7/26/09

Biographical Information for Ivonne Baki


Personal Data

Name: Leila Ivonne Juez de Baki
Marital status: Married. Spouse: Sami Abd-El Baki
Place of residence: Quito

Studies

  • 1993 Doctorate in Public Administration. School Government John F. Kennedy - Harvard University (Editor's note: This seems to be an error as her website lists a Masters degreee in public administration.)
  • 1992 Master in Public Policy, School of Government John F. Kennedy - Harvard University
  • 1982 Master of Art University La Sorbonne in Paris (Editor's note: The candidates website does not list the degree.)
  • 1979 Architectural Studies at the University of Beirut

Positions

  • 2007 President of the Andean Parliament
  • Andean Parliamentary since 2006; Elected for a period of four years
  • 2003-2005 Minister of Trade Industry, Fisheries and Competitiveness
  • 2003-2004 President of the Commission of the Andean Community of Nations
  • 1998-2002 Ambassador of Ecuador to the United States of America
  • 1984-1990 Honorary Counsel of Ecuador in Lebanon
  • 1992-1998 Honorary Counsel of Ecuador in Boston, MA
  • 1998 Adviser to the President of Ecuador in the negotiations culminated in the signing of peace treaty with Peru
  • 1995 Member of the Foundation "Without Borders"; Dedicated to help depressed areas of the province of Esmeraldas
  • 1994-1996 Member of the Board of Directors of "Conflict Management Group ", a nonprofit organization dedicated to conflict resolution and the promotion of peace in many regions of the World, led by Professor Roger Fisher.

Decorations and Awards

  • "It merits of Excellence l'Européene"
  • Order of the Cedar of Lebanon
  • National Order of Merit of Ecuador
  • Decoration Resident Artist at Harvard University.
  • Award 1992 "Art for Peace", Princeton University
  • Honorato Vasquez Prize 1992, awarded by the Government of Ecuador.
  • The 1998 Order of The House of Representatives United States of America.
  • Designated 1999's "The five most powerful women Washington, "Embassy of Ecuador
  • "Excellency in Leadership Award" of the Economic International Order of Merit of Lebanon
  • The U.S. Women in Leadership Award
  • The Global Citizen Award. Patel Foundation
  • The Humanitarian Rose Award. Princess of Wales Foundation
Publications

  • "Forces of Change: Artists of the Arab World"
  • "A Life of Art: Searching for Peace"
Check out:

Short Video (Spanish): Homenaje a la Dra. Ivonne Baki
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Biographical Information for Irina Gueorguieva Bokova

Irina GEORGIEVA BOKOVA (ИРИНА ГЕОРГИЕВА БОКОВА)
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to France and to the Principality of Monaco; Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Bulgaria to UNESCO

Born: 12 July, 1952

Nationality: Bulgarian

Civil status: Married, two children

CIVIL SOCIETY POSITIONS
  • Feb. 1997 – June 2005 Founder and Chairperson of the European Policy Forum
  • 1997-1998 Member of the Working Group on Enlargement with the Robert Schuman Institute of European Studies in Florence, Italy, addressing the geo-political implications of enlargement.
  • 1997 – 2005 Key-note speaker or invitee to a number of conferences, organized inter alia by the Robert Schuman Institute of European Studies in Florence, Italy, Wilton Park Conferences, UK, Center for European Policy Studies (CEPS), Belgium, College of Europe, Brugge, Belgium, Open Society Foundation, The US Institute of Peace, The Bertelsmann Foundation, Germany, George Marshall Fund, US.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Feb. 1997 – Sept. 1997 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office of the Minister, Adviser to the Minister (with rank of Ambassador)
  • Nov. 1996 – Feb. 1997 Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • June 1995 – Feb. 1997 State Secretary on European Integration, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs in charge of UN, OSCE, EU and NATO, Chief co-ordinator of Bulgaria–EU relations. Co-Chairperson, Bulgaria – EU Association Committee, National PHARE Coordinator, Chairperson, Inter-Agency Co-ordination Commission on European Integration (at deputy ministerial level), Took part as head of delegation or keynote speaker in a number of international fora, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Centre for European Studies
  • September 1995 Deputy head of the Delegation of Bulgaria to the Fourth World Conference on Women “Action for Equality, Development and Peace” (Beijing, China)
  • Oct. 1991- March 1992 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sofia, European Security Department, First Secretary
  • June 1990 – Oct. 1991 Member of the Constituent National Assembly, Took part in the drafting of the new Bulgarian Constitution, Head of the delegation of the Bulgarian Parliament to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
  • Member of the Foreign Policy Committee and the Human Rights Committee, Initiated the first parliamentary seminar on the European Declaration on Human Rights
  • Aug. 1986 – Jan. 1990 Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sofia, Adviser to the Minister (with the rank of First Secretary)
  • Jan. 1984 – Sept. 1986 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN DepartmentThird and Second Secretary, Member of the Bulgarian delegation as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (1986-87).
  • Sept. 1982 – Jan. 1984 Permanent Mission of Bulgaria to the UN, New York, Third Secretary In charge of political and juridical affairs
  • Jan. 1977 – Sept. 1982 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sofia, Attaché and Third Secretary In charge of political and human rights issues
EDUCATION
  • 1971 Secondary English Language School, Sofia
  • 1976 Moscow State Institute of International Relations, MBA in international relation
  • Jan. – Aug. 1989 USA University of Maryland, School of Public Affairs, Washington, Ford Foundation fellow, Programme on the US foreign policy decision-making proces
  • Sept. 1992 – Dec. 1994 NATO fellow, Programme for Central and Eastern Europe on democratic institutions focusing on the national and legal mechanism for the protection of minorities
  • Nov. – Dec. 1999 Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Programme in Leadership and Economic Development
LANGUAGES
  • English – fluent
  • Russian – fluent
  • Spanish – fluent
  • French – fluent
MAIN PUBLICATIONS
  • Bulgaria and Ethnic Tensions in the Balkans, Mediterranean Quarterly, January 1991
  • Monitoring Bulgaria’s Accession to the European Union, European Policy Forum, Annual publications 1999, 2000, 2001
  • Integration of South-Eastern Europe into the European Mainstream, Journal of South East and Black Sea Studies, October 2000
  • Einbahnstrasse EU-Erweiterung, Schüren Verlag, Marburg, Germany, September 2001
  • Numerous articles on foreign policy and European integration issues.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
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Biographical Information for Benita Ferrero-Waldner

