REPORT BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD ON ITS ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMME PART I ACTIVITIES IN , INCLUDING ITS METHODS OF WORK SUMMARY

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1 Executive Board Two hundred and second session 202 EX/20 Part I PARIS, 2 October 2017 Original: English Item 20 of the provisional agenda REPORT BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD ON ITS ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMME PART I ACTIVITIES IN , INCLUDING ITS METHODS OF WORK SUMMARY Part I is submitted in accordance with 156 EX/Decision 5.5, paragraph 6.C(a), and 30 C/Resolution 81, while taking into consideration appropriate recommendations of 33 C/Resolution 92, as well as 180 EX/Decision 26 and 186 EX/Decision 17 (I (IV)). This document is a non-exhaustive factual summary of the main activities and decisions of the Executive Board during the biennium. The Executive Board examines this written report at its 202nd session for submission to the General Conference at its 39th session as document 39 C/9 Part I. Additionally, document 39 C/INF.9 consists of the oral presentation of this report by the Chairperson of the Executive Board to the General Conference. Action expected of the Executive Board: proposed decision in paragraph 40. Job:

2 202 EX/20 Part I I. INTRODUCTION 1. Throughout the biennium, the Executive Board s work was concentrated on its Constitutional mandate to provide strategic vision and advice to the Director-General. This advice was given not only during the elaboration and formulation of the 39 C/5 Programme and Budget for , but also with a view to accomplishing the Organization s efforts to achieve the Overarching Objectives and Strategic Objectives as outlined in its Medium-Term Strategy for (37 C/4). 2. Financial challenges highlighted in the previous biennium have continued to impact the ability of the Secretariat to implement the Programme, as adopted by the General Conference at its 38th session. In addition to the continued non-payment of assessed contributions by some Member States, the financial situation of the Organization has been negatively impacted by significant delays in the payment of their contributions by a large number of countries, including major contributing countries, forcing the Organization to adopt drastic contingency measures to face cash flow problems. This has been further exacerbated by a worrying trend to link assessed contributions to conditionalities of payment. The principle that assessed contributions are due on 1st January needs to be reiterated strongly. Steps must be taken by Member States in order to avoid a repetition of this situation in the future, which puts into question the delivery of the programme decided by the General Conference. 3. The positive impact of UNESCO s endeavours to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty and sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, especially those Sustainable Development Goals of particular importance to the Organization is greatly hindered by such perennial lack of funds. This situation must be remedied through efforts already undertaken, including the newly implemented Structured Financing Dialogue, the integrated budget framework, improved results-based budgeting and results based management, advance payments of assessed contributions, or an increase of the Working Capital Fund. Equally, it is incumbent on the Organization as a whole, including the Member States, the Governing Bodies, and the Secretariat, to quickly and definitively remedy this unsustainable situation. 4. In this light, much of the Board s work concentrated on extensive consultations and deliberations leading to the preparation of the draft 39 C/5 document. Indeed an unprecedented number of consultations were undertaken among the Delegations and the Secretariat throughout the elaboration process subsequent to the submission of the Director-General s preliminary proposals. The initial consultations were deemed inadequate taking into account the integration of new reporting features of the integrated budget framework and the increasingly challenging financial situation facing the organization. The intersessional mechanism was seen as an opportunity for further consultation among the Membership, with the Board deciding to organize one additional intersessional meeting in December Equally, the Board requested that additional three information meetings be organized in November This consultation also included the establishment of an ad hoc Working Group on the C/5 document, which met between the 201st and 202nd session of the Board in Ultimately, the Board s objective was to ensure that the Secretariat continued its endeavours to strive for greater impact and sharper delivery of UNESCO s programmes, and to preserve and strengthen the Organization s relevance in light of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, while accomplishing the Overarching and Strategic Objectives, as outlined in the Medium-Term Strategy for (37 C/4). II. ELECTED OFFICERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD 6. At its 198th session, the Executive Board elected Mr Michael Worbs, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Germany to UNESCO as Chairperson for the biennium. The

3 202 EX/20 Part I page 2 Board also elected its Vice-Chairpersons and the Chairpersons of its Commissions and Committees. 1 III. SUMMARY OF THE BIENNIUM Follow-up to the execution of the programme, including an examination of the reports of the Director-General on the activities of the Organization 7. During the period in question, the importance of a strong and sustainable field network was addressed with a view to ensuring efficient implementation of UNESCO s mission. The Board emphasized the need for proposed basic principles of sustainable decentralization to be implemented, assuring that relevance and performance of the field network as a whole was taken into consideration. It requested concrete and action-oriented options to be provided for a more sustainable, relevant, and effective field network including cost analysis, particularly taking into account the programmatic relevance of field activity and presence in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It also invited Member States to consider supporting UNESCO field offices through financial and in-kind contributions, while also inviting host Member States to comply fully with provisions in the prevailing host country agreements relating to backstopping and support of field offices. In this regard, the Board welcomed the various Audit Reports, presented by the External Auditor, noting that such reports are critical in providing significant advice while contributing to enhancing efficiency and transparency in the Organization. Nonetheless, Members continue to raise concerns pertaining to the field office network, notably as regards insufficient staffing, extensive recourse to temporary contractual arrangements, high vacancy rates, and an absence of mobility rules. 8. The Board also examined options for the process of preparing a preliminary text of a nonbinding declaration of ethical principles in relation to climate change. It invited the Secretariat, together with the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST), and in consultation with the Member States, to prepare a preliminary text, that takes into consideration the outcome of negotiation processes within the framework of the twenty-first and twenty-second sessions of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Board also invited the Director-General to constitute an ad hoc group of 36 experts on the basis of equitable geographical representation and with a background of multi-disciplinary expertise, according to category VI of the Regulations for the general classification of the various categories of meetings convened by UNESCO, having in its terms of reference the preparation of a first draft of a preliminary text of a non-binding declaration of ethical principles in relation to climate change. Finally the Board invited the Director-General to submit to it at its 202nd session the aforementioned preliminary text to enable it to formulate its recommendations thereon, for transmission to the General Conference at its 39th session. 9. The Board considered the implementation of the Strategy for the reinforcement of UNESCO s action for the protection of culture and the promotion of cultural pluralism in the event of armed conflict. It welcomed the opportunities provided for coordination and consultation between the Secretariat and the Member States and among Member States, including in the context of two sessions of the Executive Board, two intersessional meetings, two information meetings, three meetings of the friends of #Unite4Heritage group and an online questionnaire. While taking note of the proposed action plan as a living document, the Board notes that the activities foreseen in the Action Plan contribute directly to the strengthening of the UNESCO cultural conventions and will be 1 Vice-Chairpersons of the Executive Board: Sweden (Group I), Lithuania (Group II), Dominican Republic (Group III), Malaysia (Group IV), South Africa (Group V (a)), Morocco (Group V (b)). Chairpersons of the Commissions and Committees: Mr Komlavi Francisco Seddoh (Togo), Chairperson of the Programme and External Relations Commission; Ms Lorena Sol de Pool (El Salvador), Chairperson of the Finance and Administrative Commission; Ms Samira Mohamed Moosa Al Moosa (Oman), Chairperson of the Special Committee; Mr M. Shahidul Islam (Bangladesh) then Mr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury (Bangladesh), Chairperson of the Committee on Conventions and Recommendations; and Ms Besiana Kadaré (Albania) then Mr Darko Tanaskovic (Serbia), Chairperson of the Committee on Non-Governmental Partners.

4 202 EX/20 Part I page 3 conducted in strict accordance with relevant United Nations rules, with the express consent of States concerned, and in accordance with relevant international law. The Board also recognized that many activities provided for in the Action Plan are also relevant to crisis situations associated with disasters. In this regard, it decided to take into consideration crisis and emergency situations associated with natural disasters in the scope of the Action Plan and recommends that the General Conference, at its 39th session, consider including natural disasters within the scope of the Strategy for the reinforcement of UNESCO s action for the protection of culture and the promotion of cultural pluralism in the event of armed conflict, as appropriate. 10. The Board also considered the implementation of the 1974 Recommendation on the Status on Scientific Researchers, in particular the revised proposal for the preparation of the next consultation. In that context, the Board bore in mind the importance of the Recommendation as a means for supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With that in mind, it approved the amended guidelines for the preparation of reports by Member States on the application of the Recommendation. Member States are also encouraged to submit to UNESCO reports on the implementation of the 1974 Recommendation to ensure the monitoring thereof and requested the Director-General to submit to it at its 202nd session the next consolidated report with a view to transmitting it, together with the Executive Board s comments thereon, to the General Conference at its 39th session. 11. The Board also examined international collaboration on Open Educational Resources (OER). It noted its appreciation to the national authorities of Slovenia for the organization of the second World Open Educational Resources Congress, held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in September 2017, and decided to include this item on the provisional agenda of the 39th session of the General Conference. In this regard, the Board invited the Director-General to submit to the General Conference at its 39th session the findings of the study whose results are contained in document 201 EX/9, together with the relevant observations and decisions of the Executive Board thereon and on how international collaboration on open educational resources (OER) can continue to progress, taking into account the outcomes of both: (a) the OER regional consultations organized by the Commonwealth of Learning; and (b) the second World OER Congress. The Board also recommended that the General Conference at its 39th session consider the possibility of a recommendation, taking into account budgetary and resource implications for the Secretariat, to reinforce international collaboration in the field of open educational resources (OER). 12. The Board also considered the progress report on the implementation of the MAB Strategy for and the associated Lima Action Plan for UNESCO s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves In doing so, the Board affirms the importance of the Lima Action Plan and the MAB Strategy for in contributing to sustainable development and the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. By endorsing the Lima Action Plan, the Board encouraged Member States, in close cooperation with the MAB Secretariat, to undertake and promote actions contained in the Lima Action Plan for the effective implementation of the MAB Strategy for , through their MAB National Committees, biosphere reserves, regional and thematic MAB networks and relevant public and private stakeholders. It also requested that the Director-General present a progress report on the implementation of the MAB Strategy for and the Lima Action Plan to the General Conference at its 39th session. 13. The Board also undertook a reflection on the geographical distribution and gender balance of the staff of the Secretariat. It took note of the information provided by the Director-General and invited her to provide further information by Sector, and requested that she submit to the General Conference at its 39th session a full report on the geographical distribution and gender balance of the staff of the Secretariat, along with progress on the implementation of the measures taken to redress any imbalance.

5 202 EX/20 Part I page 4 IV. OFFICIAL VISITS OF HIGH-LEVEL PERSONALITIES AND EXPERTS TO THE EXECUTIVE BOARD Visit of The Right Honourable Mr Gordon Brown, United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education and Chairperson of the International Commission for Financing Global Education Opportunities to present the Commission s Report entitled: The Learning Generation: Investing in education for a changing world (18 October 2016) 14. At the invitation of the Chairperson, the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, The Right Honourable Mr Gordon Brown, addressed the Members of the Executive Board during its 200th session, with a view to present the Commission s Report, entitled: The Learning Generation: Investing in Education for a Changing World. As the Commission was initiated by the Norway, this visit was organized in collaboration with the Permanent Delegations of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Visit of The Right Honourable Patricia Scotland, QC, Commonwealth Secretary-General to the 199th session (15 April 2016) 15. UNESCO and the Commonwealth renewed a Memorandum of Understanding, originally signed in 1980, to update and strength and cooperation between the two organizations, especially in the fields of education, youth empowerment, and promoting intercultural dialogue. On this occasion, The Right Honourable Patricia Scotland, QC, Commonwealth Secretary-General, at the invitation of the Chairperson of the Executive Board, addressed the members. Senior Officials of the World Health Organization (WHO), Second Intersessional Meeting of Executive Board Members (10 March 2016) 16. Dr Sussan Bassiri, Director, Planning, Resource Coordination and Performance Monitoring of WHO and Dr Gaudenz Silberschmidt, Director a.i. Coordinated Resource Mobilization, shared their experiences with the implementation of structured financing dialogues within their Organization WHO being one of the pioneers of this approach. Visit of His Excellency Mr Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey (5 October 2017) 17. It is expected that His Excellency Mr Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey will make an official visit to the 202nd session of the Executive Board. V. METHODS OF WORK OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AND RELATIONS BETWEEN THE THREE ORGANS Meetings of the Executive Board Members open to Member States non-members of the Board as observers with enhanced participation (Intersessional Meetings) 18. The Board, during its 197th session decided (197 EX/Decisions 28 and 44) that the the Chair [ ], in consultation with the Director-General, [ would] make the necessary practical arrangements and organize on a trial basis, during the biennium, and without amending the Rules of Procedure, meetings of the Executive Board Members, in principle six times per year; such meetings will be open to States Members of the Executive Board, to Member States non-member of the Executive Board as observers with enhanced participation status, and to the Secretariat. The Board also decided to suspend the Preparatory Group and the information meetings between the Director- General and the Executive Board on a trial basis during the biennium, and to integrate their work into the [Intersessional] meetings. Finally, it was decided that these meetings will have no decision-making power, but will foster discussions in view of the regular formal Executive Board sessions during the biennium, to be followed by an evaluation.

