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Title :	The World Summit for Children: Country-level opportunities and challenges
Document Type :	Executive Directives (CF/EXD/...)
Country :	Global	Document Symbol/Series:	CF/EXD/1990-004
Year Published :	1990	PDF Link :

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Executive Summary:



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FOR ACTION



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TO: Regional Directors
Representatives & Assistant Representatives
Directors - Copenhagen, Florence, Geneva, Tokyo/Sydney

cc: Executive Staff and Section Chiefs
National Committees for UNICEF


FROM: James P. Grant
Executive Director


RE:

The World Summit for Children:
Country-level opportunities and challenges

This Directive seeks to provide comprehensive background information and guidance for UNICEF Field Offices in following up at the country level the opportunities and obligations presented to UNICEF by the official call for the World Summit for Children, which will be held at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Saturday evening and all-day Sunday, 29-30 September 1990 (and, if necessary, Monday morning, 1 October). National Committees for UNICEF may wish to use this Directive as a guide suggesting similar action, as relevant and appropriate, within their countries. National Committees may wish to consult with the Division of Public Affairs for particular guidance in this respect. Guidelines for Headquarters responsibilities in preparing for the Summit were detailed in CF/EXD/1990-001 of 6 January 1.0.00, which has been implemented. The public announcement of the World Summit for Children has been made (by the Secretary-General, at United Nations Headquarters on 8 February 1990). The letters of invitation have been issued (dated 14 February 1990 and delivered to Permanent Missions in New York on 2 March 1990). A Planning Committee of some 25 Governments is already at work. A Secretariat has been established at Headquarters. The Summit is a reality. Now the challenge is to make its potential benefits a true and long-term reality for children.

A unique opportunity

A "world summit" is an unprecedented opportunity. No social, economic or political 'cause has ever had such a monumental tool available to further its objectives. Never before have leaders of nations worldwide - from the North,* South, East and West - assembled for a single working purpose. This singularly historic initiative occurs during a_ period of massive change in world affairs, as great forces alter the face of governments on several continents, thrusting upon them new responsibilities and new standards with human dignity as their central focus. The outstanding questions include whether those new standards will apply to the child as well as to the adult, and whether those responsibilities of government and: society will be seen to extend beyond each nation's borders and to encompass all people and all children - as citizens of a common world home.

UNICEF's responsibility

UNICEF's association with this historic opportunity should be regarded as a momentous responsibility. We shall not again in the foreseeable future have such an opportunity to advance the wellbeing of children in all countries.

Now well the Summit can benefit children over the coming decade and beyond will, to a large extent, depend on how well we in UNICEF help Governments to prepare for it, and whether public and political interest demands that Governments use the Summit to seriously strengthen international commitment to the needs and wellbeing of children - whether or not the Head of State or Government actually attends the Summit. That is a challenge which we cannot accomplish alone, but, obviously, we are in the vanguard, and are charged with "lead agency" responsibility. We must not fall short.

We have an all-too-brief time - just seven months - to mobilize partnerships and alliances ... to create public awareness ... to articulate clear and compelling arguments for the "do-ability" of actions for- children ... and to assist Governments of developing and industrialized countries to examine their present policies and programmes and to consider how they can strengthen their attention to children, both domestically and in international relations.

I am confident that with creativity, hard work - and a determination not to go it alone, but to link with a broad array of allies in making the most of this opportunity - we can fulfill the challenge. But to launch this effort, the responsibility begins with the people of UNICEF. It is up to us to organize our work, and then up to us to reach out to partners, allies and friends to make "working together for children" a true social movement and not just a slogan.