Benita Ferrero-Waldner has been nominated by Austria as a candidate for the post of Director General of UNESCO. Here are some facts about her:

Born on 5 September, 1948 in Salzburg, Austria - married to Professor Francisco Ferrero Campos

November 2004
Member of the European Commission in charge of External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy
February 2000 - November 2004
Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria
4 May 1995 - 3 February 2000
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
1993 - 1995
UN Chief of Protocol
February 1993 - December 1993
Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs Deputy Chief of Protocol
July 1990 - February 1993
Austrian Embassy, Paris
First Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission,
Chargé d'Affairs a.i.
May 1987 - July 1990
Austrian Embassy, Paris
Counsellor for Economic Affairs
June 1986 - May 1987 Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Department for Development Co-operation
January - June 1986
Austrian Embassy, Dakar, Senegal
First Secretary
September 1984 - January 1986
Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Department of Economic Affairs; Department of Political Affairs;
Department of Consular Affairs;
1 January 1984
Austrian Embassy, Madrid
Special Consultancy
1981 - 1983
Gerns and Gahler, Freilassing/Germany
Chief Management Assistant
1978 - 1981
P. Kaufmann Inc., New York
Sales Director for Europe
1971 - 1978
Paul Kiefel, Freilassing/Germany (1971-72), Export Department
Gerns and Gahler, Freilassing/Germany
Director for Export Promotion
1966 - 1970 University of Salzburg, study of law (Dr iuris)

Check out:
A Video of a Presentation by Benita Ferrero-Waldner (in English)
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Biographical Information for Farouk Hosny


Present Position: Minister of Culture, Arab Republic of Egypt (1987-present)

Date and Place of Birth: 1938 , Alexandria

Academic Qualification: BA; Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Alexandria, 1964

Experience
  • Cultural Animator in the General Department of Fine Arts, Ministry of Culture (1964-1969)
  • Director, Anfoushy Cultural Palace, Alexandria (1969-1971)
  • Cultural Attaché and Director of the Egyptian Cultural Centre , Paris, France (1971-1978)
  • Director of Cultural Administration and Director, Children's Cultural Centre, Cairo, and Technical Advisor to the Minister of Culture (1978-1979)
  • Deputy Director, Egyptian Arts Academy, Rome (1979-1982)
  • Director, Egyptian Art Academy and Cultural Counselor, Egyptian Embassy, Rome (1982-1987), after which he was appointed to the post of Minister of Culture till of Egypt which he still assumes
  • Part-time Professor of Aesthetics at the University of Soka Gakkai, Japan, where he was offered on honorary Ph.D. in 1993
  • Part-time Professor in the Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University since 1999 till to-date
Prizes, Awards and Accreditation Merits
  • Prize, Cagne-sur-mer Festival, France
  • Honorary Ph.D., Soka Gakkai University, Japan, 1993
  • Culture and Peace Award, Soka Gakkai University, Japan, 1993
  • Grand Official Award, Government of Italy, 1999
  • Mediterranean Arts Award of the Lazio region for 2005
  • Mediterranean Sea Award of Arts for 2006
  • Grand Audio-Visual Award, International Council of Films, Television and Audio-Visuals, UNESCO Paris, July 2007
  • Grand Audio-Visual Award, International Council of Films, Television and Audio-Visuals, UNESCO Paris, July 2007
  • Mediterranean Forum Peace Award, Lecce, Italy, 2008
Other Positions and Responsibilities
  • Chairman, Supreme Council of Antiquities, Egypt
  • Chairman, Supreme Council of Culture, Egypt
  • Member of the Board of Trustees, Bibliotheca Alexandria
  • Member, International Committee, Qatar Museums Board
  • Member, Plastic Artists Union, Egypt
  • Member, Alexandria Atelier Group for Artists and Writers
Hobbies: Music – Theatre – Archaeology