6 202 EX/20 Part I page While specific terms of reference were not established, the Chairperson, during the inaugural meeting proposed to organize the meetings into three parts: (i) an introduction or statement by the Director-General devoted to subjects that she wishes to raise, followed by an interactive Question and Answer session; (ii) preparation of the upcoming session of the Executive Board to analyse all items to be dealt with at the coming session of the Board with a view to evaluating the perceived time needed for each; and (iii) discussions on topics of importance for the work of the Board to provide an opportunity for greater in-depth discussions on certain items on the agenda of the coming session, with the understanding that, in principle, the debate will not be reopened during the regular session. 20. Throughout the biennium, a total of ten of these meetings were held. 2 Seven meetings were organized in and three meetings were organized in An evaluation of the trial period was foreseen in 197 EX/Decision 28 and 44, which took place on 22 September last. It is foreseen that the Outcome Document of the Tenth Intersessional Meeting, containing an evaluation of these meetings throughout the trial period, be submitted as a Board document for its consideration. This document, together with the Report of the Working Group on Governance, will be dealt with during the 202nd session of the Board by the Special Committee (SP) according to its terms of reference, under item 21 of our agenda, Governance, procedures and working methods of the governing bodies of UNESCO. 22. Notwithstanding the outcomes of the evaluation, the capability of meeting informally and regularly proved to be an extraordinary opportunity to continue sustained consultations relative to the elaboration of document 39 C/5, as mentioned previously. Unfortunately, the experiment also demonstrated the increased strains of the workload of the Secretariat and a substantial increase in the running costs of the work of the Executive Board. Retreat of the Members of the Executive Board 23. A retreat of the Members of the Executive Board was held on 9 October 2016, as decided by consensus of the Members of the Board during its 199th session, with a view to discussing the future orientations of the Organization (199 EX/SR.6). This meeting was organized with the financial and in-kind support of the Permanent Delegations of China, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States of America. Members benefited from the institutional memory and expertise of: Professor Klaus Hüfner, former President of the German Commission for UNESCO, who provided an overview of UNESCO s budgetary evolution in the context of the United Nations system; Mr Daniel Janicot, President of the French National Commission for UNESCO, who made a presentation on the theme of How UNESCO could prepare for the new global agenda ; and Ms Patricia Keays, an educator experienced in training and facilitation, notably with different parts of the United Nations system, who provided facilitation throughout the day. 24. Noting that the 200th session of the Board represented a milestone event in the life of the Board, Members seized this unique opportunity to undertake this retreat, which acted as an informal dialogue among colleagues. It served as a brainstorming session to discuss future orientations of the Organization, especially in view of the major challenges the international community is currently facing including, but not limited to terrorism, natural disasters, climate change, and migration crises. It was envisaged that such a discussion could help to reassert UNESCO's leadership role and added value within its mandate, and within its realistic resource limitations by reflecting on the future of the Organization, to sharpen its focus and bringing coherence to its programme. It also allowed the participants to move away from their usual place of work, and interact and discuss in an informal 2 Intersessional Meetings took place on the following dates: 19 February, 10 March, 3 June, 9 September, 27 September, 6 December, and 16 December 2016 and 22 February, 29 March, and 21 and 22 September The Board, during its 200th session in October 2016 decided (200 EX/Decision 13.I) to continue interactive consultations [on the C/5 document] until the end of 2016 in the framework of the intersessional meetings.

7 202 EX/20 Part I page 6 setting. Several specific proposals were formulated and presented to the Board. The retreat was completely disassociated from the Intersessional Meetings and the Working Group on Governance. 25. While other governing bodies within the United Nations system have organized similar retreats, this meeting represented the first time that UNESCO s Executive Board did so. Based on the positive feedback received, it was proposed that this format be further explored as an option for informal information sharing and meeting. Special meeting of the Board during its 200th session 26. The 200th session of the Executive Board was perceived as a milestone event for the Members. Thus, an informal commemorative meeting was organized at the opening of that session. This meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on past accomplishments of the Board while it undertook extensive discussions pertaining to UNESCO s role and future actions for the accomplishment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, especially the implementation of those SDGs for which UNESCO has competence. A commemorative video 4 and booklet 5 were prepared for this occasion. Relations between the three organs of UNESCO 27. Within the framework of 189 EX/Decision 11.8 instituting a regular consultation mechanism between the heads of the three institutional organs of UNESCO, the President of the General Conference, Mr Stanley Mutumba Simataa, Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology of the Republic of Namibia, the Chairperson of the Executive Board, Ambassador Michael Worbs, Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Executive Board and the Director-General, Ms Irina Bokova met bilaterally on several occasions when necessary to ensure the smooth organization of meetings with the Members of the Board, and especially to discuss preparations for the intersessional meetings. They also met all together in January 2017 to review important issues relative to the organization of the 39th session of the General Conference. This impromptu meeting allowed for an efficient and fruitful exchange on issues of relevance and pertinence to the organization of the work of the Board and the planning for the General Conference. Election of the Director-General 28. In accordance with Rule 58 of the Board s Rules of Procedure, it considers candidatures proposed by the Member States for the post of Director-General. 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 2016) and its 200th session (October 2016). The relevant decisions pertaining to this procedure are: 195 EX/Decision 33 6, 196 EX/Decision 16 7 and 200 EX/Decision These deliberations provided the Chairperson with the necessary elements to implement Rule 56 of the Rules of Procedure, including its request for the Chairperson to send out a letter inviting Member States to submit candidatures for the post of Director-General, together with their detailed curriculum vitae and vision statement. 29. On 19 October 2016, the Chairperson of the Executive Board invited (CL/GBS/SCX/2016/101) 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. This information was to be received no later than 15 March Nine candidatures were received. 30. The Board further decided that interviews of the candidates would take place in public, while being transmitted by webcast, during the plenary meetings of the 201st session of the Executive 4 Link to video: 5 Link to booklet:

