ex United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Executive Board Hundred and fifty-second Session 152 EX/59 29 October 1997 Original: English Item 8.1 of the agenda Report by the Director-General on budget adjustments authorized within the Appropriation Resolution for 1996-1997 and supplementary estimates thereto Proposals of the Director-General concerning the use of the contribution of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, for the period 1 July to 31 December 1997 SUMMARY Following the recommendations of the Executive Board contained in 152 EX/Decision 8.1, adopted on 16 October 1997, the General Conference examined document 29 C/64 under item 9.19 of the agenda and adopted a resolution inviting the Director-General to establish a Special Account for the contribution of the United Kingdom for the period 1 July to 31 December 1997, for the purpose of financing projects within UNESCO priority programmes in favour of developing countries and, to this effect, suspended the relevant provisions of Article 5.2 of the Financial Regulations. In accordance with paragraph 5(a) of the above resolution of the General Conference, the Director-General presents project proposals and corresponding cost estimates for approval by the Executive Board. Decision required: paragraph 6.
152 EX/59 I BACKGROUND 1. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rejoined UNESCO with effect from 1 July 1997, and has fully paid its assessed contribution for the period 1 July to 31 December 1997, amounting to 6,767,579. 2. Having examined the proposals of the Director-General for the use of the abovementioned United Kingdom contribution (152 EX/30, Part II), the Executive Board, by 152 EX/Decision 8.1 adopted on 16 October 1997, unanimously recommended that the General Conference invite the Director-General: (i) to establish a Special Account for the United Kingdom contribution for the period 1 July to 31 December 1997, for the purpose of financing projects within UNESCO priority programmes in favour of developing countries, and (ii) to present project proposals with corresponding detailed cost estimates for approval by the Executive Board. The Executive Board also recommended that the General Conference suspend the relevant provisions of Article 5.2 of the Financial Regulations to this effect. 3. The twenty-ninth session of the General Conference, having examined the recommendations of the Executive Board under item 9.19 of the agenda (29 C/64), adopted the following resolution: The General Conference, 1. Having considered the recommendations of the Executive Board contained in 152 EX/Decision 8.1, and document 29 C/64 submitted by the Director-General, 2. Welcomes the return of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to UNESCO with effect from 1 July 1997, and takes note of the fact that the Member State has already paid its assessed contribution for the period 1 July to 31 December 1997; 3. Mindful of the wish of Member States to maximize UNESCO s effectiveness and impact, taking into account the priority fields of action of the Organization, 4. Invites the Director-General to establish a Special Account for the aforementioned United Kingdom contribution for the purpose of financing projects within UNESCO priority programmes in favour of developing countries and especially the least developed countries (LDCs), along the lines of paragraph 6 of document 29 C/64, and in accordance with the Special Financial Regulations annexed to that document; 5. Further invites the Director-General: (a) (b) to present the project proposals with corresponding detailed cost estimates for approval by the Executive Board; and to regularly report on the status of implementation of these projects to the Executive Board; 6. Resolves that the relevant provisions of Article 5.2 of the Financial Regulations shall be suspended to this effect.