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Biographical Information for Ina Marčiulionytė

Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Lithuania to UNESCO since January 2003

Recent Career
  • Vice Minister (Regions and Cultural Heritage), Ministry of Culture, Republic of Lithuania 1999-2003
  • Director of the Cultural Programme and Director of the Open Society Fund House, Open Society Fund Lithuania (OSFL) 1992-1999
  • Editor, “Gimtoji Kalba” Lithuanian language policy magazine 1988-1991
  • Correspondent, Deputy Editor, Šalčininkai regional newspaper 1986-1988
Responsibilities at UNESCO
  • Since 2007 Vice-President of the Executive Board
  • Since 2005 Member of the Executive Board
  • 2004-2007 Member of the World Heritage Committee
  • 2006, 2007- Rapporteur, Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation
  • 2007 Chair, Credentials committee of the 34th UNESCO General Conference
  • 2007 Chair, Headquarters Committee
  • 2005-2006 Chair of the World Heritage Committee
  • 2005, 2006 Chair of the Working group on the working methods of the World Heritage Committee
  • 2004-2005 Vice-Chair of three intergovernmental expert meetings for the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
Education
  • 2004-2005 PhD course in international relations and diplomacy at the Centre d’Etudes Diplomatiques et Stratégiques, Paris
  • 1981-1986 University of Vilnius. Major in Lithuanian language and literature, specialising in translation from English
Professional Studies
  • 1997 Cultural Management, Belgrade
  • 1998 Professional Communication, Budapest
  • 1998 Leadership and Management, Budapest
Languages: Lithuanian, English, Russian, French

Publications: Several translated books and a number of published articles in the national and international press on arts and culture, cultural policy and heritage.

Teaching experience: Lithuanian language courses for Russian speaking professionals. Created and conducted summer courses for foreign writers and translators of Lithuanian literature.

Honours

Cross of Commander of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas

Useful additional sources of information:
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Biographical Information for Sospeter Muhongo

Sospeter Muhongo has been nominated by Tanzania as a candidate for the post of Director General of UNESCO. Here is some biographical information about him:

He was born in Musoma town, Tanzania on 25.06.1954. He is married to Bertha, has a son Rukonge, and is guardian to three orphans.

He is currently based in Pretoria, South Africa, where he is the first and founding Regional Director of the International Council for Science Regional Office for Africa. Among other positions held, he is Chair of the Science Program Committee of the UN-proclaimed International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE), Vice President of the Commission of the Geological Map of the World, Immediate Past Chair of the UNESCO/IUGS/IGCP Scientific Board and member of the Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA) Science and Technology Advisory Group. He has been recently elected to Chair the Steering Committee of the EU-funded project, “African-European Georesources Observation System (AEGOS).”

Prof Muhongo is co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of African Earth Sciences (Elsevier), Associate Editor of the Precambrian Research Journal (Elsevier) and is also co-Editor of a book (2009, in press) entitled “Science, Technology and Innovation for Socio-Economic Development: Success Stories from Africa.”

He was Head of the Department of Geology at the University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania from 1997 to 2000 and is currently Honorary Professor of Geology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. In the 1990s he was instrumental in raising the profile of the Geological Society of Africa (GSAf) and served as its President from 1995 to 2001. He was the first recipient (2004) of the Society’s Robert Shackleton Award for Outstanding Research on the Precambrian Geology of Africa and he was awarded Fellowship of the Society in 1998.

In 2006, Prof. Muhongo was presented with the National Award for Outstanding Research in Science and Technology (S&T) in Tanzania, and in 2007 The Geological Society of South Africa conferred upon him its “Honours Award”, for his contributions to the Earth Science profession.

Prof Muhongo has undertaken more than 100 contract scientific research projects and has rendered consultancy services in the mineral industry and on environmental issues and policy matters.

