Context and objectives
Despite the postponement of the meeting initially scheduled for May 2020, the announced objectives of the 7th Interregional Meeting are maintained:
1. Contribute to the ongoing elaboration process of the next Draft Medium-Term Strategy for 2022-2029 (41 C/4) and the Draft Programme and Budget for 2022-2025 (41 C/5) of UNESCO. The aim will be to collectively comment on the Director-General's preliminary proposals in the light of the suggestions made during the regional and subregional consultations and the Executive Board decision 210 EX/22. The intention is to share with the Secretariat and Member States the common considerations of the National Commissions in view of the preparation and examination of the drafts to be submitted to the 211th Session of the Executive Board (7 – 21 April, 2021).
2. Exchange on the role of National Commissions for UNESCO in strengthening concretely the implementation of the Organization’s programmes. A starting point for the discussion will be the document, “National Commissions for a renewed multilateralism”, initiated by the National Commissions of Austria, Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland. The desired result is to provide the Secretariat and Member States with shared recommendations from National Commissions, to be included in the synthesis report as requested in the decision 210 EX/5.III.D on the strategic transformation of the Organization.
3. Share experiences on actions undertaken or initiatives planned by the National Commissions, particularly those that have a subregional, regional, transregional and interregional cooperation dimension and/or strong intersectoral dimension at a thematic level, as well as projects that are part of the response to COVID-19, to the enhancement of the 2030 Agenda, or to the challenges and opportunities of digitalization.
Revised Programme
Monday, 22 February 2021
13.00 - 13.30
Opening of the 7th Interregional Meeting of National Commissions for UNESCO
Welcome Addresses
Mr Thomas Zeltner, Chairperson of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO
Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO (video message)
Mr Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation
Election of the Bureau
Mr Firmin Edouard Matoko, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations (ADG/PAX)
Working methods and adoption of the programme
Mr Nicolas Mathieu, Secretary-General of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO
1st session
13.30 – 13.45
Priorities for UNESCO’s action in 2022-2029
Moderation: Mr Nicolas Mathieu, Secretary-General of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO
Introduction: Mr Jean-Yves Le Saux, Director of the Bureau of Strategic Planning of UNESCO (DIR/BSP)
13.45 - 15.15
What is the role of UNESCO towards 2030 in light of global challenges?
Panel among:
Ms Aminata Touré, Member of UNESCO’s High Level Reflection Group for Strategic Transformation
Ms Karima Bennoune, UN Special Rapporteur in the field of Cultural Rights
Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth
Ms Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB)
Mr Peter Messerli, Co-Chair of the UN Global Sustainable Development Report 2019
Questions/answers
15.15 – 15.30
Wrap-Up / Reminders
Mr Nicolas Mathieu, Secretary-General of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO
Tuesday, 23 February 2021
2nd session
Future Quadrennial Programme of UNESCO (41/C5): programmes and products – operational involvement of National Commissions for UNESCO and their national networks
Regional group discussion
Directors of UNESCO Field Offices, ADG, BSP, PAX are invited to participate.
Possibility of optional (passive) participation by all National Commissions in other groups (in line with code of conduct).
07.00-08.30
Asia-Pacific region (1 moderator; 1 rapporteur)
10.00-11.30
Arab region (1 moderator; 1 rapporteur)
13.00-14.30
Africa region (1 moderator; 1 rapporteur)
16.00-17.30
Europe and North America region (1 moderator; 1 rapporteur)
19.00-20.30
Latin America and the Caribbean region (1 moderator; 1 rapporteur)
Wednesday, 24 February 2021
3rd session
13.00 – 13.30
Presentation of the results of group discussions
Rapporteurs of the group discussions
Questions/answers
13.30 – 14.15
Strategic Transformation
Moderation: Mr Nicolas Mathieu, Secretary-General of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO
State of Play
Presentation: Mr Xing Qu, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO
Positioning and Role of National Commissions for a Renewed Multilateralism
Presentation: Mr Lutz Möller, Deputy Secretary-General of the German Commission for UNESCO
High Level Reflection Group Report
Presentation: Ms Maja Zalaznik, Member of UNESCO’s High Level Reflection Group for Strategic Transformation
14.15 - 15.00
Discussion, Q/A and key messages
Moderation: Ms Gabriela Tejada, Vice-Chairperson of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO
Thursday, 25 February 2021
4th session
13.00 – 15.00
From strategy to implementation of concrete initiatives: the comparative advantage of National Commissions
Moderation: Ms Gabriela Tejada, Vice-Chairperson of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO
Presentation of Completed / Planned projects from National Commissions
15.00 – 15.30
Closure of the 7th Interregional Meeting of National Commissions for UNESCO
Presentation by the Rapporteurs and Adoption of Conclusions
Mr Nicolas Mathieu, Secretary-General of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO
Closing remarks
Mr Firmin Edouard Matoko, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations (ADG/PAX)
Mr Thomas Zeltner, Chairperson of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO