MULTILATERAL SECTION
In addition to representing South Africa in France, the Embassy also represents South Africa at the two Paris-based international organisations, UNESCO and the OECD.
UNESCO
UNESCO is a specialised UN agency that contributes to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and fostering intercultural dialogue through education, sciences, culture, communication and information. UNESCO is managed by 3 governing bodies: the Director-General, Executive and the General Conference. The Director-General is elected by the General Conference to run the Organisation. The Executive Board comprises of 58 Member States elected from various electoral regions of UNESCO. Members of the Board are elected by the General Conference to monitor the work of the Secretariat with regard to implementation of UNESCO’s programmes and its decisions. The Board meets twice a year in Spring and Autumn. The General Conference comprises of Ministers responsible for relations with UNESCO, which in most cases are Ministers of Education. It takes place biennially.
Background on South Africa and UNESCO
South Africa was one of the core founders of UNESCO when it was created in 1946. On 31 December 1956, as a result of its apartheid policies, the former South African Government withdrew its membership from UNESCO. The new South Africa was readmitted to the organisation in December 1994 as a democratic, non-racial, non-sexist country.
Since the country’s re-joining, relations between South Africa and UNESCO have been strengthened. This is evidenced through South Africa’s involvement in various UNESCO Subsidiary bodies and activities.
South Africa’s Priorities within UNESCO
South Africa’s participation in UNESCO is informed by the following priorities:
- Promotion of the African Agenda
- Promotion of South-South cooperation through various means, including the South-South Cooperation Fund for Education, the Teacher Training Initiative for Sub-Saharan Africa (TTISSA) and with partners such as the G77 & China, the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Africa Group
- Promotion of North-South-South Cooperation through initiatives in Education such as Technical and Vocational and Educational Training system (TVET) and with partners within the Commonwealth and elsewhere.
World Heritage Committee
The Republic of South Africa is a State Party to the 1972 World Heritage Convention. South Africa signed and ratified the Convention on 10 July 1997. South Africa boasts a remarkable number of World Heritage Sites. There are ten Sites in total as declared by UNESCO given their significance in evolution and historical importance;
OECD
South Africa is not a member of the OECD but in 2007 the OECD Council at Ministerial level adopted a resolution which led to South Africa’s becoming one of five Key Partners to the OECD, along with Brazil, China, India and Indonesia, known as the EE5 countries. This process seeks these countries’ engagement with the OECD Members on an equal footing in a growing range of policy areas. Based on mutual benefit, partnership and the sharing of OECD working methods, the Organization’s new global strategy helps to increase its responsiveness to the needs of the International community.
Key partners contribute to the OECD’s work in a sustained and comprehensive manner. A central element of the collaboration is the promotion of direct and active participation of these countries in the work of substantive bodies of the Organisation.
South Africa’s participation spans a wide array of policy issues, including macroeconomic policy and structural reform, debt management, fiscal policy, domestic resource mobilisation, competition policy, agricultural policy, public governance, rural and urban development, the fight against bribery, development, science, technology and innovation, chemicals testing and tourism.
South Africa is an Associate in 6 OECD Bodies and Projects, and a Participant in 15. It has also adhered to 19 OECD instruments, It participates in various OECD flagship projects and publications South Africa is also integrated in almost half of all OECD datasets and participates in key horizontal projects;
South Africa has championed several of the OECD’s regional initiatives with sub-Saharan Africa.