He graduated with a BSc Honours Degree in Geology from the University of Dar Es Salaam in 1979 where he founded and chaired the Geological Association of Students (1977). He then undertook postgraduate studies in Germany between 1980 and 1990 at the University of Göttingen (MSc research), and at the Technical University of Berlin (Dr.rer.nat.). He was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Prize (1977) and the Gondwana Prize (1979).

Since 1999 Prof Muhongo has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tanzanian State Mining Corporation (STAMICO) and in 2002 was Chairman of the Tanzanian Government Commission of Inquiry into the deadliest tanzanite mine accident.

He is the author or co-author of over 150 scientific articles and technical papers, and has co-authored the publication of the highly acknowledged geological and mineral maps of Africa, East Africa and Tanzania. Prof Muhongo has been invited to give more than 200 keynote speeches at international conferences in Africa, America, Asia and Europe. He has co-organized over 100 international scientific and policy conferences, including those of UNESCO and ICSU in Africa, Asia and Europe.

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Biographical Information for Nouréini Tidjani-Serpos

Sources: Campus numérique francophone de Cotonou, Wikipedia entry

Biography:

Born in 1946 in Porto-Novo, Benin.

Education: Primary and secondary studies in Porto-Novo. Studied literature in France and obtained a PhD in the subject from the University of Lille III (1987).

ADG Tidjani speaks English, French. Yoruba, Fon, Éwé and Goun and reads Spanish.

Professional Career: On return to the country, he was a French teacher in secondary school then technical adviser on the Culture of Sports for the Minister for State for Education,

For political reasons, he went into exile in 1975, teaching French and African literature at the Université de Benin-City in Nigeria and, on his return from exile, at the National University of Benin in Cotonou. In 1990, he became an adviser on cultural affairs to the Prime Minister then to the President of the Republic of Benin, Nicéphore Soglo.

In 1992, he was named ambassador and permanent representative of Benin to UNESCO. He was elected Chairman of the UNESCO Executive Board in 1996. Since 1998, he has been Assistant Director General of UNESCO for African programs.

He is poet, novelist and literary critic.

Publications:
  • Maïté (poetry). Cotonou: Imprimerie ABM, 1967.
  • Agba'Nla (poetry). Paris: P.J. Oswald, 1973.
  • Le nouveau souffle (poetry). Benin - City: Ambik Press, 1986.
  • Aspects de la critique africaine (literary criticism). Paris ; Lomé: Editions Silex ; Editions Haho, 1987.
  • Porto-Novo, un rêve brésilien (poetry) (en collaboration avec Jean Caffé). Paris: Ed. Karthala ; Ed. ASSOCLE, 1993.
  • Aspects de la critique africaine (Tome 2): l'intellectuel africain face au roman, (literary criticism). Paris: Editions Silex ; Editions Nouvelles du Sud, 1996.
  • Bamikilé (novel). Paris: Présence Africaine, 1996

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Sipoef 2008 discours Noureini Tidjani-Serpos IFrency)
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Biographical Information for Alexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko

Alexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko (Алекса́ндр Влади́мирович Якове́нко) is Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in charge of multilateral diplomacy (UN, UNESCO and other international organizations, economic and humanitarian cooperation, human rights, environmental cooperation, climate change, education, culture and sport issues)

Date of birth: 21 October 1954

Place of birth: Gomel, the USSR

Family: Married. Has a daughter

Education: Graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1976. Holds a Doctor of Law.

Languages: Russian, English and French

Dr. Alexander V.Yakovenko has the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. He began his diplomatic career in 1976 and has occupied various positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, including the Department of International Organizations, the Permanent Mission of the USSR to the United Nations in New York, the Foreign Policy Planning Department, the Department of International Scientific and Technical Cooperation, the Department of Security and Disarmament, the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to International Organizations in Vienna, and the Information and Press Department.

He has participated in numerous sessions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly, the UNESCO General Conference, various OSCE forums, negotiations on conventional armed forces in Europe and confidence building measures, the IAEA Board of Governors meetings, the Russian-American Joint Commission on Economic and Technological Cooperation, and the G8 expert meetings. Headed the Russian delegation at the International Space Station negotiations (1993-1998).

Professional:

  • Since 2005 - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
  • 2000-2005 – Spokesman, Director of the Information and Press Department, MFA
  • 1997-2000 - Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to International Organizations in Vienna
  • 1995-1997 - Deputy Director of the Department of Security and Disarmament, MFA, Russian representative at the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) Governing Board (Moscow)
  • 1993-1995 - Deputy Director of the Department of International Scientific and Technical Cooperation, MFA
  • 1976-1993 - various posts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and abroad
Academic:
  • Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences (Moscow)
  • Member of the Space Council, Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow)
  • Member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL, Paris)
  • Member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA, Paris)
Publications:

Author of several books and a manual on international law. More than 100 publications on international relations and Russian foreign policy, science, education and cultural issues.

