UNESCO Project Sheet

Promoting the Malaysia-UNESCO Cooperation Programme (MUCP) at the 38th General

Conference of UNESCO Round Table Discussion on: "Promoting South-South Cooperation

for Sustainable Development

What is it? A UNESCO project funded by the Malaysia Fund-in-Trust (MFIT) under the Malaysia-UNESCO Cooperation Programme (MUCP) and organized in partnership with the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO and the Permanent Delegation of Malaysia to UNESCO. It aims to gather renowned leaders and experts to discuss challenges, solutions and opportunities as well as strengthen partnerships through South-South Cooperation.

Why? To deliberate and make recommendations during the round table discussion on new mechanism of South-South Cooperation, as promoted by the Government of Malaysia, could contribute to the successful delivery of Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

What is technical assistance?

Technical assistance is provided based on the needs/demands by governments or beneficiary countries aiming at developing skills, sharing of information, transmission of working knowledge and consulting services.

Beneficiary countries It places special emphasis on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Asia and the Pacific, and in Africa

How does it work? The Round Table Discussion is a means for promoting the MUCP to UNESCO Member States by engaging key resource persons/experts to share their experience and highlighting solutions and best practices in their areas of expertise. The Round Table Discussion was moderated by Mr Ben Malor of UN Radio, from New York. The discussion began with opening remarks by Hon. Dato’ Seri Mahdzir bin Khalid, Minister of Education of Malaysia and followed by a keynote address from the Director General of UNESCO which was read on her behalf by Ms Flavia Schlegel, Assistant Director General of UNESCO for Natural Sciences. Experts in Education, Science, Culture as well as Sustainable Development were chosen from a pool of experts from countries as far as Nigeria to the Pacific Islands. The panellists of the roundtable discussion include:

Tan Sri Dr. Zakri Abdul Hamid, Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia – Challenges of Sustainability in the Agenda 2030 for Southern countries

Ms. Deepika Sharma, Director of Learning Links Foundation, India – Curriculum and Assessment as well as 21st Century Skills

Dato’ Ir. (Dr.) Lee Yee Cheong, Malaysian Chairman of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation under the auspices of UNESCO (ISTIC) – The challenges of South-South Cooperation in promoting Science, Technology and Innovation

Ms. Cecilie Smith-Christensen, Smith-Christensen Catalysis, Norway – Sustainable Tourism and World Heritage

Dato’ Prof. Dr. Asma Ismail, Director General of Higher Education,

Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia – Education Reform: The Malaysian Experience (Malaysian Education Blueprint – Basic and Higher Education)

Dr. Mustafa El Tayeb, President, The Future University, Sudan – South-South Cooperation in Science and Technology

After the presentation, panel members were engaged in a question and answer session with participants notably from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and African countries. The closing remark was delivered by Tan Sri Dr. Madinah Mohamd, Secretary General of the Ministry of Education Malaysia and Vice-President of the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO. She emphasized Malaysia’s contribution to the enhancement of South-South Cooperation in fields of education, science, culture, communication and information which will bring about more meaningful outcomes and changes to the beneficiary countries as well as Malaysia. Approximately 100 participants from the 38th General Conference attended the side event, including Ministers, ambassadors, national delegations, UNESCO staff and members of the press.

Duration 9 November 2015

Expected results Through this event, the roundtable discussion is a good opportunity to highlight the results from the Malaysia-UNESCO Cooperation Programme (MUCP) and to stimulate the involvement of new South-South cooperation champions and actors.

Main activities undertaken

This Roundtable Discussion was organized by the UNESCO Jakarta in partnership with the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO, Malaysian Permanent Delegation to UNESCO and with financial support from the Malaysia Funds-in-Trust (MFIT). Information material, a short film and small exhibition highlighting key achievements of the projects supported by MFIT were also featured. Interpretation was provided in English and French. The short film can be viewed at the following link: http://www.mucp-mfit.org The side event was well covered by national and international press. See below the link of UNESCO press Links: UNESCO Press: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/malaysia_unesco_cooperation_programme_advancing_the_sustainable_development_agenda/

Current status of the project

UNESCO is considering of organizing a similar event / programme: i. To organize an event to showcase the results of the MUCP programme

at the 39th UNESCO General Conference in Paris, France; ii. To organize a Final Synthesis Conference in 2018 in Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia. The conference will share and discuss results of the projects. Additionally, it will identify key issues as well as develop common recommendations and implications for the future.

Link to South-South cooperation

The establishment of the Malaysia-UNESCO Cooperation Programme (MUCP) is a show of commitment by the Government of Malaysia and UNESCO as a means to enhance South-South cooperation for the benefit of the developing countries of the Asia and the Pacific region as well as for Africa, with particular emphasis on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). As part of the South-South Cooperation initiative, the MUCP focus areas are education, the sciences, culture, communication and information, contributing to the Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) along with its 169 targets.

Contact person Dr. Shahbaz Khan (s.khan(at)unesco.org) and Ms. Sharizad Sulaiman (s.sulaiman(at)unesco.org)

Photo(s)

Picture 1 Opening of the Round Table Discussion

Picture 2 MUCP Short Video Presentation

Picture 3 Panellist at the Round Table Discussion being introduced by the

moderator

Picture 4 Closing Remarks by Tan Sri Dr. Madinah Mohamad, Secretary General of

the Ministry of Education Malaysia