Unesco MOST 2 Conference

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Unesco MOST 2 Conference

MOST, launched in March 1994, is a global initiative undertaken by UNESCO to promote international comparative Social Sciences research. The primary emphasis is to support large-scale, long-term autonomous research and to transfer the relevant findings and data to decision-makers.

The long-term objective is to establish sustainable links between Social Sciences researchers and decision-makers so as to strengthen scientific, professional and institutional capacities, particularly in developing countries. MOST focuses on improving the linkage between research and policy-making, including the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of development actions and processes, the dissemination of research results, best practices and capacity-building. The 2002-2003 consultations with UNESCO's regional representations and scientific partners identified specific thematic priorities per region. Further consultations in 2004-2005 led to the establishment of regional priority themes for Phase II of the MOST Programme. The priority themes for each region are as follows: Africa: Regional Integration Processes Arab States: the Role of the State in Social Development Asia-Pacific: Human Security Europe, including Eastern and Central Europe, and North America: Ageing Latin America and the Caribbean: Fighting poverty Small Islands Development States (SIDS): Sustainable Social Development. Each region has taken up the responsibility to host forums related to the regional priority themes.

31/05/2012

MOST Forum 2012

10/05/2012

THEMATIC OBJECTIVES OF MOST

The MOST IGC, comprising of 35 Member States, convenes every two (2) years and establishes the priority areas to be researched, decides on overall policy and funding questions, and handles the relations with governmental authorities.

The 2002-2003 consultations with UNESCO's regional representations and scientific partners identified specific thematic priorities per region. Further consultations in 2004-2005 led to the establishment of regional priority themes for Phase II of the MOST Programme. The priority themes for each region are as follows:
Africa: Regional Integration Processes
Arab States: the Role of the State in Social Development
Asia-Pacific: Human Security
Europe, including Eastern and Central Europe, and North America: Ageing
Latin America and the Caribbean: Fighting poverty
Small Islands Development States (SIDS): Sustainable Social Development.

However, during the 10th IGC session, which was held in Paris from 14-16th March 2011, the decision was taken to concentrate on two (2) strategic themes/priorities on Social Transformations.

(1) Social Inclusion – in particular, with respect to social development, education, labour, science and technology, and environment. This theme will be for the short and medium term and will focus on employment, youth and social investment. Social Inclusion was recognized as an essential feature of fighting poverty, narrowing inequalities and advancing towards social justice.

(2) Global Environmental Change and Prevention of its Social Consequences. This theme will be for the longer term. The Council recognized that this notion includes global responsibility for sustainable development, and the imperative to address crises such as the depletion of biodiversity, scarcity of fresh water resources, food and energy shortages, the pressure of accelerating urbanization and population growth, climate change and natural disasters. The social consequences of these developments include displacement and migration, social instability, conflict, intolerance, poverty and the exacerbation of existing social inequalities and marginalization.

09/05/2012

Unesco MOST 2 Conference's cover photo

08/05/2012

In Case You Were Wondering...

WHAT DOES THE MOST FORUM MEAN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE?

From the first Forum in Jamaica, fifteen (15) recommendations for adoption in a coherent and coordinated national and regional action plan were articulated:

1. Each Government should establish a high-level mechanism to provide leadership, coordination, mainstreaming and follow-up on the implementation of national youth policies.

2. Strengthen the CARICOM Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) in order to focus more on issues affecting young people through youth mainstreaming in all its deliberations.

3. Each Government should ensure adequate legislation empowering and protecting the rights of youth within the framework of international human rights instruments.

4. CARICOM, with support of UNESCO/MOST and other relevant partners, should spearhead evaluation on existing youth policy and programme initiatives with a view to identifying good practices that have proven effective in encouraging youth participation and civic engagement, and ensure that governments and civil society have the necessary information for replication.

5. Strengthen national data collection and analysis capabilities and promote collaboration among the statistical departments or agencies of governments in a regional initiative to develop a common approach to collecting regional youth data.

6. Include pre-adolescents, between 10 and 14 years, in developing a regional approach to youth policies.

7. The implementation of a coordinated regional approach on several keys areas, to include education, micro-enterprises, promoting youth media (podcast, blogs, and radio), sports, and the mainstreaming of youth participation with the right to give feedback on all social services, the education system, and justice.

8. Revise and strengthen the existing CARICOM Regional Strategy on Youth Development, including clearly defined youth development goals. In this regard, consideration should be given to the adoption of a CARICOM Youth Charter modeled on the 2006 Africa Youth Charter.

9. The development of national youth policies where non-existent, and the reviewing of existing policy instruments.

10. The undertaking of a “Professionalization of Youth Development” so as to ensure an effective youth empowerment strategy.

11. Advance work further on the Youth Development Index currently being undertaken by the Commonwealth Secretariat to facilitate the scientific impact assessment of development strategies and programmes.