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Candidates' Vision Statements

I have been able to find vision statements of seven candidates. Here in alphabetical order are links to the ones I have found:
I suggest that while the vision statements must be considered to be authorized by the candidates, they may well be the products of collaboration, especially collaboration between the candidate and the representatives of his/her country to UNESCO.)
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7/16/09

Vision Statement for Sospeter Muhongo

A VISION FOR UNESCO FOR THE 21st CENTURY


By Prof Sospeter M Muhongo, UNESCO DG Candidate,

Visionary Leadership – Excellent Management Skills – Transparency – Innovation – Efficiency - High Impact Delivery

[Prof Sospeter Muhongo, 55, Tanzania, is the only candidate for the position of UNESCO DG capable of invigorating the UNESCO agenda of "science for the socio-economic benefit of the global society", and who is mindful of the political diversity of its membership.]



Preamble on UNESCO

The Preamble to the Constitution of UNESCO declares that “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.” In order that a unanimous, lasting and genuine peace may be secured, the Preamble declares that the States party 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.”

UNESCO's purpose as a member of the UN family of organizations is "to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the 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."


Objectives of UNESCO in the 21 century

UNESCO was founded in 1945 and it is duty-bound to fulfill its mandate to the satisfaction of its membership. The ultimate goal of the UNESCO’s mandate is geared towards attaining sustainable socio-economic benefit for the global society in a safe, secure and peaceful living environment. Consequently, the following objectives are of paramount importance for the UNESCO of the 21st Century:

  • Quality Education at all levels (tackling illiteracy and gender inequality)
  • Quality Science Education and Research at all levels (science and society)
  • Quality Science for Advancement of Technology and catalyst of Innovation (science for economic prosperity)
  • The Science of Climate Change and Adaptation
  • Culture for Sustainable Development
  • Information and Communication for Sustainable International Cooperation
  • Education, Science, Culture, Information and Communication for promotion and sustenance of world peace and security

Quality Education for All

One of the most important deliverables of UNESCO to its membership is the generation of ideas and knowledge for socio-economic development. However, quality of education is on the decline at all levels (i.e. primary, secondary, tertiary and public education) in many nations around the world. Illiteracy and gender inequality in education are still thriving in the developing world. The number of well-trained and competent teachers and tertiary instructors (e.g. university lecturers) are on the decline. There remains a marginalized gender (i.e. female) in education and science. Availability of adequate and functioning educational and scientific infrastructure remains a challenge to many nations around the world. The digital divide between nations is still in existence.

UNESCO has a key role to play in reversing these negative trends and for meeting the expectations of its membership. It has to coordinate efforts leading to availability of e-learning and training facilities, establishment of digital libraries for open source access. It has to promote and facilitate the availability of educational curricula that emphasize science and technology education; enhancing curiosity, creativity and problem-solving learning. In other words, UNESCO has to facilitate the improvement of quality of teaching and of learning, and of coherence of national education systems and national R&D policies. Educational exchange programmes within UNESCO’s membership must be strengthened.


Physical education in schools and colleges is neglected in many nations. However, it is well recognized that physical education promotes friendship and competitive attitudes at all ages. Civics and religious classes should be incorporated in educational curricula for the purpose of promoting good citizenship, peace, safety and security of all nations. UNESCO has to work on the linkage between education, science, technology and society. Areas of focus should include: enhancement of scientific literacy for all, mainstreaming female and youth into the Organization’s activities, sustainability of new technologies and concomitant innovations, socio-economic development perspectives, improved policy responsiveness and ethics in science and technology. The expected deliverables in UNESCO’s Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2015) have to be evaluated on a yearly basis across its membership. Quality higher education has to be closely linked to R&D and innovation systems for the benefit of all. It is recognized today that quality education and quality science and technology underpin all eight UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Consequently, UNESCO has a key role to play in their realization.


Science in Service of Society

The societal problems and challenges of today require the application of science and technology more than ever before. Science provides the critical underpinning for innovation and technological development. It provides necessary, although not sufficient, input to ensure sustainable socio-economic development of all communities around the world. However, the quality of scientific research is on the decline in many nations. The number of skilled and qualified innovative scientists, engineers, technologists and science policy-makers of many nations is also on the decline. It is estimated that Africa has less than one scientist/engineer per 10,000 of her inhabitants whereas Asia and Europe have 2-5 per 10,000 inhabitants. In 2008, Africa accounted for 1.4% of articles published in learned journals. This implies that much of Africa’s economy is not knowledge-driven. This is an S&T reality characterizing most of the poor countries of the world.


