The UNESCO partnership with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) representing civil society constitutes a valuable cooperation network in the service of people for development, equality, international understanding and peace in UNESCO’s fields of competence.

The International Conference of Non-governmental Organizations meets every two years to examine the state of cooperation between NGOs and UNESCO, to conduct collective consultations concerning the broad lines of UNESCO programs and to facilitate cooperation between the organizations with shared interests.

During the interval between sessions of the International Conference of NGOs, the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee, whose members and president are elected by the Conference, represents the interests of the entire group of 400 NGO partners in relation to UNESCO, oversees the effective functioning of the partnership and promotes consultation between the NGOs and the exchange of relevant information.

The strategy developed by the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee for the period 2019-2020 is based on the mandate of the Liaison Committee as defined by the Directives concerning UNESCO partnership with NGOs as well as the proceedings of the Conference that took place in December 2018.

Strategic objectives :

•  Developing a culture of partnership between the NGO community and UNESCO, in particular concerning intellectual cooperation in all the Organization’s fields of competence.
•  Taking into account the cultural diversity of civil society in the collective actions undertaken by the UNESCO non-governmental partners, including increasing NGOs located in diverse parts of the world.
•  Promoting continuous information exchange by the non-governmental network making use of social networks and new technologies.
•  Strengthening the credibility and the visibility of NGO collective action, particularly in relation to Member States.
• Encouraging a stronger participation of young people and youth organizations in the events it organizes and further cooperate with the UNESCO Youth program.
• Making the UN Agenda 2030 (its 17 objectives and 169 targets) the framework for the policy pursued by the Committee.

   

  To reach these objectives, the NGO-Liaison Committees considers its mission to:  

•  Encourage the identification of new organizations representative of civil society located in parts of the world where they are isolated or fragile for historical, cultural or geographical reasons, and to integrate them into the NGO-UNESCO partnership, utilizing new technologies of communication.
• Lead and coordinate the collective work of the NGOs by supporting concrete project implementation, notably within the framework of the two annual forums and during the celebrations of international UN days.
•  Develop and strengthen the interaction and the work of UNESCO at all levels (Headquarters, field offices, institutes, UNESCO centers and National Commissions).
• Foster the visibility of the actions and good practices of the network of NGO’s in official partnership with UNESCO.

An Action Plan for 2019- 2020 :

• Organizing 4 International forums (3 of which will be held outside Headquarters, if possible), covering themes selected in cooperation with UNESCO, in the framework of Agenda 2030, and taking into account priority themes retained during the Conference: 1) Challenging  inequalities 2)Role of volunteers in cultural heritage, 3)Science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship to fight poverty and sustain SDGs, 4)Global citizenship.
•  Organizing events (at Headquarters and in field offices) on certain international days celebrated by UNESCO (Peace, Human Rights,The Girl Child).
•  Contributing to the preparation of the Committee’s discussions on Non-governmental Partners of the Executive Board, in particular by ensuring, as far as possible, the participation of a large number of NGOs.
•  Establishing working groups aligned with UNESCO’s priorities, on specific themes in order to prepare forums and international days. The Liaison Committee will ensure that groups represent cultural diversity, by associating NGOs outside UNESCO Headquarters and using news technologies.
•  Setting up collective reflection groups as defined by the ICNGO’s recommendations on the following themes: Education 2030-SDG4; Strengthening NGO-UNESCO partnership, Climate.
• Contributing to the creation of new opportunities of interaction and dialogue in order to strengthen cooperation with Member States
• Strengthening the Committee’s communication through various media: website, Facebook, Twitter, and quarterly newsletters, etc.

Please click there to find an invitation from the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative

Please click there to find an invitation from the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

The NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee, member of the Collective Consultation of NGOs (CCNGOEducation2030) and on behalf of the official NGO partners of UNESCO expresses its concern about the lack of reference to education in the Zero Draft of the Political Declaration for the High Level Political Forum (HLPF 2019) ; the Liaison Committee calls for the recognition of the key role of quality education in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, in line with the SDG-Education 2030 Steering Committee submission to the HLPF 2019.

Noting that education is a major vector of human, social and economic development processes, we reaffirm point 5 of the declaration regarding the indivisibility of the SDGs and propose to include education as a sustainable development goal in point 6.

We call for the commitment of Member States to education as as a catalytic force across the 2030 Agenda, in point 23 of the déclaration.

The NGO partners of UNESCO, key actors of civil society, recall the permanence of their actions on the ground and their advocacy in favor of inclusive and equitable quality education for all, for the sake of sustainable development and peace.

Pictures taken before the appointment granted by UNESCO Director General, Ms Audrey Azoulay, Monday 30th April at 11am to the President of the ICNGO and NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee, Ms Marie-Claude Machon-Honoré, and with the Vice-President of the Liaison Committee, Mr Philippe Beaussant and Ms Sabina Colombo, Desk officer ERI, for a very fruitful and positive one hour’s exchange on the strategy of the current NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee and the key role of NGOs in official partnership with UNESCO.

Marie-Claude Machon Honoré, President of the International NGO conference and of the liaison committee has addressed, during its meeting of April 12th, the Executive board of UNESCO.

You can read here the text of the intervention.

Here is the video.

The International Conference of NGOs that I represent wishes to stand by UNESCO Director General who sent a strong message on the tragic fire that devastated Notre Dame,World Heritage of Humanity, of outstanding universal value.

The planetary suffering entailed is on a par with the symbol and the universal beneficent vocation of this unique heritage in the world.

Testimonies from around the world and from NGOs show the attachment to the work of art and to the spiritual dimension of this heritage of the human community and its cultural diversities.

This global momentum is in keeping with the dimension of UNESCO and its universal values.

Marie-Claude Machon-Honoré,
President of the ICNGO and NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee

Welcome to the NGO-UNESCO  Laison Committee website.

I am honored to have been elected at the last International NGO Conference  (December 2018) on the themes of valuing the commitment and contribution of NGOs, communication and dialogue, and the collective strength of NGOs.

The role of the Liaison Committee is to represent the interests of all NGOs and our goal will be to strengthen  a partnership culture  through projects that are based on the expertise of NGOs on the ground  and aligned with UNESCO Priorities,  and in compliance with the basic texts.

We will speak as one voice because education, the eradication of poverty, peace in the hearts of men and women and intercultural dialogue, the defense of human rights, gender equality, the freedom of expression, science as a common good of humanity and for sustainable development, the fight against climate change, the key role of youth and the development of Africa are our common priorities in the implementation of  UNESCO programs.

With UNESCO, whose values ​​we share, we will build bridges to facilitate cooperation and solidarity among generations, peoples, communities, academia and Member States.

Wishing to value the actions of NGOs across the regions , the Liaison Committee will be listening to them and to the suggestions of civil society at large  so as to improve our collective contribution for the common good.

We also invite you to join us on Facebook and twitter @NgoUnesco to follow our news and thematic forums.

Thank you for your support !

Marie-Claude Machon-Honoré

Chair of the ICNGO and President of the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee