The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a United Nations agency that was created 1945 with a mandate to contribute to peace and security through education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, communication and information. Its membership comprises of 195 Member States and 11 Associate Members. Kenya became the 73rd Member State of UNESCO on 7th April 1964.
The Permanent Delegation of Kenya to UNESCO was established in 2006 as an independent and separate mission from the Kenya Embassy in Paris, following the appointment of the first Ambassador/Permanent Delegate of Kenya to UNESCO.
The mandate of the Permanent Delegation is to effectively represent the government and the people of Kenya within UNESCO and to promote Kenya’s national interests in UNESCO and partner organizations.
The Permanent Delegation advances the interests of Kenya within UNESCO in the areas of education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture and communication and Information as well as UNESCO’s crosscutting issues of gender equality, sports and the youth.
The Permanent Delegation also represents the government and the people of Kenya in the two governing bodies of UNESCO namely, the Executive Board and the General Conference. Further, the Permanent Delegation ensures Kenya’s effective representation in various UNESCO intergovernmental committees, UNESCO regional groups, meetings and conferences organized under the auspices of UNESCO.
In this regard, the Permanent Delegation works closely with the Kenya Government Ministries, Institutions and Agencies. The Delegation also works in liaison with the UNESCO Secretariat, Permanent Delegations to UNESCO, the French Government and UNESCO’s partner organizations.