They plan to report on progress on specific actions by the end of 2010 - as well as at the next E-9 Meeting in 2012, with ongoing monitoring to 2015.

Recognizing that such a commitment demands political commitment, innovation, and resources, the E-9 leaders urge donors to honour their EFA commitment, and UNESCO to strengthen its focus on and promotion of literacy.

“Your collective clout – that can be counted in billions of people – has the potential to make literacy a real driver of development” said Ms Bokova. She also warned that “the Education for All goals will not be achieved globally if they are not reached in the E-9 countries.”

Between them they represent more than 60 per cent of the world's population, over two-thirds of the world's illiterate adults and over half of the world's out-of-school children. The nine most highly-populated countries of the South are meeting in Abuja, Nigeria (21 - 24 June) to tackle the theme of "Literacy for Development" with a special focus on girls and women.

Jointly organized by UNESCO and the Nigerian Government, the Eighth E-9 Ministerial Review Meeting was opened by Nigeria's Education Minister and President as well as UNESCO's Director-General and HRH Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, UNESCO’s Special Envoy on Literacy for Development.

Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan are the nine most highly-populated countries of the South.

India will host the ninth E-9 Ministerial Review Meeting in New Delhi in 2012 and assume the chair of the E-9 Secretariat from 2012-2014.

Related links

The Director-General’s Speech at the E-9 meeting

Eighth E-9 Ministerial Review Meeting, Abuja, Nigeria, 21-24 June 2010

About the E9