Reference information

The following documents will be useful for reference, quotation or guidance:

Announcement materials of 8 February 1990 (ATTACHMENT 1)

n Statement on the call for the World Summit for Children
n Statement by the Secretary-General
n Statement by H.E. Mr. L. Yves Fortier (on behalf of the Initiators)
n press release

Advocacy/information materials (ATTACHMENT 2)

n Why a World Summit for Children? A UNICEF Perspective (revised and updated as of 26 February 1990)
n Questions & Answers

Background information materials (ATTACHMENT 3)

n Statement of Agreement on the World Summit for Children (updated as of 8 February 1990)
n Resolution of the UNICEF Executive Board (22 December 1989)
n Members of the Planning Committee (as of 13 March 1990)
n Suggested Schedule- for the Planning Committee and related meetings/activities (draft as of 28 February)

UNICEF operational guidelines and information (ATTACHMENT 4)

n Operational izing Headquarters preparations for the World Summit for Children (CF/EXD/1990-001) of 16 January 1990
n Directory of Summit-related Staff (as of 6 March 1990)
n Revised Budget Estimates for the World Summit for Children and UNICEF Summit-related Mobilization Activities (E/ICEF/1990/AB/L.11) of 25 January 1990

Additional informational and advocacy materials are now in preparation at Headquarters, and will be distributed to all offices and National Committees as soon as each becomes available.

Information, guidance and instructions

The following pages of this Executive Directive include both general information on key developments, plans and expectations, and instructions for action by UNICEF offices.



Nature of the Summit

The World , Summit for Children has been called by six Initiating Heads of State/Government (the Presidents of Egypt, Mali and Mexico and the Prime Ministers of Canada, Pakistan and Sweden), and is being managed by a Planning Committee of some 25 Governments. It is not a United Nations or UNICEF meeting. UNICEF was requested to provide the Secretariat for the meeting under the guidance of the Initiators and the Planning Committee; the Executive Board in December authorized the Executive Director to do so. With the endorsement of the UNICEF Executive Board, the Secretary-General of the United Nations also agreed to facilitate the organization of the Summit, by employing his "good offices" on behalf of the Initiators, particularly by issuing invitations to the Summit.

Invitees

The Initiators have called a summit meeting. By definition, a "summit" is a meeting of Heads of State or Government (ie, the executive head of government). Because this is not a United Nations meeting, Governments are not "entitled" to representation (which could be at any level of their choosing). The Initiators specified that invitations should be extended to the Head of State or Government of Member States of the United Nations (participating in the General Assembly) or Member States of its specialized agencies. (Explanation: There are some States which are not members of the United Nations, but which are members of organizations like WHO or FAO (eg, Switzerland). Invitations have not been sent to Observers of the United Nations which are not Member States of any United Nations agency.]

To date, no provision has been made for attendance at the Summit (either as a participant or observer) by any official other than the Read of State or Government, except for officials accompanying the Head of State or Government. It will be up to the Planning Committee to decide if attendance will be possible for a representative other than the Head of State or Government - but this would almost certainly be as an observer without full participatory rights. It is not likely that the Planning Committee will address this question until at least its June meeting, if not later.

(Please Note: In some countries, the delineation of responsibilities between the "Head of State" and the "Head of Government" is not necessarily clear, or the Head of State has, in practice, exercised more active leadership in issues related to children than the Head of Government who may, in fact, be the "executive head" of the government. In preparing the letters of invitation for countries which have both a Head of State and a Head of Government, we consulted both with United Nations authorities and UNICEF Regional Directors to determine the "executive head" in each country, and the letters were addressed to that official. However, should the two officials decide between themselves that the other official should attend the Summit, that will be acceptable to the Initiators. (For example, an executive Prime Minister might pass the invitation to the King if the King has been more actively involved and identified with child survival programmes.)

Letters of invitation

The Secretary-General's letters of invitation are dated 14 February 1990. They -!iere delivered to the respective Permanent Missions to the United Nations on 2 March. The letters are written in either English, French or Spanish, in accordance with the "UN correspondence list". As appropriate, an unofficial translation into Arabic, Chinese or Russian was enclosed. The text of the letter was explicitly drafted by the Initiators, and was reviewed by the Planning Committee. Letters to those Heads whose countries are members of the UNICEF Executive Board included an extra exhortation: "Since your country is a member of the UNICEF Executive Board, charged by the General Assembly with specific responsibility for guiding the world community's attention to children, I especially hope that Your Excellency [Majesty, etc.] will be able to attend." Otherwise, all the letters are identical except for the personal salutations.

Copies of the individual letters have been given to Regional Directors at the World Conference on Education for All in Jomtien, where I discussed with them priorities and approaches for encouraging attendance. The Regional Directors will forward copies of the individual country letters to the respective UNICEF Representative or Assistant Representative. Copy of the appropriate letter is also being sent to each National Committee and other headquarters offices. These letters are for your background information and reference; they should not be generally circulated.

Copies of all 160+ letters have been provided to the six Initiating Governments. Their Foreign Ministries will send individual copies to their respective Ambassadors in every country.

ACTION: UNICEF Representatives should contact the Ambassadors of Canada, Egypt, Mali, Mexico, Pakistan and Sweden accredited to your country and offer your assistance in supporting their collective efforts to encourage the Head of State/Government to respond to the invitation. Formal initiatives to follow-up with the Government on the invitations should begin with the Ambassadors of the Initiators. You may also wish to approach Ambassadors of other members of the Planning Committee to encourage them to assist in encouraging your country's Head to respond.

We are especially anxious that as many as possible of the UNICEF Executive Board members will have responded by the time of the Executive Board session on 16 April - or that delegations will announce in their opening statements in the General Debate that their Head of State/Government intends to attend the Summit. Therefore, efforts in Executive Board member countries to encourage attendance should begin immediately.

Efforts in other countries should await guidance from your respective Regional Director or other senior colleague. The Geneva and Tokyo off ices, and the Division of Public Affairs in New York, can, of course, respond to queries and requests for advice from National Committees.

Planning Committee

In their Agreement to call the World Summit for Children, the six Initiating Governments decided to establish a Planning Committee to manage preparations for the Summit. The Planning Committee is responsible for determining the basic plans for the Summit, including Agenda, structure, format, credentials, etc., and will draft the final Declaration and any other official documents to be adopted at the Summit.

In December, the Initiators invited 12 other Governments to join them in an expanded Planning Committee. In late December, the UNICEF Executive Board encouraged that additional Governments be invited to ensure wide representation. At its first meeting on 12 January 1990, the Planning Committee agreed that it would welcome additional members if a strong interest in participation was manifested at the Read of State/Government level. It was agreed that if any country formally requests participation, the Executive Director should address a letter to the Head of State/Government explaining the role of the Planning Committee and inviting the Head to designate a "Personal Representative" to serve as a member of the Planning Committee. As soon as a Personal Representative is designated, that country will become a member of the Planning Committee. To date, 7 additional Governments have initiated this process, resulting in a total of 25 members/invitees for the Planning Committee. [see list in ATTACHMENT 3]

Significant further expansion of the Planning Committee would make it very difficult to work with and support. This is particularly true since we find that, given the "Summit" nature of this initiative, the Personal Representatives and other responsible authorities in Governments generally originate in the more political or diplomatic areas of government, rather than social welfare or development cooperation. It is therefore an extra challenge to assist those authorities in understanding children's issues and opportunities.

GUIDANCE: As a general rule, UNIC EF should not be encouraging Governments to request membership in the Planning Committee. Governments should be encouraged to appreciate the role of the UNICEF Executive Board (at whose session any Government can participate - whether or not they are currently one of the 41 members of the Board) as the equivalent of a "committee-of-the-whole" at which they can express their views and make suggestions regarding the Summit, as well as their ability to convey opinions through regional neighbors and other like-minded Governments who are already members of the Planning Committee.

High-level representation at the Executive Board's regular session in April and special session on the Summit (probably in early September) should be encouraged.

For those countries which are members of the Planning Committee, please be aware that there are no Headquarters funds to support travel to Planning Committee meetings.


"The Declaration"

The Planning Committee has initiated a careful and deliberate process to arrive at the Agenda of subjects to be addressed at the Summit and to. draft the Declaration. At its January meeting, the Planning Committee asked each of its members to submit suggestions of themes and topics which might be addressed by the Summit. Relevant United Nations agencies and offices were also invited to submit suggestions. To date, 12 Governments and 11 agencies have made suggestions, which have now been circulated to all members of the Planning Committee for their consideration. The Secretariat has assisted this process. by sorting the suggestions into several lists and a chart. [Since these inputs are, at present, merely suggestions, and have not yet been reviewed by the Planning Committee and thus do not presently constitute a definition of the "substance" of the Summit, we do not believe it useful to circulate this rather voluminous collection of inputs and lists.]

