AID TO EDUCATION

The Participation Programme Created in 1956, the Participation Programme enables the Organization to associate itself with activities in pursuance of UNESCO’s goals, carried out by Member States and different organizations and institutions. This programme is designed to strengthen partnership between Member States, or between NGOs and UNESCO, by contributing mutually to its implementation. This co-operation is based on a written agreement between UNESCO and the government(s) or the intergovernmental organization or international non-governmental organization or institution concerned. Such agreements may also be concluded with a National Commission for UNESCO when duly empowered by the government of the Member State or Associate Member making the request. Participation may take a variety of forms: the provision of specialists or fellowships, or of equipment and documentation; the organization of meetings, conferences, seminars or training courses (translation and interpretation services, travel of participants or consultants, other services deemed necessary by common consent). UNESCO can also endeavour to meet exceptional situations through emergency assistance. The Participation Programme is being increasingly used to fund activities aimed at supporting the development efforts of the Member States at the country level and at strengthening the National Commissions. This is the reason for the substantial increase in the volume of its resources. As can be seen from the graphs which follow, in education alone these have increased from $364,000 in 1957-1958 to $7,300,000 in 1996-1997.

ASSISTANCE UNDER THE PARTICIPATION PROGRAMME MAY BE ACCORDED TO: Member States or Associate Members upon request through their National Commissions, to promote activities of a national character. For activities of a subregional, regional or interregional character, requests are submitted by the National Commissions of the Member States or Associate Members on whose territory they take place. These requests must be supported by at least two other national Commissions of participating Member States or Associate Members; a non-self-governing or trust territory, upon the request of the National Commission of the Member State responsible for the conduct of the territory’s external relations; a national institution, upon a request by the National Commission of the Member State or Associate Member in whose territory it is situated; an intergovernmental organization which has signed a co-operation agreement with UNESCO, where the participation relates to activities of direct interest to several Member States; an international non-governmental organization maintaining formal relations with UNESCO, upon a request endorsed by the National Commission of the Member State or Associate Member in whose territory the planned activity is to be carried out; a request by an NGO maintaining ad hoc relations with UNESCO must be supported by the National Commissions of at least two Member States; an international non-governmental institution having no official relations with UNESCO, upon a request submitted on its behalf by the National Commission of the Member State in whose territory it is situated; such requests must be supported by at least two National Commissions of other participating Member States; the Organization of African Unity, for activities in UNESCO’s fields of competence; the Palestine observer at UNESCO, where the participation request relates to activities in UNESCO’s fields of competence of direct interest to Palestinians. Programme and Budget of UNESCO for 1996-1997.