152 EX/59 - page 2 II PROJECT PROPOSALS 4. In accordance with paragraph 5(a) of the resolution of the twenty-ninth session of the General Conference quoted above, the Director-General presents below project proposals with corresponding cost estimates, to be financed from the United Kingdom contribution of 6,767,579 for approval by the Executive Board: PART II - PROGRAMME EXECUTION AND SERVICES A. Major Programmes and Transdisciplinary Projects I. Towards lifelong education for all 1. Emergency programmes for educational reconstruction including teacher training, educational premises, etc. Emergency programmes for educational reconstruction in several developing countries, educational reforms and production of educational materials: Angola (280,000), Benin (160,000), Haiti (322,000), Guinea-Bissau (300,000), Nelson Mandela Village School, Rwanda (110,000), Central African Republic (110,000), Caribbean countries - Changing the Culture of the Classroom (123,000) 1,405,000 2. Education for all - Strengthening of activities relating to the E-9 countries Development of strategies, materials and infrastructures supporting basic education in the E-9 countries 206,579 3. Literacy and post-literacy programmes and intensive skills training Support to literacy and post-literacy programmes and intensive skills training in countries such as Burundi (190,000), Haiti (170,000) and activities related to Reach the unreachable, e.g. Brazil (40,000) 400,000 4. Adult education programmes and follow-up to the fifth International Conference on Adult Education, Hamburg, 1997 Support to projects related to the follow-up of the Hamburg Conference: Bangladesh (300,000), Pakistan (200,000), United Nations Week for Adult Learning (80,000) 580,000
152 EX/59 - page 3 5. Access to education of girls and women especially in rural areas Support to regional initiatives to enhance the provision of basic education for girls and women particularly in least developed countries and rural areas: Kyrgyzstan (100,000); Training of women in rural areas, etc.: Yemen (146,000); Central African Republic (120,000) 6. Projects for street children, school drop-outs and other marginalized youth Support to non-formal education projects and intensive skills training programmes for marginalized youth; projects will be carried out in collaboration with National Commissions and specialized NGOs 7. Distance education Support to the UNESCO Chairs and Networks in Distance Education 8. Reinforcement of the Associated Schools Project Network in order to increase the number of schools in the Network Printing and distribution of the manual for participating in the UNESCO/Associated Schools Project Networks, reprinting of the 1998 Associated Schools Calendar, distribution of the ASP-Peace Pack Preparation of a Civics Education Package (Human Rights Democracy) and printing of a Teachers Guide on Tolerance Creation of two polyvalent community centres in Naplouse and Gaza 9. Poverty alleviation projects mainly in LDCs Assistance to schools for buying equipment for basic science education Video production for poverty eradication in Ghana 366,000 140,000 100,000 60,000 60,000 225,000 100,000 125,000 Total, Major Programme I - Towards lifelong education for all 3,767,579
152 EX/59 - page 4 II. The sciences in the service of development A. Natural sciences 1. Water resources management UNESCO s contribution to the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) for activities relating to water resources management 2. Renewable energy sources for development World Solar Programme (1996-2005): follow-up to the World Solar Summit (September 1996), Solar Villages and support for the development of renewable energy projects, including Angola (140,000) and Niger (105,000) 3. Biotechnology Support to the biotechnology activities through Plant Biotechnology Education and Training Centres (BETCENs) 4. Basic sciences Co-operation with competent international, regional and national scientific bodies and institutions for research and training of young scientists from developing countries; including Niger - Science and Technology Scholarships (80,000) 5. Ecology and biology Production of a series of digital maps for the Sinai and South Valley, Egypt, through technology in space applications and geographic information systems (GSI) Subtotal, Major Programme II - Natural sciences B. Social and human sciences 1. Democratic governance Enhancement of democratic governance at local and national levels ensuring active participation of women and young people in democratic institutions involved in the promotion of justice and cultural dialogue especially in Sao Tome and Principe 150,000 345,000 210,000 255,000 40,000 1,000,000 130,000
152 EX/59 - page 5 2. Women and culture of peace Follow-up activities of the Fourth World Conference on Women, particularly those in rural areas in developing countries and those involved in culture of peace activities 50,000 3. Poverty alleviation programmes in urban and poor neighbourhoods Follow-up activities to the World Summit for Social Development and to the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty including assistance to children in poor neighbourhoods of urban areas (370,000); and community development activities in Mozambique (150,000) UNITWIN Network on forced migration within the context of the Refugee Studies Programme, as well as the production of advanced training materials and activities relating to sustainability 520,000 50,000 Subtotal, Major Programme II - Social and human sciences 750,000 Total, Major Programme II - The sciences in the service of development 1,750,000 III. Cultural development: the heritage and creativity 1. Book development and promotion of reading, particularly in Africa Support to Member States initiatives in the production and free distribution of books for children in Africa, Asia and Latin America 2. Promotion of arts and crafts Assistance for training craftswomen from Africa and Central Asia in co-operation with the Grameen Bank 3. Income generating activities (Bosnia and Herzegovina) 4. Preservation of endangered languages and assistance for restoration of historical sites Activities relating to the promotion of indigenous education, languages and culture (reading materials and equipment) 50,000 100,000 200,000 200,000
