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What is UNESCO?Top

UNESCO - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was born on November 16, 1945. For this specialized UN agency, it is not enough to build classrooms in devastated countries or to publish scientific breakthroughs. Education, Social and Natural Science, Culture and Communication are the means to a far more ambitious goal: to build peace in the minds of men.

Five Functions for UNESCOTop

Throughout its activities and projects, UNESCO performs and assumes a range of functions corresponding to its role as the international lead agency for education, the sciences, culture and communication.

Aimed, first of all, at the most vulnerable and disadvantaged: the least-developed countries, notably in Africa, women and youth, five functions have been defined by the Medium-Term Strategy for the period 2002-2007.

A Laboratory of Ideas

The origins and consequences of the profound mutations taking place today must be fully understood along with the place occupied by education, science, culture and communication.

UNESCO plays a key role in anticipating and defining, in the light of the ethical principles, as a kind of "laboratory of ideas", the most important emerging problems in its spheres of competence and in identifying appropriate strategies and policies to deal with them. Only then can these changes be channelled and UNESCO's action becomes effective.

A Clearing House

UNESCO has a role in gathering, transferring, disseminating and sharing available information, knowledge and best practices in its fields of competence, identifying innovative solutions and testing them through pilot projects. It is one of the most crucial functions of the Organization. It is here that UNESCO initiates and co-ordinates regional or worldwide networks, which have a triple vocation: research, exchange of research results, and training.

At international conferences, world experts also elaborate new and common approaches to the major issues confronting UNESCO and Member States mobilize their talents and resources to attain common objectives.

A Standard-Setter

When, beyond their cultural differences and traditions, States agree to common rules, they can draw up an international instrument: an agreement or convention, which are legally binding, a recommendation or a declaration.

UNESCO participates in this effort through its standard-setting action, serving as a central forum for articulating the ethical, normative and intellectual issues of our time, fostering multi-disciplinary exchange and mutual understanding, working – where possible and desirable – towards universal agreements on these issues, benchmarking targets and mobilizing international opinion.

UNESCO also helps to draw up the instruments, works towards its adoption or revision, sees that it is respected and, occasionally, assists Member States in putting it into practice.

A Capacity-builder in Member States

UNESCO organizes international cooperation for servicing its stakeholders, especially its Member States in building human and institutional capacities in all its fields of competence, in the form of "technical co-operation".

When Mauritius seeks to renovate its education system, when Kazakhstan decides to elaborate legislation on press freedom, or El Salvador to provide civic instruction to its police force, these countries request technical assistance from UNESCO. This function of advisor generally concerns the development of policies, national strategies, projects, feasibility studies, raising funds for their execution, and finally evaluation.

A Catalyst for International Cooperation

UNESCO, as a technical multidisciplinary agency, assumes a catalytic role for development cooperation in its fields of competence, for the convergence of work which otherwise would be dispersed, thus less effective, and risk being ignored by those who need it most. To that end it seeks to ensure that the objectives, principles and priorities it promotes are followed suit by other multi - and bilateral programmes and that projects are implemented, in particular at regional and national levels, through innovation, effective interventions and wise practices.

Beyond the stimulation of personal contacts among specialists, or through the reinforcement of education systems, UNESCO contributes to the dissemination of knowledge by serving as a center for the collection and worldwide distribution of specialized information in its various fields of action, using written materials, and to an increasing extent, electronic means.

UNESCO publishes about 50 bulletins and some 20 periodicals, publishes or co-publishes each year about 100 titles and produces biennial World Reports on the state of education, science, culture and communication. The Statistical Yearbook is an essential reference tool for information on the situation in these same fields in all countries and regions of the world.

Standard-Setting InstrumentsTop

When, beyond their cultural differences and traditions, States agree to common rules, they can draw up an international instrument: an agreement or convention, which are legally binding, a recommendation or a declaration.

UNESCO participates in this effort through its standard-setting action, serving as a central forum for articulating the ethical, normative and intellectual issues of our time, fostering multi-disciplinary exchange and mutual understanding, working – where possible and desirable – towards universal agreements on these issues, benchmarking targets and mobilizing international opinion.

A general introduction to the UNESCO standard-setting instruments is presented on the home page of the Web site unesco.org.

Millennium Development Goals of United Nations Top

The United Nations Millennium Declaration of September 2000, which serves as an overarching guide for UNESCO's Strategy, consolidated the broad consensus reached and agreed on specific time-bound targets.

A set of international development goals (IDGs) defines select major components of a global agenda for the twenty-first century.