At its 19 March meeting, the Planning Committee will discuss all of these suggestions, and it is probable that, at that time, it will identify those issues which it proposes as the principal focus of the Summit - ie, the substantive agenda. This list will then be circulated to all members of the UNICEF Executive Board and other interested parties, and the Board will comment and react to the list at its regular session in April.

In early May, following the Executive Board session, it is proposed that a drafting group. will prepare a first draft of the Summit Declaration for circulation to members of the Planning Committee. The draft will then go through successive review, discussion and re-drafting over the period leading to the Summit. Hence, you should understand that no draft of the Declaration will be available until May.

UNICEF has encouraged members of the Planning Committee to consider the Executive Board document on Development Goals and Strategies for Children: Priorities for UNICEF Action in the 1990s (E/ICEF/1990/L.5), as well as The State of the World's Children, 1990, as the basic background documents for the substantive content and objectives of the Summit. We have also encouraged Governments to focus on "do-able propositions" - ie, those interventions which have demonstrated their effectiveness and relative feasibility for improving the survival and well-being of children, and to keep the Summit focussed on a relatively concentrated definition of "children's issues", with a more limited discussion of larger global issues which focusses on "partial solutions" which might lessen the direct impact of those problems on children.

ACTION: In consultations with officials of member governments of the Planning Committee, or governments which are likely to participate in the UNICEF Executive Board debate, UNICEF staff should encourage authorities to give due consideration to the Executive Board's two-year process of identifying goals, strategies and priorities for children, which could form a useful foundation of issues for the Summit to address.



Schedule of the Summit

The World , Summit for Children is scheduled to begin with an opening session early Saturday evening, 29 September, which will be followed by an official dinner. Working sessions of the Summit will be held all-day Sunday, 30 September, including a working luncheon. There will also be an official dinner on Sunday evening. It is probable that the formal presentation and adoption/signature of the Declaration of the Summit will not occur until Monday morning, 1 October - immediately prior to that day's session of the United Nations General Assembly. Participating Heads of State or Government should be encouraged to plan to attend throughout Saturday evening, all-day Sunday, and for the conclusion on Monday morning.

Format of the Summit

Informal discussions have been held on possible formats for the Summit meetings, but no decisions have yet been reached. This matter will be discussed further at the Planning Committee meeting on 19 March, which may lead toward a formal proposal. The format is likely to include a mixture of open (televised) and closed sessions, as well as a mixture of prepared statements and free-exchange discussions. There is a definite preference that the Summit should not be simply a series of prepared statements by all participants, with no "give and take". It is therefore likely that there will be only a limited number of prepared statements, which might be given by regional or other representative Heads, and would be used to introduce specific topics (ie, it would not be simply a recitation of programmes and policies in the speaker's country). These introductory statements would be followed by free-exchange discussions on the various topics.

The Planning Committee appreciates the political need for Heads of State or Government, in making a major trip out-of-country, to be seen by their public as having a valid substantive purpose in making the trip. Every effort will be made to ensure that each participating Head of State or Government is seen to be participating (ie, there will be some means of ensuring that a statement or intervention by each Head can be broadcast back to the country). However, the Summit for Children may well have more Heads of State/Government in attendance than any other meeting in history. The limited time will not likely allow every participant to deliver a major prepared speech. However, it is likely that there will be some means for written statements to be formally put on the table as contributions to the discussion.

ACTION: Government officials should be discretely cautioned not to expect that their Head will be able to step to the podium and deliver a 30-minute (or even a 5-minute) recitation about his/her country.

You should, however, remind government officials that the timing of the Summit coincidental with the opening of the General Assembly means that Heads of State/Government have two forums for public exposure - both the Summit and the General Assembly.



Thus, even though they may not have the opportunity to deliver a major prepared statement at the Summit, they can do so in the Assembly, either during the days prior to the Summit, or the days following. In justifying the political costs of a trip to the United Nations, therefore, their opportunities for political visibility should be seen as a combination of the Summit and the UNGA.

