- English:
- International Organization of La Francophonie
- Also called:
- La Francophonie
- Date:
- March 20, 1970 - present
- Headquarters:
- Paris
- Areas Of Involvement:
- French language
- Related People:
- Michaëlle Jean
- Abdou Diouf
Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie
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What is the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie?
The Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) is an international organization of French-speaking countries that was founded in 1970. Originally named the Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique (ACCT), the OIF facilitates cooperation between members on cultural, political, and economic issues. It aims to promote the French language, linguistic diversity, democracy, peace, intercultural dialogue, education, and sustainable development. The OIF's headquarters are located in Paris.
The OIF's main decision-making body is the Conference of Heads of States and Government, which convenes every two years. The secretary-general spearheads the OIF's actions and serves as its global representative. The OIF maintains representation at the African Union, the European Union, the United Nations Economic Commission in Africa, and the United Nations.
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What countries are members of this organization?
The Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) is an international organization of French-speaking countries that was founded in 1970. Originally, the OIF was open solely to countries where French was an official or main minority language. Over time, however, membership expanded to include countries with little connection to the French language, such as Bulgaria and Qatar. Some members are primarily interested in preserving the French language, while others are attracted to the OIF as an international platform for political and economic cooperation.
Unlike most international organizations, OIF membership consists of countries and regional governments like New Brunswick (Canada), Quebec (Canada), and the French Community of Belgium.
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What is the main goal of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie?
The main goal of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) is to foster collaboration among French-speaking countries on cultural, political, and economic issues. Founded in 1970, the OIF aims to promote the French language and linguistic diversity, as well as democracy, peace, intercultural dialogue, education, and sustainable development.
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Why do French-speaking countries want to work together?
The Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) was founded in 1970 to foster collaboration among French-speaking countries on cultural, political, and economic issues. It aims to promote the French language and linguistic diversity, along with democracy, peace, intercultural dialogue, education, and sustainable development.
Originally, the OIF was open to countries where French was an official or main minority language but later expanded to include countries with little connection to the language. Some members prioritize preserving the French language, while others view the OIF as a platform for international political and economic cooperation.
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What activities or programs does the organization offer?
The Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) facilitates cooperation among French-speaking countries on cultural, political, and economic issues. It promotes the French language and linguistic diversity, democracy, peace, intercultural dialogue, education, and sustainable development. The OIF has four operating agencies that implement the programs voted on at the OIF Summit: lâAgence Universitaire de la Francophonie, TV5Monde, lâAssociation Internationale des Maires Francophones, and lâUniversitĂ© Senghor dâAlexandrie. Since 1987, the OIF has organized the Jeux de la Francophonie, an international athletic and cultural competition that occurs every four years.
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How does the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie promote French language and culture around the world?
The Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) was founded in 1970 to promote cooperation between French-speaking countries on cultural, political, and economic issues. The OIF's actions are designed to promote the French language and linguistic diversity, along with democracy, peace, intercultural dialogue, education, and sustainable development.
The organization supports cultural exchange through the Jeux de la Francophonie, which includes both athletic and cultural competitions. It also maintains four operating agencies, including the Academic Agency of La Francophonie, TV5Monde, the International Association of Francophone Mayors, and the Senghor University of Alexandria.
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Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), international organization founded in 1970 as the Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique (ACCT; Agency of Cultural and Technical Cooperation), representing French-speaking countries. The OIF was created so as to facilitate cooperation between its members on cultural, political, and economic issues and, through its actions, to promote the French language and linguistic diversity as well as democracy, peace, intercultural dialogue, education, and sustainable development. Its headquarters are in Paris.
The creation of an international community of Francophone countries was first promoted by Pres. LĂ©opold SĂ©dar Senghor of Senegal. Senghor envisioned âa spiritual community of nations that use French, either as their national language, official language, or working language.â While previous organizations had facilitated cooperation between French-speaking peoples, the first intergovernmental agency dedicated to this purpose was created on March 20, 1970, when the representatives of 21 countries signed the Treaty of Niamey creating the ACCT. African countries took a leadership role, with the presidents of Senegal (Senghor), Tunisia (Habib Bourguiba), and Niger (Hamani Diori) drafting the ACCT charter. The ACCT changed its name in 1998 to the Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie (Intergovernmental Agency of La Francophonie) and in 2005 to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie.
At its origin the OIF was open solely to those countries where French was either the official language or the main minority language. Over time, however, the OIF expanded to many countries having little connection with the French language, such as Bulgaria and Qatar. Whereas some members are primarily interested in the preservation of the French language, others are attracted to the OIF mainly as an international platform and as a forum for political and economic cooperation. The expansion of the OIF increased its importance as an international organization, but it also raised questions about its core raison dâĂȘtre. Traditionally, the main financial contributors to the OIF were France and Canada (including Quebec and New Brunswick). Unlike most international organizations, OIF membership is composed not only of countries but also of certain regional governments such as New Brunswick (Canada), Quebec (Canada), and the French Community of Belgium.
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The higher decision-making body of the OIF is the ConfĂ©rence des Chefs dâĂtat et de Gouvernement Ayant le FranÆais en Partage (Conference of Heads of States and Government of Countries Using French as a Common Language, also referred to more succinctly as âthe Summitâ), which congregates every two years. Decisions are made by consensus or, failing to reach one, by a vote of nine-tenths of the members. The secretary-general of the OIF spearheads its actions and is its global representative. The election of high-profile figures such as Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who headed the United Nations (1992â96), and Abdou Diouf, who was president of Senegal (1981â2000), as secretaries-general contributed to raising the international profile of the organization. The OIF maintains permanent representation at the African Union, the European Union, the United Nations Economic Commission in Africa, and the United Nations itself.
Four operating agencies are charged with implementing the program voted at the OIF Summit: lâAgence Universitaire de la Francophonie (Academic Agency of La Francophonie), TV5Monde, lâAssociation Internationale des Maires Francophones (the International Association of Francophone Mayors), and lâUniversitĂ© Senghor dâAlexandrie (the Senghor University of Alexandria). Since 1987 the OIF has also organized the Jeux de la Francophonie (Games of La Francophonie). This international competition takes place every four years, on the year that follows the Olympic Games, and every other host country is an underdeveloped country. Like the Olympic Games of ancient Greece, these contests include both athletic and cultural competitions.