By 2015 all 189 United Nations Member States have pledged to:

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger: Reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day and who suffer from hunger.
• Achieve universal primary education: Ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling.

• Promote gender equality and empower women: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005, and at all levels by 2015.

• Reduce child mortality: Reduced by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five.
• Improve maternal health: Reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio.

• Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases: Halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and to overturn the incidence of malaria and other major diseases.

• Ensure environmental sustainability: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes; reverse loss of environmental resources. Reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and achieve significant improvement in lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020.

Constitution of UNESCOTop

The preamble of the Constitution of UNESCO declares that ‘since wars begin in the minds of men, it is the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed'.

So that a unanimous, lasting and genuine peace may be secured, the Preamble declares that the States Signatory to the Constitution believed ‘in full and equal opportunities for education for all, in the unrestricted pursuit of objective truth and in the free exchange of ideas and knowledge".

The purpose of the Organization was defined as: "to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations'.

UNESCO's Fields of action Top

Education
UNESCO is working to improve education worldwide through technical advice, standard-setting, innovative projects and networking. The six Education for All goals, adopted by 164 countries at the World Education Forum in 2000, have become the Organization's overriding priority in education.

Culture
UNESCO regards cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue as the most effective way of achieving development and peace in the face of the challenges of globalization. The Organization is dedicated to protecting and promoting the world's tangible and intangible cultural heritage so that such wealth may be received by future generations in a context of sustainable development.

Water and Related Ecosystems
The International Hydrological Programme (IHP) is UNESCO's principal mechanism to contribute to the priority issue of water resources. The IHP strives to minimize the risks to water resources systems, fully taking into account social challenges and interactions and developing appropriate approaches for sound water management.

Sciences and Ethics
UNESCO considers that the scientific and technological progresses must be placed in a context of ethical reflection rooted in the cultural, legal, philosophical and religious heritage of the various human communities. In the field of the ethics of life , UNESCO establishes standards, creates legal instruments, advises governments and coordinates intergovernmental organizations.

Information
UNESCO encourages the equitable access to information and knowledge and defends the freedom of expression and the development of the communication field.

UNESCO's HistoryTop

As early as 1942, in wartime, the governments of the European countries, which were confronting Nazi Germany and its allies met in the United Kingdom for the Conference of Allied Ministers of Education (CAME). The Second World War was far from over, yet those countries were looking for ways and means to reconstruct their systems of education once peace was restored. Very quickly, the project gained momentum and soon took on a universal note. New governments, including that of the United States, decided to join in.

Upon the proposal of CAME, a United Nations Conference for the establishment of an educational and cultural organization (ECO/CONF) was convened in London from 1 to 16 November 1945. Scarcely had the war ended when the conference opened. It gathered together the representatives of forty-four countries. Spurred on by France and the United Kingdom, two countries that had known great hardship during the conflict, the delegates decided to create an organization that would embody a genuine culture of peace.

In their eyes, the new organization must establish the "intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind" and, in so doing, prevent the outbreak of another world war.

At the end of the conference, thirty-seven countries made the birth of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The Constitution of UNESCO, signed on 16 November 1945, came into force on 4 November 1946 after ratification by twenty countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France, Greece, India, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States.

The first session of the General Conference of UNESCO took place in Paris from 19 November to 10 December 1946 with the participation of representatives from 30 governments entitled to vote.

Directors-General of UNESCO Top

A new Director-General is elected every four years by the General Conference. Under his authority, the Secretariat is expected to translate into reality the programmes approved by the General Conference. The present Director-General of UNESCO, who was elected in 2009, is Ms Irina Bokova.

2009 -
Irina Bokova, Bulgaria

1999 - 2009
Koïchiro Matsuura, Japan

1987 - 1999
Federico Mayor, Spain

1974 - 1987
Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow, Senegal

1961 - 1974 (acting 1962)
René Maheu, France

1958 - 1961
Vittotino Veronese , Italy

1953 - 1958
Luther Evans, United States

1952 - 1953 (acting DG)
John W. Taylor, United States

1948 - 1952
Jaime Torres Bodet, Mexico

1946 - 1948
Julian Huxley, United Kingdom

UNESCO's HeadquartersTop

Located in the Place de Fontenoy, in Paris, the main building which houses the Headquarters of UNESCO was inaugurated on 3 November 1958. The Y-shaped design was invented by three architects of different nationalities under the direction of an international committee.