12. Promote partnerships with the private sector and other relevant stakeholders.

13. Conduct budget audits of expenditure on youth programmes to ensure adequate allocation of resources, emphasizing that social investment is a productive factor.

14. Strengthen and reposition youth ministries and agencies by undertaking a scientific assessment of their capacities in collaboration with initiatives being spearheaded by the Commonwealth Youth Programme.

15. Use the International Year of Youth and the World Conference on Youth to advance youth advocacy and revitalize governments’ commitment to investing in youth development.

08/05/2012

REGIONAL AND SUB REGIONAL FORA OF MINISTERS OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

MOST endeavors to assists Member States in responding to global challenges through the establishment of regional and sub-regional Fora of Ministers in charge of Social Development. These Fora serve as platforms to enable the relevant Ministries to congregate and share their experiences, as well as to dialogue with researchers and other important stakeholders, particularly the civil society and the UN System.

The Fora of Ministers of Social Development therefore seeks to provide:
• A space for regional dialogue at Ministerial level on regional strategies on social policy;
• A platform that accommodates the exchange of experiences and best practices on national policies;
• An environment that facilitates the development of joint projects; and
• Opportunities to influence international reflection and policy formulation.

08/05/2012

In Case You Were Wondering...

WHAT'S THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO CONNECTION?

Second Regional MOST Forum - Trinidad and Tobago

The Second session of the Caribbean Regional Forum is carded for May 2012 and will be hosted by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT), through the Ministry of the People and Social Development (MPSD).

Trinidad and Tobago is a member state of UNESCO and as such, has established a National Commission for UNESCO. One of the thematic areas and sub-committees established under the National Commission is very relevant to the Ministry of the People and Social Development. This is, the Sub-Committee for Social and Human Sciences, which focuses on issues such as human rights, poverty, social transformations, sport, ethics and philosophy.

The implementation of the MOST Programme in Trinidad and Tobago via UNESCO will strengthen the research-policy nexus of the country’s research systems to facilitate policy coordination in the social sector. Trinidad and Tobago also participated in the Ninth Session of the Intergovernmental Council, which took place in September 2009. A key achievement of the social and human science sub-committee was facilitation of the appointment in 2010 of the then Honourable Minister of People and Social Development to the Inter-Governmental Council (IGC) of the UNESCO MOST Programme.

08/05/2012

Where was the First Regional MOST held?

FIRST REGIONAL MOST FORUM - JAMAICA

This First Regional Forum of Ministers of Social Development in the Caribbean was hosted by the Government of Jamaica in January 2010. The theme of the conference was “Social Development Strategies for the Caribbean Youth in the Context of the Global Economic Crisis”.

The conference created an opportunity for approximately sixty (60) participants including public authorities, policy makers, social science researchers and representatives of civil society from the Caribbean, including representatives of International Development Agencies to debate and share knowledge on the most successful policy responses in their respective countries, which could be utilized by other countries in the region. The specific objectives of the Forum included the exchange of best practices; the identification of practical ways of addressing developmental challenges facing an exploding youth population within the countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the adoption of measures that will lead to a higher degree of cooperation within the region.

08/05/2012

In Case You Were Wondering...

WHAT IS MOST?

UNESCO’s Programme for the Management of Social Transformations (MOST), launched in March 1994, is a global initiative undertaken by UNESCO to promote international comparative Social Sciences research. The primary emphasis is to support large-scale, long-term autonomous research and to transfer the relevant findings and data to decision-makers. The long-term objective is to establish sustainable links between Social Sciences researchers and decision-makers so as to strengthen scientific, professional and institutional capacities, particularly in developing countries.

MOST focuses on improving the linkage between research and policy-making, including the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of development actions and processes, the dissemination of research results, best practices and capacity-building.
The mission of MOST is thus to
• Continue strengthening the links between research and policy;
• Promote social sciences, especially in countries where they are less developed;
• Assist governments to recognize how societies may benefit from social sciences; and
• Alert social scientists that their relevance depends on their ability to enlighten and offer solutions to their societies.

08/05/2012

"Promoting Equity and Social Inclusion: Pathways to Prosperity for All"

02/05/2012

Unesco MOST 2 Conference's cover photo

Address

Port Of Spain

General information

Trinidad and Tobago is a member state of UNESCO and as such, has established a National Commission for UNESCO. One of the thematic areas and sub-committees established under the National Commission is very relevant to the Ministry of the People and Social Development. This is, the Sub-Committee for Social and Human Sciences, which focuses on issues such as human rights, poverty, social transformations, sport, ethics and philosophy. In this light, the Ministry of the People and Social Development embraces the opportunity to host the Second (2nd) UNESCO MOST Regional Forum of Ministers of Social Development for the Caribbean. This Forum will bring together regional public authorities, policy makers, social science researchers and representatives of civil society, including representatives of International Development Agencies with the aim to discuss development challenges, as well as to share knowledge and best practices that are effective in creating a stronger and unified regional body.

Website

www.most.gov.tt

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