United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
The guiding philosophy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), founded in 1945 in London, is "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defence of peace must be constructed." UNESCO is a specialised agency of the United Nations. It is based in Paris.
By promoting international cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication, UNESCO aims to help preserve peace and security. It acts less as a financier than as an organiser, initiator, and adviser.
As a forum of global intellectual cooperation, UNESCO has the widest spectrum of programmes of any UN specialised agency. It embraces education, natural sciences, social sciences, the humanities, communication, and information. UNESCO is responsible for the international steering of measures to achieve Millennium Development Goal 2 (education for all) and for monitoring progress made towards this goal. It is also responsible for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.
The member states of UNESCO have set up National Commissions, which advise their own governments on UNESCO-related issues and involve civil society in the work of the organisation. The BMZ is a member of the board of the German National Commission for UNESCO, which is based in Bonn.
UNESCO is financed mainly from the compulsory contributions of its member states. The regular budget for the two-year period 2008 – 2009 is 631 million US dollars. It also receives special contributions, trustee funds for certain projects, fund from other multilateral bodies and voluntary contributions from member states, as well as donations. Germany contributes some 8.7 per cent of the regular budget, making it the third largest contributor behind the USA and Japan. Germany also provides voluntary inputs and private donations. UNESCO has 193 member states.
The UNESCO sub-organisation, the International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (UNEVOC), is based in Bonn. The BMZ finances individual UNEVOC programmes.
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Contact
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
7, place de Fontenoy
F-75352 Paris
Phone: +33 / 1 / 45 68 10 00
Fax: +33 / 1 / 45 67 16 90