About the Natural Sciences Sector

UNESCO works to advance and promote science in the interests of peace, sustainable development and human security and well-being, in close collaboration with its Member States and a wide variety of partners.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development represents a significant step forward in the recognition of the contribution of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to sustainable development. Solutions to today’s global challenges such as climate change and youth unemployment need a multi-sectoral response and in this regard UNESCO mobilizes scientific knowledge in the context of its multidisciplinary mandate in education, culture, the social and human sciences and communication.

Since its foundation in 1945 UNESCO has acted as a catalyst for the establishment of many, now leading, scientific unions and bodies such as CERN; and initiatives with far-reaching implications for sustainable human security and well-being. UNESCO:

• Acts as a platform for sharing ideas and standard setting;
• Catalyses international cooperation in science;
• Promotes dialogue between scientists and policy makers;
• Builds capacity in science.

UNESCO’s international science programmes have long-standing experience in mobilizing the best available fundamental and applied science in their respective fields to serve Member States. They work to develop:

• international cooperation, networking and knowledge-sharing ;
• research, monitoring, and the generation of knowledge;
• human and institutional capacity and educational initiatives;
• sound policies and governance;
• responses to requests for technical assistance from Member States;
• awareness on scientific issues among policy-makers and the general public.

The programmes are:

• Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP);
• Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB);
• International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP);
• International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP).

Additionally, UNESCO's Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems programme (LINKS) promotes local and indigenous knowledge and its inclusion in global climate science and policy processes, and its World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) produces policy-relevant, timely and reliable information in various fields of water resources developments and management.

These programmes are supported by extensive networks and benefit from the concrete experience gained from the UNESCO designated sites: biosphere reserves, UNESCO Global Geoparks and natural sites inscribed on the World Heritage list.

In addition to these programmes, a body with functional autonomy within UNESCO carries out a specific mandate on ocean sciences: the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO).

The Natural Sciences Sector also implements its programmes through:

• the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), in Trieste, Italy;
• the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, in Montreal, Canada; and
• a network of over 50 associated centres in the fields of water, renewable energy, science policy, biotechnology, geosciences, the basic sciences and remote sensing.

More than 250 of the UNESCO/UNITWIN University chairs are science related.

Lidia Arthur Brito (Mozambique), a former minister, was appointed to the position of Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences on 2 November 2023. She was Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences ad interim since June 2023, helping to formulate innovative responses to contemporary environmental challenges.

Lidia Arthur Brito obtained a bachelor's degree in forestry engineering (1981) from Eduardo Mondlane University (Mozambique) before obtaining a master's degree (1990) and a doctorate in forestry sciences (1994) from Colorado State University (United States).

From 1998 to 1999, she was Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of Eduardo Mondlane University (Mozambique). 

From 2000 to 2005, Lidia Arthur Brito served as Mozambique's Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology. In particular, she carried out several reforms strengthening the visibility of Mozambican universities internationally. From 2005 to 2007, she served as Advisor for Strategic Planning and External Relations of the Mayor of Maputo City (Mozambique). 

Lidia Arthur Brito joined UNESCO in 2009 as Director of the Division of Science Policy and Capacity Building. In 2014, she was appointed Director of the Regional Office for Science in Latin America and the Caribbean in Montevideo (Uruguay), where she notably promoted the implementation of programmes in artificial intelligence and open science. In 2021, she was appointed Director of the Multisectoral Regional Office for Southern Africa in Harare (Zimbabwe) and UNESCO Representative for Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.