8 202 EX/20 Part I page 7 Board in April The interviews took place on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 April A dedicated website 9 was created and contains for each candidate their CV, vision statement and video of their interview. 31. As per Rule 56 of its Rules of Procedure, the candidate nominated by the Board is chosen by secret ballot during a private meeting. This election is scheduled to take place during the 202nd session in October The name of the candidate nominated is communicated to the General Conference by the Chairperson of the Executive Board for its approval during its 39th session, to be held in November VI. WORK OF THE COMMISSIONS 10 AND COMMITTEES Programme and External Relations Commission (PX) and Finance and Administrative Commission (FA) 32. From a programmatic perspective, the Board made recommendations to the General Conference on several issues, including: Education Action plan for the implementation of the Strategy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ( ); Improvement of the management of the education-related category 1 institutes; Preliminary revision of the 1974 Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean. Natural Sciences The implementation of the MAB Strategy for and the associated Lima Action Plan for UNESCO s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves Social and Human Sciences Culture Comprehensive strategy for the Management of Social Transformations Programme (MOST); World Humanities Conference: Challenges and Responsibilities for a Planet in Transition. Strategy for the reinforcement of UNESCO s action for the protection of culture and the promotion of cultural pluralism in the event of armed conflict. Communication and information Memory of the World Programme The Commissions have the same composition as the Executive Board.

9 202 EX/20 Part I page 8 Intersectoral Updated UNESCO Strategy for Action on Climate Change; Plan of action to strengthen UNESCO s cooperation: Together for Haiti; Combating school violence and bullying: UNESCO s action. 33. From an administrative and financial perspective, the Board made recommendations to the General Conference on several issues, including: Other Report by the Director-General on the follow-up to decisions and resolutions adopted by the Executive Board and the General Conference at their previous sessions; Execution of the programme adopted by the General Conference; Budgetary situation of the Organization for (38 C/5 Approved as adjusted), including Budget adjustments arising from donations and special contributions received and management chart for programme execution in (38 C/5 Approved as adjusted); Draft Programme and Budget for (39 C/5); The human resources management strategy for 2017; Report on the geographical distribution and gender balance of the staff of the Secretariat; New audits by the External Auditor; Status of Member States contributions and payment plans; Headquarters matters. Relations with non-governmental partners; Proposals by Member States for the celebration of anniversaries in with which UNESCO could be associated. Special Committee (SP) According to 198 EX/Decision 6, the role and responsibility of the Special Committee is to, inter alia, consider and prepare of reports relative to: questions pertaining to the functioning of the Secretariat; relations with the United Nations Joint Inspection Unit (JIU); and; the methods of work of the General Conference and the Executive Board. 35. In line with 192 EX/Decision 16 (VII), the Special Committee meets once a year as appropriate. The Committee is expected to meet during the 202nd session. 11 Composition: Brazil, Cameroon, Côte d Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Oman, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Serbia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Spain, Sri Lanka, and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

10 202 EX/20 Part I page 9 Committee on Conventions and Recommendations (CR) Exercising the first aspect of its dual mandate concerning the examination of the reports of Member States on the implementation of conventions and recommendations, the CR Committee scheduled examination, during the 199th, 200th, 201st and 202nd sessions, of an overall report on the implementation of the two conventions and 14 recommendations of UNESCO that the CR Committee is required to monitor, including an analysis of the specific measures taken by the Secretariat within the framework of the implementation of these 16 standard-setting instruments Çand the difficulties encountered for each of the instruments, under the legal framework adopted at the 177th session (177 EX/Decision 35 I and II) and amended at the 196th session (196 EX/Decision 20). The CR Committee also examined the guidelines for the preparation of the reports, as well as the reports on the implementation of some of these conventions and recommendations in accordance with the timetable of work it had adopted (195 EX/Decision 15.I). 37. It also examined the Report of the twelfth meeting of the Joint ILO/UNESCO Committee of Experts on the Application of the Recommendations concerning Teaching Personnel (CEART) and on the allegations received by CEART. With regard to the second aspect of its mandate, the CR Committee examined, in private meetings, 33 communications received by UNESCO on alleged human rights violations within the Organization s fields of competence, in accordance with the procedure set out in 104 EX/Decision 3.3 of the Executive Board. Committee on Non-Governmental Partners (NGP) During the biennium, in accordance with its terms of reference (198 EX/Decision 6 (III)) the Committee on Non-Governmental Partners (NGP) met twice only. Around 100 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) participated in each meeting. It fulfilled its statutory obligations relating to the official partnership with NGOs and official relations with foundations, oversaw the appropriate implementation of the Directives concerning UNESCO s partnership with NGOs (36 C/Res.108) and the follow-up to the decisions of the Executive Board and the resolutions of the General Conference concerning cooperation with NGOs. Because of the reduced frequency of the Committee and the limited time available, however, it did not organize thematic debates as foreseen in the Terms of Reference. VII. CONCLUSION The Executive Board remains concerned by the financial situation of the Organization as a result of the non-payment of assessed contributions by Member States and the severe implications thereof for the delivery of regular programme activities. In this regard, it appealed to those Member States that are behind with the payment of their regular contributions and instalments under payment plans to pay their arrears without delay. Meanwhile, the Board endorsed the Director-General s proposed efforts at further cost reductions and the measure taken in her contingency plan, and continued to support the efforts she is making in light of the continued financial crisis the Organization is facing. The Board also calls upon the General Conference to consider the possibility of another 12 Composition: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Senegal, Slovenia, Sudan, Uganda, Ukraine, United States of America, and Viet Nam. 13 Composition: Albania, Algeria, Chad, China, El Salvador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Lebanon, Lithuania, Nicaragua, Oman, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Serbia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, and Togo. 14 All decisions adopted by the Board during the past biennium, as well as corresponding summary records of each session, and relevant reports submitted to the Board by its commissions and committees are available online at:

