This article is a summary of an interdisciplinary research project which had the objective of setting up and implementing "interdisciplinary training for policy dialogue in the field of education". This training focuses on the past, present and future of secondary education in various African and Latin American countries. In describing this work, the author hopes to establish useful interactions with other policy dialogue projects that are presented in this and the preceding issue of "Prospects." This article provides and overview of the development of a research project. Soledad Perez, in her capacity as professor of comparative education at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (FPSE) at the University of Geneva, had a major influence on this complex project. Cecilia Braslavsky, in her role as Director of the IBE, was one of the most dynamic initiators and driving forces behind this research. The frank and creative exchange of ideas was enriched by their unique intellectual, methodological and human qualities. The author wishes to describe, as Cecilia and Soledad would have wanted, what has already been achieved and to pay them homage by highlighting their specific contributions to this work. (Contains 7 notes.)