UNESCO has to fulfill its mandate by promoting and facilitating the production of critical masses of skilled and knowledgeable human resource for its member states, and inspire new generations of scientists, engineers and technologists. It has to assist some of its member states to work on modern and appropriate educational and training curricula and give evidence-based advice on the sustenance of flourishing national innovation systems. It is estimated that the world’s population was 14 million in 3000 BC, 100 million in 500 BC and it will be approximately 10 billion in 2050. The sustainable livelihood of the current and the future world’s population will rely heavily on science, technology and innovation (STI) and hence the following fields of science will be of greatest importance to humanity in the next 50-100 years:

  • The Science of Climate Change and Adaptation
  • Agricultural Technologies and Industries (e.g. Seed Research and Development)
  • Life and Health Sciences
  • Earth System Science (e.g. environment, resources - water and minerals)
  • Energy Resources (e.g. renewable energies and coal)
  • Space Sciences and Technologies

Nano-sciences and technologies, and biotechnologies belong to the modern S&T tools to support research in these leading fields, e.g. research activities on food and nutrition, healthcare and energy resources. If used for peaceful purposes, these science fields will guarantee the world’s population the availability of alternative sources of sustainable and affordable energy, food and nutrition security, clean and safe drinking water, sustainable healthcare and well-being, better mitigation of hazards and disasters, and sound protection of the environment, ecosystems and biodiversity.

Crucially, too, UNESCO should greatly enhance the role and relevance of the social sciences, especially in areas such as “quality of life”, “sustainability”, “mitigation and adaptation”, as these are strongly related to the areas detailed above. Rural decline, immigration and rapid urbanization are major areas of concern, particularly in the developing world and should, therefore, enjoy equal status of attention within UNESCO. Some of the fields mentioned above do not constitute the mandate of UNESCO directly hence, collaboration with other UN-agencies, member states, the private sector, NGOs and cognate professional bodies is obligatory. By engaging itself in the society-relevant science agenda, UNESCO will act as a catalyst for an accelerated shared economic growth leading to poverty reduction in the world. It will be one of the international bodies fighting financial meltdowns through sound STI that supports the prosperity of robust and predictable economies. UNESCO also has to promote the sustainable utilization of earth resources for all generations Excellence in STI should be closely linked to the policy-and decision-making processes. Science provides a vital base for rational and prudent policy formulation (pro-people oriented policies) and informed decision making. This is one of the most important salient features of socio-economic prosperity for any nation. Consequently, UNESCO is duty-bound to promote this developmental paradigm by supporting its member states to put STI in service of their respective citizenry, including the utilization of STI for good governance and democracy. Here, too, the involvement of the social sciences is of paramount importance. Since education, science, culture and ICT cut across all sectors of the entire UN family; UNESCO has to play a servicing, supporting and/or complementary role to other UN bodies in the fulfillment of their respective mandates.

The Science of Climate Change and Adaptation

Since the pre-Industrial Era (~ 1750), green house gases (GHS) accumulations due to human activities have increased tremendously, e.g. CO2 by 30%, CH4 by over 100%, N2O by 15%; and these concentrations are higher now than at any time during the last 420,000 years. It is estimated that 20-30% of plant and animal species have an increased risk of extinction with projected global average temperature rise exceeding 1.5 – 2.5°C. Hence, climate change is a translational issue and is of great concern to all nations. UNESCO, being the custodian of science within the UN family, has a fundamental role to play in issues pertaining to global environmental change, including climate change and adaptation. Protection of carbon sinks, such as natural ecosystems that absorb a substantial amount of the carbon produced daily is essential. UNESCO has to partner with national, regional, international professional scientific bodies and inter-governmental bodies (e.g. UNEP, WMO, UNCCD and IPCC) in promoting and facilitating quality research activities in this domain, i.e. climate change and its consequences.


The consequences of global warming call for scientific investigations through international cooperation in the following topics: changes in ambient temperature, rainfall patterns (and its impact on floods and droughts), air, water and soil pollution, water resources and sanitation, ocean basins and coastlines (e.g. sea-level changes and ocean acidification), land degradation, biodiversity loss, health problems (e.g. infectious diseases), resilience for renewable energies and for food systems.

UNESCO has to promote and facilitate collaborative multi-disciplinary research programmes on the above subjects. It has also to disseminate quality knowledge, quality data and skills to its membership for mitigating and adapting to the consequences of climate change. Capacity building in the developing world in this domain is a necessary initiative. UNESCO has to be involved in establishing and maintaining well-functioning Earth Observation Systems, especially in the developing world.


Sustainable Energy Resources for All

The world is endowed with enormous energy resources. The classical or primary sources of energy are: oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear and hydro-power. Despite this enormous potential of energy resources, almost all countries around the world have repeatedly experienced the volatility of fuel prices. The situation is worse in the developing world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where over 75% of its population has no access to electricity and hence, has resorted to utilization of biomass (fuel wood and charcoal). This has led to immense deforestation and land degradation.

