To Ministers responsible for relations with UNESCO
7, place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07 SP, France
Tél. : +33 (0)1 45 68 10 00
Fax : +33 (0)1 45 68 16 90
www.unesco.org
Ref.:
CL/3831
Subject: Empowering National Commissions for UNESCO in the
context of the new Medium-Term Strategy and Reform
Sir/Madam,
With the approach of the 34th session of the General Conference, I look forward
to welcoming your government’s delegation to Headquarters, which most likely
will include representatives from your country’s National Commission for
UNESCO. In this context, I wish to take the opportunity to highlight the
importance of National Commissions in the work of UNESCO and to request your
government’s strong support for your National Commission.
As you well know, National Commissions are a unique network within the United
Nations system, incorporated by UNESCO’s founders as an essential means to
carry out UNESCO’s activities within each Member State. They take on many
roles and functions in the pursuit of UNESCO’s objectives and in the
conceptualization, implementation and delivery of its programmes at the regional,
subregional and national levels. If anything, those roles and functions are
expanding, in the context of UNESCO’s next Medium-Term Strategy for 2008-
2013 (34 C/4) and the United Nations system-wide effort to improve delivery and
impact of programmes on the ground. These expanding roles and functions
include coordinating new partnerships with civil society, enhancing UNESCO’s
visibility and protecting its image and reputation, and contributing to the United
Nations common country programming.
During my tenure as Director-General, I have strongly supported the National
Commissions. A vigorous capacity-building campaign has been under way to
ensure that National Commissions have strengthened their traditional skills and
also have acquired new competencies to meet the challenges of promoting
UNESCO’s goals in a rapidly changing world. We have been working to make
available