Nicknamed the ‘three-pointed star', the entire edifice stands on seventy-two columns of concrete piling. It is world famous, not only because it is the home of a well-known organization but also because of its outstanding architectural qualities. There, you can find the UNESCO Publishing bookshops, which propose all sales publications in stock, plus a large philatelic and numismatic collection, not sold online for the time being, as well as a growing UNESCO-related gifts section.

Three more buildings complete the headquarters site. The second building, known affectionately as the « accordion », holds the egg-shaped hall with a pleated copper ceiling where the plenary sessions of the General Conference are held. The third building is in the form of a cube. Lastly, a fourth construction consists of two office floors hollowed out below street level, around six small sunken courtyards. The buildings, which contain many remarkable works of art, are open to the public.

UNESCO's StrategyTop

UNESCO adopts every six years a medium-term strategy, which sets out the strategic objectives and expected outcomes for the Organization’s work.

UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2008-2013 (document 34 C/4 (PDF)480 KB) sets out the strategic vision and programmatic framework for UNESCO’s action in all its domains at the global, regional and country levels over the next six years.

The Medium-Term Strategy is built around one mission statement, guiding UNESCO’s action across all its areas of competence:

"As a specialized agency of the UN system, UNESCO contributes to the building of peace, the alleviation of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information."

How does UNESCO work?Top

The General Conference is the primary decision-making body, comprising representatives of all Member States. It meets every two years to determine the policies and main lines of work of the Organization. Following the principle of one vote per country, it approves UNESCO's programme and budget. Every four years, it appoints the Director-General based upon the recommendation of the Executive Board.

The Executive Board, composed of 58 Member States, meets twice a year to ensure that decisions taken by the General Conference are implemented. It is also responsible for preparing the work of the General Conference and examining the Organization's programme and budget.

The Secretariat consists of the Director-General and staff. The Director-General is the executive head of the Organization. He or she formulates proposals for appropriate action by the Conference and Board and prepares a draft biennial programme and budget.

The staff implements the approved programme. The Secretariat consists of the Director-General and the Staff appointed by him. As of January 2007, the Secretariat employed around 2,100 civil servants from some 170 countries. The staff is divided into Professional and General Service categories. Under a recent decentralization policy, more than 700 staff members work in UNESCO's 58 field offices around the world.

UNESCO is the only UN agency to have a system of National Commissions in 195 Member and Associate States. The Commissions form a vital link between civil society and the Organization. They provide valuable insight concerning the Organization's programme and help implement many initiatives including training programmes, studies, public awareness campaigns and media outreach.

UNESCO plays an integral role in the UN system and works closely with a wide range of regional and national organizations. 310 international NGOs and 19 foundations and similar institutions which are working in the fields of competence of the Organization maintain official relations with UNESCO and hundreds more work with the Organization on specific projects.

How is it financed?

The regular two-year budget is financed by Member States through assessed contributions. The regular budget for 2008 and 2009 is US$631 million.

UNESCO also benefits from substantial extra-budgetary funding to strengthen its programmes, especially in the field, and to increase its outreach activities. In 2005, these extra-budgetary resources amounted to some US$373 million.

Member States and Associate State Members of UNESCOTop

In 1945, 37 countries signed the Constitution of UNESCO, which was ratified later in 1946 by 20 states. They became the first founders of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

By 1950, UNESCO counted fifty-nine Member States. In 1954, the USSR became the seventieth.

Between 1960 and 1962, as a result of the decolonization process, twenty-four newly created African States were admitted.

With the entry of the Republic of Singapore to UNESCO in October 2007, the Organization has now 193 Member States and 6 Associate Members.

Governing BodiesTop

General Conference
The General Conference consists of the representatives of the States Members of the Organization. It meets every two years, and is attended by Member States and Associate Members, together with observers for non-Member-States, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Each country has one vote, irrespective of its size or the extent of its contribution to the budget.

The General Conference determines the policies and the main lines of work of the Organization. Its duty is to set the programmes and the budget of UNESCO. It also elects the Members of the Executive Board and appoints, every four years, the Director-General. The working languages of the General Conference are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

The Executive Board
The Executive Board, in a sense, assures the overall management of UNESCO. It prepares the work of the General Conference and sees that its decisions are properly carried out. The functions and responsibilities of the Executive Board are derived primarily from the Constitution and from rules or directives laid down by the General Conference. Every two years the General Conference assigns specific tasks to the Board. Other functions stem from agreements concluded between UNESCO and the United Nations, the Specialized Agencies and other intergovernmental organizations.