Headquarters Task Force and Focal Points

As announced in CF/EXD/1990-001, "Operational izing Headquarters preparations for the World Summit for Children", a UNICEF Task Force on the Summit has been established in New York. The Task Force consists of the Summit Secretariat (those people working explicitly on preparing the Summit Meeting) and Summit Focal Points from all Headquarters Divisions. The Task Force is chaired by Michael Shower, who is also Executive Secretary for the Summit. The Task Force meets weekly, and has also established a series of working groups in various areas. Please refer to CF/EXD/1990-001 for descriptions of the functions of the working groups on Information and Communications, Programme Mobilization, Public Mobilization and Resource Mobilization, which relate primarily to UNICEF's programme of Summit-related Mobilization activities. Working groups on Themes and Declaration and Arrangements and Protocol, as well as other occasional groups, are supporting the Summit Secretariat in its responsibilities for the Meeting itself.

The attached Directory of Summit-related Staff (in ATTACHMENT 4) identifies the Summit Secretariat and "front line" Divisional focal points. Field Offices and National Committees may contact the relevant focal point directly, with copy to your relevant Geographic Section Chief in Programme Division. If you are not certain who to contact, write directly to the Executive Secretary of the Summit (Michael Shower).

All Headquarters Divisions have incorporated appropriate Summit-related responsibilities in their 1990 workplans. These responsibilities include necessary support for the Summit Meeting preparatory process and the Meeting itself, as well as for UNICEF's programme of Summit-related Mobilization activities.

UNICEF's programme of Summit-related Mobilization activities

The Initiators of the Summit and the UNICEF Executive Board have recognized that fullest value can be derived from the World Summit by stimulating a broad programme of activities at global, regional, national and community levels which make use of the Summit to increase awareness, strengthen advocacy, improve policy commitment and extend and accelerate programme implementation in all countries.

UNICEF's Mobilization activities therefore seek to encourage, guide and support (with resources, materials, etc.) UNICEF Field Offices, Headquarters staff, National Committees for UNICEF, NGOs and other traditional allies for children, and other potential allies, in taking fullest advantage of the opportunity presented by the Summit.


To support this objective, the following principal areas of activity and underway at Headquarters.

Programme Mobilization: A Programme Mobilization Unit has been established to work with Programme Division in guiding field offices to assist Governments to prepare for the Summit and to use the Summit to elevate attention to children on the national agenda and to accelerate programme delivery. Further information and guidance on this function is detailed under the sub-title "The Summit and the Country Programme", which begins on page 12 of this Directive.

Public Mobilization: UNICEF's regular Public Affairs capacity has been supplemented to increase liaison with National Committees, NGOs and other traditional and non-traditional allies to build awareness of the Summit and to stimulate strengthened actions for children. These efforts are aimed particularly at: (a) creating a climate of awareness and support; and (b stimulating global and international organizations and institutions to assist their national and local affiliates to be more actively involved in child-oriented programmes. Among other constituencies, youth movements, women's organizations, and the religious communities are seen as particular "targets" for Summit-related activities.

ACTION: Field Offices should encourage/assist national NGOs and other Influential groups to undertake advocacy action and advise Headquarters of interesting ideas and opportunities. Offices and National Committees will be advised of programmes undertaken by/with international NGOs and other networks with country-level impact or affiliates, and opportunities to take advantage of these networks to support in-country advocacy and programme delivery.

Information and Communications: UNICEF's regular Information capacity has been supplemented to produce a variety of print, video, audio and electronic materials related to the Summit, including information and media kits, background documents and issue papers, update newsletters, action guides and suggestions, a Summit video, radio programmes, etc. The media will be encouraged, through contacts, media field trips, and media seminars, to produce-more in-depth coverage of children's issues.

ACTION: Work with the media will be critical to the creation of a climate of public support for the Summit. Field offices and National Committees should develop information strategies and initiate early contacts with the media to encourage support for the goals of the Summit and coverage of the Summit (in advance, and of the Meeting itself) and of children's issues within the country and globally; editorials and commentaries urging strong national commitment for children and preparation for the Summit including active participation by the Head of State/Government should also be encouraged.





Offices should anticipate requests for assistance in encouraging local coverage of international developments related to the Summit, in organizing media field trips, and in providing specialized information for Summit-related publications and productions.

Materials produced by field offices on the situation of children - for example, country-specific summaries of the situation of children in each country, and priorities for action in that country - should be shared with media, as appropriate. This material should also be sent to DOI New York for use with National Committees.

Resource Mobilization: UNICEF's regular fundraising units (Programme Funding Office and Greeting Card Operation) have been charged with raising funds for both Summit budgets (US$1.5 million for the Meeting and US$2 million for the Mobilization activities) and with using the Summit to encourage increased resources for programmes for children in general, and for UNICEF in particular. Letters in support of the Executive Board's appeal for the Summit budgets were sent to most governments and to National Committees in late January; copies were sent to respective field offices for local follow-up. PFO and GCO are currently developing plans and materials for longer-term fundraising efforts using the Summit as a focus of attention.

ACTION: Whenever appropriate, field offices should include a fundraising dimension in their summit-related activities and advocacy. [Such fundraising should generally be for the benefit of programmes for children, not for the Summit budgets. PFO should be advised of all such plans.

Government Relations: Various Headquarters units normally involved in liaison with Governments through their Missions and capitals are involved in facilitating Government understanding of the Summit and in participating in its preparatory process, as well as in encouraging Head of State/Government attendance. These efforts are being made both through bilateral contacts and in multilateral forums. The crucial role of multilateral forums (such as the Francophonie, OAU, Non-Aligned Movement, Commonwealth, etc.) in building support for the idea of a Summit for Children during 1989 is particularly recalled.

As suggested in CF/EXD:IC 1990-007 of 13 February 1990 on "Trans-national Opportunities for High-level Advocacy". visits by Heads of State/Government to/from your country, and various regional or other international meetings, offer important opportunities for a strongly supportive Head to encourage others to participate in the Summit, or for issues related to the Summit to be addressed in multinational fora, and for regional and other groups to prepare a common position in relation to the Summit.

ACTION: Field Offices and National Committees should be particularly alert to forthcoming trans-national advocacy opportunities, as suggested in CF/EXD:IC 1990-007. Advance notification of expected state visits, international, regional or sub-regional meetings involving Heads of State /Government or other senior officials, should be sent to the relevant Geographic Section Chief, to Djibril Diallo, and to Mary Cahill.


Themes and Declaration: A team led by Deputy Executive Director (Programmes) Richard Jolly is serving a dual function of: (a) supporting the Planning Committee's process of identifying principal themes for the Summit and, ultimately, assisting Governments in drafting the Summit Declaration; and (b) coordinating UNICEF's input into this process, and the development of UNICEF's, background papers on the issues for the consideration of Governments.

Among other materials, briefing kits for Governments will be prepared which will include: (a) an overview of the situation of children in the world; (b) advocacy on the principal themes and goals for the Summit; and (c) country-specific summaries of the situation of children in each country, priorities for action in that country, etc. Material under (a) and (b) above will be produced at Headquarters.

ACTION: Part (c) (the country summaries) must -be prepared by field offices using updated Situation Analysis of the current country programme and updated CPR figures. Programme Division will issue guidelines and sample formats for these inputs.

Arrangements and Protocol: A unit of the Summit Secretariat is preparing arrangements for the Summit Meeting and to assist Governments, mainly through their Permanent Missions in New York, in logistical arrangements in support of their Head of State/Government's participation in the Summit. Relevant information will be shared with field offices to assist them in advising government authorities. While the Summit is not a United Nations meeting, its venue at UN Headquarters allows a reduced level of support and services to be provided since there is not a "Host" Government for the meeting. Just as for their normal participation in United Nations meetings, Governments are responsible for their own travel, accommodations, local transportation, staff and other support services in New York. The Summit Secretariat will attempt to provide commonly useful information, but will not make arrangements for individual delegations. No Headquarters funds are available to support Heads of State/Government or their delegations in attending the Summit

The Summit and the UNICEF Country Programme

Country-level preparation for the World Summit should strengthen - and not compete with - preparation/ implementation of the country programme. The Summit is not a distracting activity, but a tool for strengthening support for children, mobilizing additional resources, improving policy orientation, and accelerating delivery of programme services.

