News
The 12th IFAP Council adopts new Strategic Plan and expands solid partnership for building sustainable Knowledge Societies
On 21 and 22 June 2023, the twelfth session of the Intergovernmental Council for the Information for All Programme (IFAP) took place, marking a significant transformation for the programme. During the two-day session, the Council approved new Statutes and Rules of Procedure for the IFAP Council, a new IFAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023 – 2029, and the outline of a new Manual of Operations that simplifies and organizes the implementation procedures for IFAP.
The new SP ensures the programme's continued relevance and effectiveness in addressing the challenges of the digital age.
The IFAP’s contribution to UNESCO's mandate to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image is crucial, and we recognize the substantial accomplishments and valuable contributions made by IFAP over the past two decades.
Charting IFAP's Future with the IFAP Strategic Plan (2023-2029)
Under the Strategic Plan 2023-2029, IFAP reinforces its commitment to fostering policy dialogue among Member States while aligning its efforts with the ongoing work of UNESCO's Communications and Information Sector and other relevant Sectors in regards to IFAP priorities. The six priorities of the programme - information for development, information literacy, information preservation, information ethics, information accessibility, and multilingualism in cyberspace - remain at the core of the Strategic Plan, reflecting IFAP's dedication to enhancing its position as a global platform for Member States in fostering inclusive, equitable and sustainable knowledge societies.
The elaboration of the new IFAP Strategic Plan is a testament to our unified endeavors and rigorous dialogue within the IFAP community, IFAP Council and Bureau, partners, donors, as well as representatives from civil society and private sector. Through these cooperative efforts, we have constructed a thorough roadmap aimed at amplifying the impact of the Information for All Programme.
These priorities are translated into concrete programme objectives to drive positive change and address pressing issues in the digital realm. Over the 2023-2029 period, IFAP will:
- Mainstream principles and policies for knowledge societies into digital transformation processes.
- Foster information-literate societies through knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
- Develop policies and approaches to safeguard documents held by information repositories.
- Build capacities for and convene reflections on ethical, legal and human rights issues arising from frontier digital technologies.
- Strengthen universal accessibility to information, and advance privacy protections, open access and universal design.
- Mainstream multilingualism in cyberspace into digital inclusion plans.
The IFAP Strategic Plan also underscores UNESCO's commitment to youth empowerment, global priorities Africa and Gender Equality, and the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDC). The Programme is also strategically positioned to contribute to the UN Secretary-General's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation and the Global Digital Compact.
With the renewed Strategic Plan, IFAP sets a clear path forward, the course towards building inclusive knowledge societies, ensuring that information and knowledge are accessible to all, and harnessing the potential of frontier technologies for the benefit of humanity.
Cultivating Strong Partnerships: The Endorsement of the IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto
The endorsement of the updated IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto by the 12th Session of IFAP Council represents a significant milestone in IFAP's partnership with the by reaffirming the critical role of public libraries as essential pillars of knowledge societies. By endorsing this manifesto, IFAP emphasizes the importance of public libraries in promoting access to information, fostering literacy, and facilitating lifelong learning. Furthermore, it demonstrates IFAP's commitment to working collaboratively with stakeholders to advance the shared goal of building inclusive and sustainable knowledge societies.
The IFAP Council also acknowledges the contributions of and the enhanced collaboration with its long-term partner the Institute of Scientific and Technological Information of China (ISTIC) and new partners, including Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP), United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-Egov), Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).
Looking Ahead: A Call for Partnering
Following the adoption of the new strategic plan and the refinement of operational procedures, IFAP stands ready to face the challenges of the rapidly changing digital age. The Programme is eager to expand its partnerships with Member States, the private sector, academia, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), all united by their dedication to building inclusive, equitable, and sustainable knowledge societies.
