Reorganization of NESCO's Education Sector

The Education Sector, UNESCO’s largest program sector, went through a major reform and reorganization in 2006. The restructuring was planned to achieve a more results-based and field-oriented structure. Significant structural changes took place at Headquarters with the number of program divisions reduced from six to four. Two divisions

* Coordination of United Nations Priorities, and
* Education Strategies and Field Support

were newly created. The other two divisions

* Basic Education and
* Higher Education

were streamlined and reorganized. A new decentralization framework was put in place that realigns accountability between Headquarters and the field for the Education Sector.

The Director General of UNESCO reports that these changes have resulted in a greater concentration of staff resources in support of EFA – the Education Sector’s priority program – at Headquarters and in the field, and will therefore provide the necessary support for the fulfillment of the EFA mandate. He also reports that the transfer of six posts to the Regional Bureaus for Education and two to cluster offices will reinforce the Sector’s capacity to deliver at regional and country levels. In 2008-2009, it is planned to further strengthen the Regional Bureaus for Education and possibly the cluster offices, depending on the approved budget scenario. In addition, roles and responsibilities are currently being defined in line with the new structure. The new Deputy Assistant Director General for ED Program Management has also taken up her functions as of the beginning of 2007. Recruitment is under way to fill the four other new positions.

Read:

* the February 2007 REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REFORM PROCESS to the Executive Board.

* last years report by the UK National Commission for UNESCO on the reform.