Most country programmes going to the Executive Board in 1990 already include relevant goals for the 1990s. Moreover, Situation Analyses, Programme Strategy and Plan of Operations, in which the goals for the 1990s have been articulated, can greatly facilitate the adoption of country-specific programme strategies. With respect to countries going to the 1991 Board, the Situation Analysis and the programme review must include a discussion of the goals and strategies for the 1990s. As per the guidelines issued last year, every UNICEF field office is expected to assist the country to adapt and prioritize child-related goals in its national plans for children and in the UNICEF-supported Country Programme. The Summit provides an unprecedented opportunity to bring to the attention of Heads of State and key decision-makers the needs of children in every country, and what additional efforts are required by the governments, international community, NGOs and local communities to accelerate the implementation of programmes for children. The Summit also provides unparalleled leverage for concerted efforts (along with relevant government counterparts and UN agencies) to obtain the highest possible political commitment for acceleration of programmes on priority problems of children in each country.

Country-level activities in relation to the Summit might include assistance to the Government or other possible sponsors in organizing special meetings, seminars, country-specific publications, etc., especially including national, sub-national or community leadership meetings/conferences, or special meetings of particular sectors (e.g., physicians, business leaders, professional associations, voluntary service organizations, etc.). It may be appropriate to promote these as a "national summit for children", "provincial summit", "city summit", etc., which might include not only government authorities, but leaders of NGOs, civic and community groups, business, the media, the professions, etc. Such activities should be encouraged whether or not the Head of State/Government intends to attend the World Summit.

Field. Offices will also want to assist the Government in understanding plans for the Summit and in preparing the Head of State/Government's participation. In many countries, preparations for the Summit may be the best opportunity for the Representative to have direct access to the Head of State /Government and highest-level authorities - an opportunity which should be used not only to help prepare the Governments participation in the Summit, but also to establish longer-term interest and relationships.

Collaboration within the UN System

The Executive Board and the Planning Committee have both encouraged other United Nations agencies and offices to contribute to developing the themes and objectives of the Summit, and to consider how their work at country level can strengthen benefits for children in association with the Summit. I have written* to the executive heads of each of the principal relevant agencies inviting their ideas and suggestions. UNICEF Field Offices should similarly encourage other agencies to put forward ideas for action at the country level.

ACTION: UNICEF Representatives should brief the Resident Coordinator and all heads of other UN agencies present in your country and invite them to join in a common effort to take fullest advantage of the Summit to strengthen programme actions for children, families and communities as part of their regular country programmes. Please share with them relevant information and developments an an on-going basis.

Financial support

Since Summit-related activities in programme countries are intended to advance programme delivery, it is appropriate for such activities to be supported as a part of UNICEF's country programme budget allocations for advocacy and social mobilization. The Budget Estimates for the Summit-related Mobilization activities, which have been submitted to the Executive Board for approval at its April session, include a minimal provision for catalytic assistance to UNICEF field offices, Governments or other organizers for in-country activities exclusively focussed on the Summit.


ACTION: Since in-country Mobilization activities related to the Summit should be integral to on-going country programmes, resources required to sponsor or stimulate such activities within programme countries should first be sought within the country programme allocation. If additional funds are required to support activities exclusively focussed on the Summit, request should be addressed to the Chief of the relevant Geographic Section in Programme Division, with copy to the Associate Director of Programme Division and to the Regional Director. Please recognize, however, that these funds are severely limited, and are not likely to be available to support all requests.

...............

UNICEF's urgent and unique challenge in the months leading to the World Summit for Children is to make use of the opportunity offered by this historic meeting to organize- activities and informational programmes, to revitalize cooperation with traditional partners, to reach out to additional constituencies, and to enlist stronger and more sustained involvement in the development of policies and the implementation of programmes for the well-being of children. The year of the World Summit for Children, like the International Year of the Child, can be a stimulus for spontaneous activities for children and the launching of a decade of enhanced and accelerated action for children in all societies.