The decade of the 1990s symbolized a collective effort in attaining ‘Universal Literacy’ all over the world. The Government of Bangladesh responded positively to the declaration of the Jomtien World Conference on Education for All (EFA) by making primary education compulsory. At the same time, the NGOs involved in literacy sector also came forward to supplement and complement the state effort with a commitment to eradicate illiteracy from the country by the year 2005.

The genesis of CAMPE is rooted in an idea to take up a popular education movement in Bangladesh. Around the time of the World Conference on Education for All in March 1990 this idea was mooted by a small group of literacy activists, and a year later CAMPE was born as an organization with a coalition of 15 major NGOs working in the area of basic education. Over the years it has emerged as a strong network of more than 400 NGOs working in the basic education sector in Bangladesh.

Since its inception, CAMPE has been working in close interaction with the Government as well as the popular forces towards achieving effective participation of the people in literacy and non-formal education movement. It symbolizes multi-faceted networking among the government, the partner NGOs and the international agencies. Duly registered under the Bangladesh Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, CAMPE acquired a legitimate status of an NGO forum to network in the area of literacy and non-formal education in August 1991.

CAMPE is affiliated with the Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh (FNB), Asian-South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education (ASPBAE) and International Council of Adult Education (ICAE). It is an elected member of the Board of Global Campaign for Education (GCE), a worldwide network of NGOs and teachers unions operating in more then hundred countries. It is recognized by UNESCO as a nodal institution for basic education in Bangladesh.

Mission:
CAMPE is a national coalition of NGOs working towards the implementation of program interventions in the education sector. CAMPE is committed to advocate and lobby for sustainable and pro-poor policy frameworks and effective program interventions for ensuring qualitative improvement in the overall education system by forming networks with organizations having similar vision towards achieving the goal of Education for All (EFA) both nationally and globally.

CAMPE is working for popularizing the trend- setting activities on quality education and intends to integrate literacy and education programs with other development interventions. CAMPE encourages its member and partner organizations and provides capacity development assistance to develop quality materials and innovative literacy models.

CAMPE is an adaptive and learning organization emphasizing on the promoting of a nation-wide network of voluntary organizations, action groups and media for creating a national literacy movement.

CAMPE carries with it a vast experience and works as development partner with a committed work force and strong partnership with all concerned NGOs, CBOs and private sector, national and international agencies and other stakeholders to ensure quality education for all.

• Increase awareness of people of all classes about the importance of popular education in terms of literacy, democracy, human rights, gender, and environment.

• Establish and promote a nation-wide network and coalition of NGOs and civil society to achieve Education for All (EFA).

• Facilitate the process of achieving MDG.

• Advocate and lobby to enhance NGO participation in educational policy making and other national and international educational activities/ issues.

• Promote and support education programs focusing on early childhood care and development, formal and non-formal primary education, adolescent education, adult literacy, continuing education and inclusive education.

• Strengthen, supplement and complement the primary and mass education programs (both formal and non-formal) of government providing networking, liaison, coordination and facilitation services and technical assistance.

• Strengthen capacity of partner NGOs through providing technical assistance and other support services.
   

CAMPE is a value driven organization. It strongly believes that values are the foundations on which an organization is based and these represent the core beliefs and convictions of an organization. In fact, they describe what the organization stands for. Values establish moral and ethical priorities, which serve to guide all organizational activities. The organizational principles, standards and qualities are also reflected through its practicing values. CAMPE has identified the following organizational core values and it places equal importance on all the values.

• Ensuring Participation
• Effective networking
• Transparency and accountability
• Credibility
• Promoting and adapting innovative learning
• Dynamism and professionalism
• Secular and democratic environment
• Committed towards achieving quality education for all
• Gender responsive

CAMPE enjoys some core competencies, which may not be found in other organizations. The Forum identified the following core competencies after reviewing its results and performances. CAMPE believes that each of these competencies collectively contributing to achieve it’s stated goals and objectives.

1. Dynamic and Functional Council

2. Pioneering role in popularizing trend-setting activities on quality education

3. Networking with like minded organizations and Civil Society groups nationally and globally in education sector

4. Policy research, catalytic and advocacy role influencing government and donor policies

5. Effective training services for capacity development of partner organizations

6. Extensive skills on development, documentation and dissemination of education related IEC and BCC materials

7. Integration of education programs with other development interventions leading towards poverty alleviation

8. Well defined organizational and issue based policies

CAMPE has been working, cooperating, networking, assisting and facilitating dissemination of ideas and sharing of experiences particularly with four major actors, such as, the concerned ministry and line agencies of the government, the donors, NGOs and other democratic forces of the civil society.

CAMPE is governed by a Council of 21 members, of whom 16 are founder members (15 from organizations & 1 individual) and 3 co-opted members which includes 2 organizational and one individual member. The Director of CAMPE is the ex-offcio member. The Council plays a pivotal role in formulating policies and preparing operational guidelines for the organization.

The Director is responsible for the overall management including planning, program, finance and administration. She is supported by a Deputy Director, who helps co-ordinate all activities of the Units through the Program Managers and other staff members. The staff members are accountable to the Deputy Director through the line managers/supervisors.

CAMPE has a Secretariat consisting of 56 staff including 27 professional staff headed by the Director. The programs are implemented by the staff members through 4 different Units under the guidance and supervision of the deputy Director.

CAMPE tries to play a crucial role of a co-coordinator helping and assisting different forces working in the education sector. The various other roles performed by CAMPE are those of networking, advocacy and lobbying, capacity building, training, facilitation and material development, policy research, documentation as well as serving as a catalyst and information data bank. The major strategy in performing these roles is to focus on strengthening NGO-NGO, GO-NGO, NGO-Donor and NGO-Democratic force relationship for achieving the goal of Education for All (EFA).

CAMPE carries out its functional roles primarily through four major program units. These are:

• Policy Advocacy and Mass Communication (PAMC) Unit
• EFA Partnership and Institutional Development (EFAPID) Unit
• Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Documentation (RMED) Unit
• Management Unit