UNESCO has been working for over 40 years in the field of media and information literacy (MIL). Part of its strategy involves creating partnerships necessary to amplify the impact of MIL. To this end, UNESCO will launch the Global Forum for Partnership on MIL (GFPMIL), which will be held inAbuja, Nigeria (tentative dates: 26-28 June 2013).
This initiative is a partnership between UNESCO, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and other key stakeholders around the world.
GFPMIL will not be another academic meeting but a more focused and permanent mechanism aimed at:
- articulating concrete partnerships to drive MIL development and impact globally;
- enabling the MIL community to speak as one voice on certain critical matters, particularly as it relates to policies;
- further deepening the strategy for MIL to be treated as a composite concept by providing a common platform for MIL related networks and associations globally.
With Africa as an overarching priority for UNESCO, GFPMIL will incorporate the Pan-African MIL and Intercultural Dialogue Conference as the first global partnership project.
This conference is supported by Saudi Arabia, a bilateral partner with significant involvement in UNESCO projects on MIL and intercultural dialogue.
Please visit UNESCO’s website for further updates on this meeting or contact Alton Grizzle orFackson Banda (Global Forum for Partnerships on Media and Information Literacy to take place next year in Nigeria).
UNESCO’s mission is to foster media and information literate societies through a comprehensive strategy, which include preparation of model Media and Information Literacy Curriculum for Teachers, the facilitation of international cooperation, development of Guidelines for Preparing National MIL Policies and Strategies, articulation of a Global Framework on MIL Indicators, creation of a MIL University Network, articulation of and establishment of an International Clearinghouse on MIL in cooperation with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, and provision of Guidelines for Broadcasters on Promoting User-Generated Content and MIL.
Source: UNESCO.
