Procedure for the nomination of the Director-General of UNESCO

The Director-General is appointed initially for four years, and may be re-appointed for a further four-year term (voting procedure). 

The Executive Board of UNESCO considers all candidates for the appointment of this function. The Chairperson of the Board informs the General Conference of the candidate nominated by the Board. 

The procedure to be followed for the nomination of the Director-General of the Organization was considered by the Executive Board at its 195th session (October 2015), its 196th (April 2015) and its 200th session (October 2016). The relevant decisions pertaining to this procedure are: 196 EX/Decision 16 and 220 EX/Decision 19 (see Annexes of document 220 EX/19 Rev. for more information). 

On 24 October 2024, the Chairperson of the Executive Board invited Governments of all Member States to communicate the names, full biographical details and vision statements of persons who could be considered as candidates for the post of Director-General. 

The Chairperson’s communication on these candidatures was made on 17 March 2025, a copy of this letter may be downloaded here.

The list of the names of all candidates received is as below.

Interviews of the candidates for the office of Director-General will take place in public during the plenary meetings of the 221st session of the Executive Board on Wednesday 9 April 2025. Interviews will also be webcast, in accordance with 196 EX/Decision 16 and 220 EX/Decision 19.