Internal Oversight Service
Evaluation Section
IOS/EVS/PI/66
Original: English
Evaluation of Non-Governmental Organizations as
UNESCO’s Programme Delivery Mechanisms
D. Daniels and Associates
June 2006
The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this document do not imply the
expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country,
territory, city or area of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries.
An Evaluation of Non
Gover nmental
Or ganizations as
UNESCO’s Pr og r a mme
Deliver y Mechanisms
D. Daniels and
Associates
J u n e , 2 0 0 6
U N E S C O E v a l u a t i o n o f N G O s
E x e c u t i v e S u m m a r y
Background
UNESCO has collaborated with NGOs since its founding in 1945 when the UNESCO
constitution envisaged a role for NGOs. UNESCO even helped create some of the
international professional associations in the 1950s. Over 200 NGOs maintain status
with UNESCO and the Sexennial reports provided to General Conferences have
described over time UNESCO’s activities with NGOs.
This evaluation was commissioned to provide the first external assessment of how
UNESCO works with NGOs to deliver UNESCO programmes.
The growth is the number of NGOs and the scope of their activities over the last few
decades has been exceptional. There are hundreds of thousands of NGOs addressing
every aspect of human activity and interest. They range in size from organizations that
have a larger budget than UNESCO to many that operate mainly with volunteer effort
and few resources. They range in scope from global membership associations to small
community based organizations.
Major Findings
The evaluation found that there are NGOs that are relevant to achieving nearly all
UNESCO programmes objectives and to advancing each of UNESCO’s functions. NGO
contributions are id