the 1,100 participants of the Forum reaffirmed their commitment to achieving Education for All by the year 2015. 

• Dakar Framework for Action 
• Expanded Commentary on the Dakar Framework for Action
• Regional Frameworks for Action 
• NGO Declaration 
• The Dakar Appeal 
• Final report

Education for all(EFA) Fast Track Initiative(FTI) In 2002, the Education for All - Fast Track Initiative (FTI) was launched as a global partnership between donor and developing countries to ensure accelerated progress towards the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education by 2015. All low-income countries which demonstrate serious commitment to achieve universal primary completion can join FTI.