IFLA signs agreements with 50 countries to work towards getting Libraries included in National Development Plans

IFLA’s capacity-building International Advocacy Programme (IAP) is now fully underway. “50 countries have joined IFLA in this journey, and are already making progress towards promoting and supporting the role libraries can play in the planning and implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, IFLA President Donna Scheeder.

Four Regional Workshops

The IAP programme was launched with 4 Regional Workshops which involved more than 100 participants from library associations and public library representatives from 50 countries.

Before the workshop, participants signed an agreement with IFLA to carry out awareness-raising activities, and to meet with policy makers to ensure libraries are recognised as key partners in supporting the United Nations 2030 Agenda. With these agreements, IFLA has established an engaged community of advocates who will work in increase the profile and impact of library and information professionals in the achievement of sustainable development goals.

IFLA’s Secretary General stressed: “This has never been done before in the library community, and it is even more relevant because of its long-term sustainability. These participants have committed to be strong advocates in their countries to bring libraries into the UN 2030 Agenda conversation, and IFLA will be there to support them along the way.”

IFLA President-elect Glòria Pérez-Salmerón added: “The workshops were exceptionally successful. In only two months, during November and December 2016, IFLA convened participants in Singapore (Asia Oceania), Montevideo, Uruguay (Latin America and the Caribbean), Pretoria, South Africa (Africa), and The Hague, Netherlands (Europe).”

Next steps

As next steps for the International Advocacy Programme, IFLA will launch in January 2017 a call for funding proposals to carry out awareness-raising activities. All countries will be eligible to apply, and priority will be given to regional initiatives including countries not involved in the first round of workshops. Moreover, two more Regional Workshops will be offered by IFLA in the Caribbean and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions during the first quarter of 2017, and a Global Assembly will take place in the last quarter of 2017 to share experiences, success stories, and plans for the future.

“There is no doubt that libraries contribute to the UN 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. Everyone in the library community can help by spreading the word and making sure libraries are recognised as key development partners. IFLA will help you to get there.”, IFLA Secretary General Gerald Leitner.