152 EX/59 - page 6 5. Projects for cultural minorities and indigenous people In collaboration with other United Nations agencies, provision of assistance to Member States for activities on behalf of indigenous people under the plan of action of the International Decade of the World s Indigenous People, proclaimed by the United Nations in 1993 Total, Major Programme III - Cultural development: the heritage and creativity 200,000 750,000 IV. Communication and information 1. Training and reinforcement of capacities in communication, information and informatics Assistance to LDCs for the preparation of radio and television programmes and provision of financial assistance to these countries to reinforce endogenous capacities for audio-visual production (100,000) and provision of support to information networks (Info- Net) (200,000) 300,000 2. Independent and pluralistic media and community radios Support to Member States from developing countries for the development of community radios and promotion of the use of low cost transmitters for rural radios, e.g. Haiti (150,000) and support for initiatives by professional media organizations such as Freedom of Expression Exchange Network (IFEX) Total, Major Programme IV - Communication and information 200,000 500,000 Summary of proposals: Major Programme I Major Programme II Major Programme III Major Programme IV 3,767,579 1,750,000 750,000 500,000 6,767,579
152 EX/59 - page 7 III SPECIAL FINANCIAL REGULATIONS 5. In accordance with Article 6.7 of the Financial Regulations of the Organization, the Director-General has prepared Special Financial Regulations to govern the operations of the Special Account for the United Kingdom contribution to UNESCO for the period 1 July to 31 December 1997. The Special Financial Regulations are reported in the Annex to this document. IV DRAFT DECISION 6. Should the Executive Board endorse the proposals made by the Director-General, it may wish to adopt a decision along the following lines: The Executive Board, 1. Having examined document 152 EX/59, containing the proposals of the Director- General concerning the use of the contribution made by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the period 1 July to 31 December 1997, 2. Recalling decision 8.1 adopted by the 152nd session of the Executive Board on 16 October 1997 and the resolution adopted by the General Conference at its twenty-ninth session under item 9.19 of the agenda, 3. Takes note of the establishment of the Special Account for the United Kingdom contribution to UNESCO for the period 1 July to 31 December 1997 and the Special Financial Regulations governing the operations of the Special Account; 4. Approves the use of the aforementioned United Kingdom contribution, amounting to 6,767,579, to finance projects within UNESCO priority programmes in favour of developing countries, especially the least developed countries (LDCs), along the lines of the proposals contained in paragraph 4 of document 152 EX/59; 5. Requests the Director-General to report regularly on the status of implementation of these projects to the Executive Board.
152 EX/59 Annex ANNEX Special Account for the United Kingdom contribution to UNESCO for the period 1 July to 31 December 1997 1. In accordance with Articles 6.6 and 6.7 of the Financial Regulations and further to the suspension of Article 5.2 (c) of the Financial Regulations of UNESCO, a Special Account to be known as the United Kingdom Contribution to UNESCO for the period 1 July to 31 December 1997 hereinafter referred to as the UK Special Account is hereby established. 2. The UK Special Account shall be credited with the contribution assessed on the United Kingdom for the period 1 July to 31 December 1997 as well as with any interest earned on the investment from sums standing to the credit of that account. Since UNESCO s special accounts are kept in US dollars, the portion of the contribution paid in French francs shall be converted into US dollars at the United Nations operational rate of exchange prevailing on the date of receipt of the amount assessed. 3. The UK Special Account shall be debited with expenditures for the purpose of financing projects within UNESCO priority programmes in favour of developing countries. Project proposals with corresponding detailed cost estimates shall be presented for approval by the Executive Board. The Director-General shall regularly report on the status of implementation of these projects to the Executive Board. 4. Any unused balance at the end of a financial period shall be carried forward to the following financial period. 5. Except where otherwise provided herein, the UK Special Account shall be administered in accordance with the Financial Regulations of UNESCO. 6. The Director-General shall decide upon the closure of the UK Special Account at such time as he deems that its operation is no longer necessary.