The world’s reserves of fossil fuel are on the decline. Hence, UNESCO should focus on renewable energies for the benefit of its membership. For instance, it is estimated that 1 km2 of desert receives annual solar energy equivalent to 1.5 million barrels of crude oil. Renewable energies include: solar, wind, geothermal, bio-energies, rotting garbage (producing biogas), ocean waves and tides, hydrocarbons on the sea-bed and hydrogen. UNESCO has to focus on those which are less capital intensive. There is a strong linkage between climate change (i.e. global warming) and gases emitted from various industrial, transport, agricultural and other anthropogenic activities. Hence, UNESCO must strengthen research on development and utilization of energy resources to support the climate change agenda of the international community.


UNESCO, using its core competencies and in collaboration with cognate partners, has to work on the science and the technology for sustainable utilization of all types of energy resources, including coal resources (i.e. multiple sources of energy). It has also to promote and facilitate efforts leading to an increase of the world’s population with access to electricity in a sustainable manner.

Through its membership and cognate professional scientific bodies, UNESCO has to promote and facilitate the availability of knowledge and data that stimulate the growth of low carbon industries and green manufacturing (i.e. efficient energy utilization) that ensure quality jobs and businesses.

Culture for Sustainable Development

Cultural diversity is often the hallmark of all nations. In principle, there is no culture that promotes hatred, discrimination, intolerance and killings. Hence, the cultural activities of UNESCO have to aim at promoting peace and security for sustainable development of all peoples and for all nations. It has to engage in activities promoting and strengthening the relationship between science/education and culture for development. Universality of education and science can be of help in the harmonization of the world’s cultural and religious heterogeneities.


Traditional “flagship projects” of UNESCO – World Heritage and Biosphere Reserves (living laboratories) have to be continuously maintained and well-managed for educational, scientific and economic benefits, and for environmental protection. UNESCO has to venture into heritage science and a new type of heritage, e.g. scientific objects (such as geo-parks) of importance to education, science, technology and global environmental change.

Peace and Security of All Nations

The Preamble of the Constitution of UNESCO is clear and sound to the whole of its membership. It is today estimated that 1 billion people around the world go to bed hungry each night. There is increasing insecurity of life and property, while violence related to food scarcity and religious intolerance has become more frequent in recent decades. Other main causes of conflict include poverty and the inequitable distribution of resources, competition for limited resources, denial of basic human rights, break-down in communication and the “culture of war.”

The ingredients for maintenance of peace and safety of any nation include economic prosperity and socioeconomic advancement, inter-cultural dialogue and good channels of communication, the existence of the “culture of peace” (as opposed to the “culture of war”) and assurance to all of the enjoyment of national wealth and exercise of basic human rights.

Using its core competencies, and in collaboration with its partners, UNESCO should utilize STI to facilitate the promotion of responsible use of S&T, good governance, democracy and a culture of peace in the world. STI is a catalyst for sustainable socio-economic development (a major activity in peace-building), a facilitator of intercultural dialogue and communication, and for peace education.

Education, science, culture, information and communication have to promote and sustain peace and security throughout the world. This will be achieved if UNESCO pays much more attention to the promotion of intellectual cooperation and involvement in its activities of the widest possible constituency in its membership. UNESCO should also complement the work on responsible use of science and technology (i.e. dual-use S&T) through international outreach and collaborative programmes.

UNESCO of the 21st Century should possess a high level of political awareness that will permit it to act diplomatically and promote science diplomacy for peaceful relations around the world. Science diplomacy is a modern tool that uses scientific partnerships among nations to address the common challenges and problems facing humanity.


Information and Communication: publications and conferences

Effective and timely communication using all possible modern media is a major requirement for UNESCO. Coherent communication on an informed level with UNESCO’s General Conference, Executive Board, high-level representatives of member states, UNESCO’s National Commissions, other UN-agencies and cognate partners is obligatory.

High quality and attractive publications and reports of the activities of UNESCO should be readily available and produced on time. Newsletters and the Organization’s web pages should be user-friendly. All UNESCO’s publications should aim at increasing its visibility; and provision of knowledge, data and skills to its membership. UNESCO should convene meetings of tangible benefits to its member states, and avoid being seen as an Organization that spends much of its financial and human resources on unnecessary meetings lacking any visibility and measurable benefits. Outreach initiatives should aim at attracting and buying-in the general public, the private sector, NGOs and member states into the activities of UNESCO. UNESCO’s Dakar Deceleration on Media and Good Governance should be translated into the establishment of learned information communities amongst its membership.