11 202 EX/20 Part I page 10 prioritization exercise catering for a worst-case scenario to be undertaken at the beginning of the next biennium. VIII. DRAFT DECISION 40. In the light of the above, the Executive Board may wish to adopt a decision along the following lines: The Executive Board, 1. Having examined document 202 EX/20 Part I, 2. Takes note of its content. Printed on recycled paper

12 Executive Board Two hundred and second session 202 EX/20 Part II PARIS, 8 August 2017 Original: English and French Item 20 of the provisional agenda REPORT BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD ON ITS ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION PART II IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CURRENT PROGRAMME AND BUDGET (38 C/5) WITH RESULTS ACHIEVED IN SUMMARY In conformity with Article V.6 (b) of the Constitution of UNESCO, [t]he Executive Board [ is] responsible for the execution of the programme adopted by the Conference. As such, it is required to submit to the General Conference its report on programme execution. This draft document has been prepared by the Secretariat for the Executive Board, in accordance with 33 C/Resolution 78 (paragraph 4), 33 C/Resolution 92 (Recommendation 13), and 34 C/Resolution 89. It was prepared following the format accepted by the Executive Board at its 182nd session (182 EX/26) and confirmed at the 186th session (186 EX/Decision 16). This document provides a results-oriented, succinct reporting of programme implementation and the Executive Board s decisions thereon, corresponding to the Executive Board s constitutional responsibility in this regard. Eventually, this document will form Part II of the Executive Board s report to the General Conference at its 39th session. Action expected of the Executive Board: Proposed decision in paragraph 59.

13 202 EX/20 Part II BACKGROUND 1. The report by the Executive Board to the General Conference on programme implementation of the Approved Programme and Budget (37 C/5) with results achieved in is presented in accordance with 33 C/Resolution 78 (paragraph 4), 33 C/Resolution 92 (Recommendation 13), and 34 C/Resolution 89. It has been drafted following the format discussed and approved by the Executive Board at its 182nd session (182 EX/26) and confirmed at the 186th session. The report covers the work of the Executive Board in monitoring programme implementation over the last three sessions held since the 38th session of the General Conference, e.g. the 199th (Spring 2016), 200th (Autumn 2016) and 201st (Spring 2017) sessions. A new format and cycle for the EX/4 2. In accordance with 38 C/Resolution 99 and in application of the new format and cycle for reporting on programme implementation, the Secretariat prepared and submitted in Spring 2015 at the 196th session of the Executive Board the first Programme Implementation Report (PIR) which covered programme implementation during the first year of the quadrennium. Subsequently, the Executive Board considered the PIR once every year at its spring session (199th and 201st sessions), and for each autumn session, it had access to online summary reports prepared by the Secretariat only for information purposes. 3. Members of the Executive Board commended the improved quality of information reported as well as the new structure of the reports and agreed that the PIRs contained the relevant information and analysis that would serve as a basis for their deliberations and decisions on future courses of action. 4. Resulting from its work and consultations on the new format and cycle for the EX/4, the Executive Board also requested that the Secretariat prepare once every four years a Strategic Results Report (SRR). Consequently, and in pursuance of the related decisions, the first SRR was submitted for the Executive Board consideration at its 199th session. Whereas the Programme Implementation Report (PIR) provides an analytical assessment of programme implementation and progress in the delivery of activities and outputs, the SRR provides high-level analysis of UNESCO s outcomes achieved. Accordingly, the first SRR prepared by the Secretariat for the Spring 2016 Executive Board session (document 199 EX/4 Part I (B)) presented an overall strategic assessment of outcomes for each Major Programme and the UIS, accompanied with proposals for a way forward regarding possible improvements, reorientation and adaptation of programmes or areas of work. Additionally, the report was complemented by an Annex containing a programme performance matrix, whereby each C/5 expected result was assessed according to the five criteria 1 approved by the Executive Board at its 197th session (197 EX/Decision 5.IV.E). The self-assessment exercise proved to be very useful for the programme managers as it allowed them to identify areas of work which would require further strengthening and others which would be re-focused and reoriented, thereby setting the basis for the preparation of the Programme and Budget (39 C/5). 5. Member States commended the quality and foresight approach of the Strategic Results Report, which provided valuable information on the effects of UNESCO s work and proposed options for the way forward. Underlining the value of collecting evidence from lessons learned and evaluations, the Executive Board suggested that more evaluations be conducted in the future to cover all programme Sectors. Despite some caveats, Members of the Executive Board considered that the SRR constituted a solid basis and a starting point for their discussions and consultations regarding the priorities of the future 39 C/5 (199 EX/Decision 4.I.B), and in particular for defining UNESCO s role in and contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 1 (i) Relevance; (ii) Capacity to deliver; (iii) Comparative advantage/value-added; (iv) Demonstrable contribution and tangible results; (v) Sustainability.