Its fifty-eight members are elected by the General Conference. The choice of these representatives is largely a matter of the diversity of the cultures and their geographical origin. Skilful negotiations may be needed before a balance is reached among the different regions of the world in a way that will reflect the universality of the Organization. The Executive Board meets twice a year.

UNESCO SecretariatTop

The Secretariat consists of the Director-General and the Staff appointed by him.

Field Network
Decentralization, mainly through field offices, is one of the principal means to increase UNESCO's affectiveness in its Member States and Associate Members.

UNESCO's Field network consists of Cluster Offices, National Offices, Regional Bureaux and Liaison Offices in Africa, Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and Europe. Their role is to co-ordinate the work of the Organization at regional level.

Institutes and Centres of UNESCO
UNESCO has established over the course of its history a number of institutional and contractual relations in its fields of competence with various institutes and centres. These institutions are established by or integrated into the Organization, are directed by a UNESCO staff member and apply UNESCO's rules and regulations.

UNESCO CommunitiesTop

UNESCO functions thanks to the synergy between diverse community actors that together form an international community.

These communities include governments, National Commissions, Parliamentarians, NGOs and Associations. Among them we also find the media, schools, cultural and scientific institutions, private sector partners and the United Nations family of institutions.

Together, they give life to UNESCO's ideals and values around the world, at local, national and international levels.

Website: http://www.unesco.org/en/communities

UNESCO's Consultative Committees, International Commissions and
Intergovernmental Councils
Top

Since the creation of UNESCO, about one hundred consultative committees, international commissions and intergovernmental councils have been set up to carry out specific tasks or for purposes of reflection.

In particular, they have considered the technical needs of the press, radio and cinema (1947-49), the scientific and cultural development of mankind (1950-69), education for the twenty-first century (Delors Commission, 1992-99), culture and development (Perez de Cuellar Commission, 1992-1999) and the ethics of scientific and technical knowledge (1998).

These studies, based on reflection and research, contribute towards guiding UNESCO policies.

The General Conference of UNESCO is required, at each of its sessions, to elect Member States to be members of the Executive Board or of the Commissions and other subsidiary organs of the Conference, in accordance with their rules of procedure or respective statutes.  The intergovernmental Committees and Councils are associated with UNESCO’s major programmes and allow Member States to actively participate in these programmes, ensure the visibility of the Organisation and testify of its vitality. The role and current composition of these organs elected by the 35th session of the General Conference in 2009 can be found at: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001874/187442e.pdf .

UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors Top

UNESCO's work and mission is extended and amplified by an outstanding group of celebrity advocates who have generously accepted to use their talent and status to help focus the world's attention on the work of our organization.

UNESCO CouponsTop

In many countries the shortage of foreign currency hinders the importation of books, publications and scientific material. In some of these countries UNESCO Coupons, whose value is expressed in United States dollars, are sold for national currency to educators, research workers and students who use them to pay for their foreign purchases.

In every user country there is a body responsible for the sale of the Coupons; as a rule, this is the National Commission for UNESCO.

Associated Schools Top

The UNESCO Associated Schools Project (ASP) is a network of schools throughout the world committed to the ideals of UNESCO. National Commissions for UNESCO and the Ministries of Education are invited to establish a network of schools interested in carrying out activities and experimental work. The objective is to improve quality education, particularly its ethical, cultural and international dimensions by developing effective teaching approaches, methods and materials.

UNITWIN Networks and UNESCO Chairs Top

The UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs programme was launched with the aim of developing interuniversity cooperation, while emphazing the transfer of knowledge between universities and the promotion of academic solidarity across the world.

The national project proposals receive several evaluations, the first being by the relevant National Commission for UNESCO.

Employment Opportunities at UNESCO Top

UNESCO professional vacancies are announced through the National Commissions for UNESCO and on the website www.unesco.org/employment. All candidates must fill in the online curriculum vitae form, which is on the website. General Service posts are locally advertised, at Headquarters and Field Offices.

Fellowships, Study and Travel Grants Top

UNESCO fellowships are targeted to meet human resources training needs in the Member States, and to observe at the same time the priority areas of the Organization. All applications must be channelled through the National Commission for UNESCO of the candidate's country. Without this endorsement no application may be examined (http://www.unesco.org/en/fellowships) .

UNESCO Headquarters' Address Top

UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

7, place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07 SP
1, rue Miollis
75732 Paris Cedex 15

Tel: +33(0)1 45 68 10 00
Fax: +33(0)1 45 67 16 90