The specific objectives of the Congress are to:

1. showcase the world's best practices in OER policies, initiatives, and experts
2. release a 2012 Paris OER Declaration calling on governments to support the development and use of OER
3. celebrate the tenth anniversary of the 2002 UNESCO Forum that created the term OER

As part of an extensive global consultation process, the Congress will be preceded by six regional Policy Forums for ministers and officials in the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Arab States.

ICDE has been invited by UNESCO to cooperate in the framework of the Congress. The ICDE Executive Committee has accepted the invitation, and a partnership for the 2012 World OER Congress has been established. In its first stages, ICDE has consulted with regional associations and organizations within open and distance learning to secure their input to the process.

UNESCO and the Commonwealth of Learning are organizing an Africa OER Policy Forum in Pretoria, South Africa from 21-22 February in the lead up to the World OER Congress.

Help is sought in identifying a good number of Francophone OER experts and practitioners as well as Francophone government representatives who have developed drafts, actually enacted policies, or have shown great commitment to enacting OER policies.

Through the generous support of the Hewlett Foundation (USA), the Commonwealth of Learning may be able to provide funding for selected Francophone experts or government representatives to attend the Forum.

For further information, please contact Abel Caine, Programme Specialist for Open Educational Resources at UNESCO.