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

UNESCO Nairobi Cluster Consultative Meeting for Secretaries General of the UNESCO National Commissions from Burundi , Eritrea , Kenya , Rwanda , Somalia and Uganda . 24 – 29 June 2007 , Kampala , Uganda : Mission report

Main Results/Highlights of Mission :

The meeting was convened by the UNESCO Nairobi Office for countries within its cluster. It brought together Secretaries General from Burundi , Eritrea , Kenya , Rwanda , Somalia and Uganda .

The overall objective of the meeting was to develop a work plan for the Nairobi Cluster for the next Biennium (2008/9) based on UNESCO's draft 34C/4 and C/5 documents. Specifically, the meeting intended to provide a platform for the Secretaries General to come together and discuss the various UNESCO programmes and other relevant issues, develop Cluster and country programmes in line with C/4 and C/5 documents in line with the new planning process under “One UN” , and lastly, to identify strategies for mobilizing resources and partnerships for the implementation of more programmes and activities.

The meeting was officially opened by Uganda 's Minister of Education and Sport, Hon. Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, while the closing ceremony was presided over by Prof. Lugujjo, member of the UNESCO Executive Board.

Presentations were made by the Programme Specialists from the Nairobi Office on the various programme priorities and activities in which they could work collaboratively with the NATCOMS. The Secretaries General also gave presentations on their own activities. During the presentations, the UNESCO Nairobi Office Director enlightened the Secretaries General on the reforms that are currently taking place in the UN System as a result of the recommendations by the High Level Panel in 2005. He highlighted issues such as the One UN and how it is expected to affect UNESCO's and even the NATCOMS' way of operation. He also talked about administrative issues and clarified the different roles that are supposed to be played by UNESCO Secretariat and the NATCOMS in each Member State .

Participants identified the challenges that face both the NATCOMS and UNESCO as each continues to perform its duties along programme lines. They also went ahead to identify priority areas for joint programme activities at the cluster level.

Recommendations

The participants came up with strategies for addressing the identified challenges and agreed that NATCOMS should develop a communication strategy to help not only in highlighting their roles within the country but also to give visibility to UNESCO activities. It was also agreed that National Commissions should lobby national authorities for legal frameworks for their establishment and under which they can operate without strictly being linked to one government ministry.