CAMPE was established in February 1990 by a group of NGOs in Bangladesh as a coalition of all NGOs working in the field of literacy and education. It has now 414 affiliated organizations. Its vision is to transform Bangladeshi society by creating a decentralized and dynamic education system, through the collaboration of the principal actors, i.e. government, NGOs and donors.
Among its present objectives are to:
• assess the education system and improve the information base, especially on non-formal education;
•influence national policy in respect of e.g. resource allocation to education, decentralization, quality  improvement, gender equity;
• strengthen the capacities of actors in education;
• increase community participation in school management;
• raise the awareness of the public on education issues; and
• promote continuing education programmes.

While CAMPE originally worked mainly with NGOs on non-formal education (NFE), it has now broadened its scope to include formal education and to involve government organizations.
General organization

CAMPE's management is built up along two levels. At the policy level, the CAMPE council acts as a policy-maker. At the operational level, the Secretariat translates this into a strategy for action, to be referred to by CAMPE's partners and affiliated organizations. Its staff consists of some 35 members. For its financing CAMPE relies mainly on donor contributions, in part on subscriptions and grants from its member organizations (for its administration), and also on proceeds from the sale of its publications and from training.

In function of its main activities, CAMPE's structure consists of three programme divisions:
• Policy Analysis and Communication, further divided into 'Research, Evaluation and Documentation" and 'Advocacy and Communication'. Its research has focussed mainly on strengthening the information base on non-formal education. In the framework of its advocacy efforts, it has organized several round table discussions and workshops, and took part in or initiated enrolment and literacy campaigns in several districts. It has produced different advocacy materials, including videos and television advertisements. In this regard, it also publishes a monthly journal for members of parliament, government and NGO officials and members of the civil society: Shakkharata Bulletin, and a quarterly Research Digest.
• Professional Capacity Development, further divided into 'Basic Education' and 'Continuing Education'. This division has been primarily engaged in training. CAMPE has developed, on the basis of a needs assessment, eight types of one- or two-week training courses:
o training of literacy trainers;
o training in NFE programme management;
o training in NFE programme monitoring and evaluation;
o training in the development of the continuing education strategy;
o training in the development of continuing education materials;
o training hi the development of supplementary reading materials;
o training for literacy journalists; and
o training on the role of the primary school management committee.

In total, some 675 people have so far taken part in these courses. CAMPE has also prepared various training materials and publishes two journals: Patua, a monthly, for neo-literate adults and adolescents, and Gashful, a bi-monthly for children between eight and ten years of age.

Management Support Services, consisting of 'General Administration' and 'Accounts and Budget'.

CAMPE foresees to set up, in the near future, and with the assistance of international organizations, a Centre for Capacity Development in Basic Education. This Centre should provide, as an independent organization, expert services to the nation, with particular emphasis on quality education for all. It should attract and retain young professionals in order to build national capacity in education research, training and policy-making.
Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE)
4/6, BIock-D Lalmatia
DHAKA-1207