14 202 EX/20 Part II page 2 I. PROGRESS IN PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION WITH RESULTS ACHIEVED IN (37 C/5 AND FIRST YEAR OF THE 38 C/5) 6. Throughout 2016 and until its recent session in Spring 2017, the Executive Board continued to devote significant time to monitoring progress in the implementation of the Approved Programme and Budget, through the examination of reports prepared on item 4, as well as in the context of item 5, engaging with the Secretariat in more in-depth discussions on specific programme areas as well as on progress and challenges related to the Director-General reform initiatives. These included, inter alia, the state of progress of the reform of the field network; of the implementation of the action plan for the improved management of extrabudgetary funds; and of the progressive implementation of the Invest for efficient delivery initiative. Overall, Executive Board Members recognized the significant work undertaken by the Secretariat to assert UNESCO s leadership at the global, regional and national levels in its core areas of its mandate, and noted the key achievements realized in all programme areas, and the progress made in reforming the Organization as a whole. 7. At its 201st session, when considering the Programme Implementation Report for (document 201 EX/4 Part I)), the Executive Board expressed its appreciation for the quality of information and evidence presented and for the Secretariat s efforts to deliver the programme and achieve the expected results, despite the context of difficult financial circumstances. Member States noted with appreciation the efforts made by the Secretariat in mobilizing extrabudgetary funds to enhance programme delivery. They also raised some concerns about the imbalance of allocations of extrabudgetary funding between the programmes, as well as the risk of reliance on a few traditional donors. Drawing on the debate held at the 201st session of the Executive Board and the decision on item 4, below is a summary of major highlights of progress made and results achieved in the delivery of the quadrennial programme by the Major Programmes, IOC and the UIS. Education 8. Through an unprecedented consultative process led by Major Programme I, UNESCO spearheaded the formulation of the Education 2030 agenda, encapsulated in the stand-alone Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on education. Capitalizing on its convening power, UNESCO is bringing together global, regional and national stakeholders to guide the implementation of SDG 4 Education 2030, and functions as the focal point for education within the overall 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development coordination structure. UNESCO has convened two meetings of the SDG-Education 2030 Steering Committee in 2016, and numerous national, subregional and regional consultations have been organized in close partnership with Member States. 9. In supporting the countries to implement SDG 4, Major Programme I continued to focus its programme in four priority areas: sector-wide policy and planning; literacy, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and teachers. UNESCO carried out surveys in 125 countries to assess countries readiness to monitor progress in SDG 4. The year 2016 marked the 50th anniversary of the International Literacy Day (ILD), and the Global Alliance for Literacy inaugurated on ILD 2016 is expected to play a key role in further advocating for and promoting literacy. UNESCO adopted a new Strategy for TVET ( ) to support Member States to enhance the relevance of their TVET systems and foster youth employment and entrepreneurship. In the area of teachers, UNESCO continues to support Member States, paying particular attention to those in Africa, with large-scale capacity development programmes on teacher policy development and teacher training, including through usage of (ICTs). 10. UNESCO has also intensified efforts to provide an education response to the Syrian crisis, particularly through its Bridging Learning Gaps for Youth strategy. Implementation continued in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria to facilitate access to secondary and higher education, improve its quality and build resilient education systems for affected youth between the ages of 15 to 30. UNESCO will provide immediate education support to Aleppo, Syria, following a first emergency mission in January Targeted interventions to support emergency education in Yemen in the ongoing crisis situation resumed in 2016.