Mobility of Experts around the World

One of the salient features of globalization is the free movement, across territorial borders, of knowledge and skills, and of human and financial capital for socio-economic prosperity. Consequently, UNESCO has to promote and facilitate the mobility of quality experts and joint utilization of educational and research facilities within its membership. Diaspora programmes of the developing nations have to be supported by UNESCO. Such an undertaking also calls for international collaboration.

Global Partnerships for Global Challenges

UNESCO has to assist its membership to develop and maintain R&D programmes, some of which should have a greater coherence and convergence with those of the international development agencies. It has to promote and facilitate North-South, South-South and North-North cooperation for resolving problems of transnational dimensions (e.g. climate change, peace and security). Facilitation of public-private, national-regional international collaborations is an important task for UNESCO. Consequently, it has to promote and facilitate the growth and maturity of global partnerships for sustainable socio-economic benefits of all nations. UNESCO has to continuously promote and facilitate the generation of ideas and knowledge for socio-economic benefits of the global society, and this may be attained through the promotion of international collaborations in its activities. Global alliances, networks and consortia of implementers are essential.


Governance: leadership and management of the Organization

UNESCO could realize the above objectives and their concomitant challenges by having the following in place:

  • Well-focused, prioritized and delivery-oriented strategic plans and annual business plans with measurable parameters of achievements of the described objectives and milestones
  • Efficient, innovative, productive and cost-effective utilization of human and financial resources
  • Availability of performance indicators for all activities
  • Efficient and well-coordinated inter-sectoral initiatives (intersectoriality, cross-cutting platforms) within UNESCO through inter-and multi-disciplinary approaches
  • UNESCO to always remain mindful that it is not a funding agency
  • Partnership with member states, UN agencies, the private sector, NGOs and other appropriate development agencies for successful implementation of UNESCO’s activities and those of its membership and partners.

Good leadership is characterized by consultancy, listening and learning. UNESCO requires a visionary leadership that listens to and consults its member states and other stakeholders. Leadership and management of UNESCO’s programmes and projects should be in the hands of well-trained, competent, efficient and delivery oriented staff. Excellent management skills are obligatory. The staff of UNESCO should be aware of the broad strategic objectives of its membership and of relevant cognate organizations and professional societies.


UNESCO has to create a conducive working environment for its staff to discharge their duties with greater motivation, confidence, efficiency, accuracy and accountability. Decentralization, regionalization and clustering of programmes and projects as well as of human and financial resources have to be sustainably intensified and should be guided by clear intentions and by efficient-and quality delivery-oriented operation. Performance indicators and measurable deliverables have to be important ingredients of all UNESCO’s activities. UNESCO has to work very closely with its member states especially the National Commissions (including grassroot civil society), for sound and beneficial utilization of human and financial resources, and of educational, scientific, cultural and communication infrastructure.

Financial Resources of the Organization

Besides its annual budgets, the leadership of UNESCO has to increase budgets for the implementation of its projects and programmes through fundraising campaigns. This may be done through creation of partnerships with the private sector, joint projects and programmes with member states, other UN agencies, NGOs and other development partners. It has to attract bi-and multi-lateral programmes and projects dealing with educational, scientific, cultural, humanitarian and communication issues. Hence, fundraising campaigns aiming at increasing extra-budgetary resources shall be a priority of the new UNESCO leadership. However, UNESCO’s mandate and principles should not be compromised in this endeavour.


All financial resources available in its annual budgets should be wisely used and in a cost-effective manner. Priority has to be given to the approved and high-impact activities of its member states. UNESCO has always to remain mindful that it is not a funding agency and hence it can not do everything everywhere and at all times. The management of financial resources shall be in full compliance with the Organization’s financial policies and regulations, and shall be strongly supported by a rigorous and a comprehensive external auditing exercise at the end of each financial year. Transparent auditable trails have to be available to all financial contributors to assess progress, quality of delivery and probity in resource allocations and utilization. UNESCO of the 21st Century has to establish durable cooperation with both the private and public sectors in fulfilling its mandate and in the realization of the changing needs of its membership.

External Review of the Organization

UNESCO programmes and activities at the Head Office in Paris, and at its Regional and Cluster Offices shall undergo international external reviews every five years. The impact of sometimes poorly resourced UNESCO national, regional and/or cluster offices shall be evaluated for the benefit of its member states.

Leadership Qualities of UNESCO DG

The realization of the above vision for UNESCO of the 21st Century requires leadership which is visionary and dynamic. Excellent management skills, transparency, innovation, efficiency, quality productivity and high-impact delivery are obligatory. High integrity, impeccable morals, respect and diplomacy are a must. The UNESCO DG should be an excellent communicator and public speaker.

The candidate from Tanzania, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, possesses all of these leadership qualities.

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