Gender parity and equality

　　14． In order to ensure that the 2005 gender parity target, which has been missed in 94 countries, is met without further delay, we recommend that Governments and EFA partners:

　　-Implement strategies to boost girls’ participation and female literacy． These will include removing cost barriers and strengthening schools as gender-sensitive centres of quality learning, care and protection, in line with the recommendations of the UNGEI Technical meeting．

　　-Scale up efforts significantly to enable girls to attend and complete their education, including gender-sensitive learning content and school environments．

　　-Include in all sector plans clearly defined gender outcomes and targets in support of gender parity and equality, and budget lines for specific actions in favour of girls and women (and in some countries boys and men), including capacity development．

　　Joint Action Plan

　　15． We endorse the development of the proposed draft Joint Action Plan for achieving EFA by 2015, to be further elaborated by UNESCO in close consultation with the main global partners and presented to the UNESCO Executive Board at its spring session 2006． Its aim is a more strategic and coherent approach to achieve all six EFA goals． The Plan should set objectives, targets and timelines for the implementation process．

　　16． We recommend that UNESCO convene the Heads of the five convening agencies of Jomtien and Dakar at the latest by mid-2006 to discuss and, if possible, affirm the Plan．

　　17． We request UNESCO and the other EFA partners to encourage and support South-South cooperation, mutual learning and exchange at the regional level, including the strengthening of the E-9 network and other groupings as platforms for doing so． This will include cooperation on a triangular basis．

　　18． We encourage UNESCO to strengthen its capacity to perform its role of coordinating the EFA process at the international level and provide strategic support at regional and country levels．