15 202 EX/20 Part II page During the debates, Member States expressed support to the Sector s work and stressed the importance of enhancing UNESCO s role in certain areas. More particularly, several delegates congratulated the Education Sector on its leading role in the formulation of SDG 4 as well as in monitoring and implementation at the regional and international levels. UNESCO's role in favour of teachers and in the field of higher education was emphasized, particularly as regarded Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. Natural sciences 12. Programme implementation in Major Programme II (MP II) is on track considering that the performance indicators and related targets were adjusted to a reduced budget framework. All programme areas experienced intense workloads, under financial constraints somewhat mitigated by extrabudgetary funding, in order to deliver successfully on key achievements for the biennium. These included: the International Year of Crystallography (IYCr) 2014; the extraordinary success of the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL) 2015; three World Water Assessment Reports; the UNESCO Science Report: Towards 2030; the adoption of the MAB Strategy ; the ratification of the new International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme and the label UNESCO Global Geopark ; adoption of the SIDS Action Plan that frames UNESCO s contributions to implementing the SAMOA Pathway; contributions to the 2030 Agenda, particularly in relation to the adopted SDGs on water, biodiversity and the cross-cutting nature of science, technology and innovation (STI); and events leading up to and at the UNFCCC COP 21 and the incorporation of water, gender equality, indigenous peoples and other MP II-related topics in the resulting Paris Agreement on Climate Change, as well as at COP 22 on the Agreement s operationalization. MP II ensured the secretariat of the United Nations Secretary-General s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), organized all its meetings and coordinated the briefings and summary report. 13. MP II helped to train over 9,700 professionals, over 40% of whom were women, in waterrelated areas, while nearly 700 Ph.D. and post-doctoral fellows, of whom 30% were women, furthered their education in physics through ICTP and the World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (TWAS). 14. During the debates, Member States expressed support to the Sector s work and commended its achievements in particular in the promotion of women in science, addressing climate change issues and contributing to the COP 22, the adoption of the Lima Action Plan for the implementation of the MAB Strategy, the launch of the IHP-WINS, and the publication of the UNESCO Science Report. Board members also supported the new orientations of the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP). The Executive Board requested additional information with regard to the progress made in supporting Member States for the implementation of the SDG 6 on water and sanitation, and on the utilization by the Member States of the IHP-WINS. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) 15. In accordance with its mandate, and as specifically referred to in the stand-alone SDG 14 for the Ocean, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) has been entrusted with the custodianship role for SDG targets 14.3 and 14.a and now leads on the development of sciencebased indicators for the Goal s targets. 16. Over the last two years, the IOC placed much programmatic and outreach focus on mobilizing scientific and civil society institutions around ocean and climate science and awareness-building. With the Ocean s role in climate regulation acknowledged in the Paris Agreement, the IOC pursued its efforts and actively participated in the UNFCCC COP 22 in order to further highlight the key need for continuous support for ocean observations. IOC s Ocean Biogeographic Information System continues to provide a database of global marine animal and plant distributions, which is a key source of information for IPBES and for the emerging work on a new legal regime under the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea on the conservation of marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction, in which the C is actively engaged.

16 202 EX/20 Part II page IOC s regional tsunami warning systems in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and the North-East Atlantic, Mediterranean and connected seas, and in the Pacific are now operational. The United Nations World Ocean Assessment was published in January 2016 and IOC contributed extensively throughout the process. The results of the two ocean assessments conducted under the GEF-funded Transboundary Water Assessment Programme have been widely disseminated to practitioners in Member States. A new set of IOC Guidelines for Marine Spatial Planning was published and more than 40 countries around the world are now using them as a tool to plan sustainable economic development and ecosystem resilience in their national waters. 18. The IOC Assembly adopted the new IOC Capacity Development Strategy ( ) which highlights the need for cooperation and coordination between regional and global programmes. IOC made considerable progress in advancing the work on its first Global Ocean Science Report (GOSR), to be launched in June 2017, as regards the global picture of existing scientific capacities at national and regional levels, including the first detailed analysis of gender balance in the workforce related to ocean science. Social and human sciences 19. The first three years of the quadrennium were a period of transition and consolidation for Major Programme III (MP III). Globally, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has enshrined sustainability in a set of ambitious and transformative goals anchored in human rights, targeting universality of application and committing to leaving no one behind, all of which are the values upheld and objectives pursued by MP III. Institutionally, the Social and Human Sciences Sector undertook a reassessment of its core programmes, reorganizing its work around a common thread: Mobilizing knowledge and values in dialogue with our stakeholders to equip societies to better understand the challenges they face and transform themselves in response. 20. Key achievements of MP III include: provision of upstream policy advice on youth in 37 countries, advancement of the research-policy nexus in social policies at regional level, in particular in Latin America and Africa, as well as at national level; wide mobilization of stakeholders in support of the Action Plan of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures; reactivation of the UNESCO International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities (ICCAR) and its regional chapters providing a platform for local authorities to address discrimination and exclusion; capacity-building and institutional development in the area of bioethics, advancement of normative instruments such as the elaboration of a draft text of a non-binding declaration on ethical principles in relation to climate change and achieving near universal ratification of the International Convention against Doping in Sport. 21. During the debates, Member States expressed support to Sector s work and stressed in particular the importance of the implementation of the recommendations for the follow-up of the Operational strategy on Youth presented in document 201 EX/4. INF. 2, and of ensuring that youth are involved in UNESCO s activities, including in the preparation of the Youth Forum. Member States commended the achievements in the implementation of the Sport Programme, of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures and within the framework of the preliminary phase of the elaboration of a Declaration on ethical principles in relation to climate change. Culture 22. As regards Major Programme IV, the normative framework was further reinforced by the adoption at the 38th session of the General Conference of the new UNESCO Recommendation on Museums and Collections. The Culture Sector strove to ensure the implementation of the six conventions against a backdrop of significant financial and human resources constraints. Priority was given to fulfilling its legal obligations through the organization of the statutory meetings. Nevertheless, thanks to extrabudgetary support, and notwithstanding its unpredictable nature,