Overview of the UNESCO Office in Addis Ababa
The mission of UNESCO Addis Ababa is to contribute to sustainable human development in a culture of peace underpinned by tolerance, democracy and human rights through programs and projects in UNESCO's fields of competence: Education, the Natural & Social Sciences, Culture and Communication & Information.
a center of expertise in the field of Education for the Arab world. In carrying out this mission, the UNESCO Beirut Cluster Office , serves twenty-two Arab countries in the region in the field of Education. Despite their common language and culture, Arab countries enjoy cultural variations and different national and sub-regional priorities and concerns which UNESCO takes into account when fulfilling its mandate.
As a Cluster Office, its role is to implement UNESCO’s Biennial Program by adapting the implementation of programs in its fields of competence to the specific characteristics of the region and working to ensure an active presence in each Member State. The office is responsible for providing assistance both upstream and downstream through planning, programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities.
Since 1958, UNESCO liaison office in Addis Ababa has ensured strong partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). In 1999, the mandate of the office was widened to the newly institutionalised African Union Commission (AUC). With Africa defined as a priority by the governing bodies, a strengthened presence of UNESCO in Addis Ababa “the diplomatic and political capital of Africa” is more important than ever.
The office strives to implement operational activities in every thematic sectors so as to foster culture of peace and sustainable development in Ethiopia.