United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Office in Nairobi, Kenya

Natural Sciences

UNESCO Nairobi Office has traditionally had a strong representation in the Natural Sciences. To this date the Office remains a Regional Office for Science and Technology. There are two strategic objectives guiding the UNESCO natural science programme:

(1) Improving human security by better management of the envirinment and social change, and

(2) Enhancing scientific, technical and human capacities to participate in the emerging knowledge societies.  

Furthermore, in Africa, UNESCO Nairobi Office has pursued programmes and activities that enable it to align the global UNESCO strategic objectives with those of other internationally agreed development goals such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and those of the Science programme of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

The pursuit of the UNESCO strategic objectives and the MDGs as well as the NEPAD goals is done through two programmes, namely: a) Science Environment and Sustainable Development and b) Capacity Building in Science and Technology for Sustainable Development.

Under the programme on environment the Nairobi Office deals with the following subject matters: Water Science and the Ecosystems; Ecological and Earth Sciences and those matters under the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. UNESCO in recognition of the numerous water-related problems in the African region has put a lot of emphasis on the activities pertaining to the supply and management of water.

Within the framework of the second programme (i.e. capacity building in science and technology), UNESCO Nairobi Office works with universities to strengthen research and teaching in basic and engineering sciences in member states. It also works with government ministries and other institutions responsible for science and technology to build the capacity for the formulation of science and technology policies.