VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTO #1294/01 3101548
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061548Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8170
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS MAPUTO 001294 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV SOCI PREL MZ
SUBJECT: GRM FOLLOW-UP TO THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON 
GLOBAL LITERACY 
 
REF: STATE 118971 
 
¶1. In response to the invitation from First Lady Laura Bush 
to participate in a literacy luncheon in New York on the 
margins of UNGA (reftel), Mozambican First Lady Ana Guebuza 
directed Minister of Education Aires Ali to write a letter to 
the U.S. National Committee for UNESCO, providing an update 
on Mozambique's efforts after the White House conference on 
Global Literacy. 
 
¶2. Begin letter text: 
 
REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE 
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE 
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER 
 
Letter no. 1744/GM/MEC/07 
 
It is with pleasure that we share the progress and 
experiences following the White House Conference on Global 
Literacy organized by the First Lady of the United States, 
Laura Bush.  This fact increases our responsibility and 
encourages us to vigorously continue our fight against 
illiteracy in our country, continent and the world in general. 
 
We can inform you that the participation of Mozambique in the 
White House Conference was preceded by two events worth 
mentioning: the launch of the Movement for Advocacy, 
Awareness and Mobilization of Resources towards Literacy and 
the launch of the II Decade of Education for Africa that took 
place in Maputo.  This coincidence became the galvanizing 
force behind the initiatives that Mozambique has been 
developing, guided by its Five-year Program and absolute 
poverty reduction program (PARPA), based on the principles of 
participation and partnership between the Government and 
non-governmental institutions and civil society. 
 
In fact, after the White House Conference, the following took 
place: 
 
-- Draft of the National Action Plan of the Movement, aimed 
at promoting the participation of more partners in the 
implementation of the Literacy and Education of Adults and 
Non-Formal Education programs; reinforce the will and 
political commitment for program support, mobilize human 
resources and operational infrastructures; facilitate 
dialogue between different players, disseminate and share 
information, promote good practices to create national 
momentum, comprised of diverse partnerships and mobilized 
management of  resources, adapting them to the fulfillment of 
the goals of literacy and education of adults and challenges 
of the Decade. 
 
-- Promotion of the expansion of the initiative "Family 
Without Illiteracy" as an alternative to the minute financial 
resources, mobilizing and raising awareness among Primary and 
Secondary School students, so that they can teach their 
parents, brothers/sisters, grandparents to read and write, in 
their homes, with the pedagogical support of their teachers 
and the control of the schools' management. 
 
-- Promotion of literacy of the members of district 
consultation counsels, in the context of Good Governance, 
Decentralization, and Community Development.  Currently, the 
Government of Mozambique defines the District as a center of 
development, and therefore makes it a priority to build 
capacity and provide power to the local leaders, as honorable 
representatives of the desires and hopes of the communities. 
 
As far as the interaction of Mozambique with the other 
participants in the Conference, a delegation participated in 
the Africa Regional Conference that took place in Bamako, 
Mali, September 10-12, 2007.  Mozambique was represented in 
this event by H. E. the First Lady of the Republic and H.E. 
the Vice-Minister of Finance.  The country had the pleasure 
of sharing our innovative and creative experiences resulting 
from some of the ongoing initiatives. 
 
In regards to what recent actions will impact literacy, we 
can again highlight Mozambique's "Family Without Illiteracy" 
initiative, the promotion of literacy to members of the 
district consultation counsels, and income management 
programs (organic garden, improved house building with 
stabilized blocks and management of small businesses). 
 
 
Maputo, September 13, 2007 
 
/s/ 
 
AIRES BONIFACIO BAPTISTA ALI 
MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE 
 
 
H.E. Ms. Susanna Connaughton, Executive Director of the 
United States National Committee for UNESCO 
 
Cc: Office of the Spouse of the President of the Republic 
H.E. The Representative of UNESCO-Maputo 
 
End letter text. 
Chapman