United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

History of Agency in the World and Iran

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded on 16 November 1945. It was conceived as a laboratory of ideas and a standard-setter with the hope “To Build Peace in the Minds of Men”. UNESCO places emphasis on policy enhancement, capacity building and technical assistance in the fields of education, natural sciences, culture, communication & information and social & human sciences. The UNESCO Tehran cluster Office was established in Tehran in January 2003, servicing four countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Turkmenistan. The Islamic Republic of Iran celebrated its 60th anniversary of membership of UNESCO in 2008.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

Education:

- Education for All, literacy, education for sustainable development, inclusive education, science & technology, technical & vocational education, higher education, school health and physical education.

Science:

- Water management and eco-systems, bio-diversity, ecology, oceans, earth sciences, basic sciences, engineering sciences, science policy, natural disaster reduction and renewable sources of energy.

Culture:

- Cultural diversity, world heritage, tangible and intangible heritage, inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogues and cultural industries, arts & creativity, copyright, museums and cultural tourism.

Communication/Information:

- Access to information, content development, freedom of expression, media development, international programmes for development of communication and information for all.

Social and human sciences:

- Ethics, human rights, philosophy, poverty eradication and social transformation.

Specialized themes:

- Gender, youth, culture of peace, dialogue among civilizations, ethics of science & technology, bio-ethics, HIV/AIDS, and sustainable development.

Main projects/activities in Iran

Education:

First National Education for All (EFA) policy document prepared and EFA Bureau established; Two EFA Tehran Cluster Ministerial Meetings in Islamabad 2003 and Isfahan 2006; National and Provincial Education Planning Model (ANPRO-Iran) elaborated; Secretariat of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the Ministry of Education; Initiating and equipping Bam Teachers’ Research Centre (BTRC); Establishment of Bam Model School Complex (BMSC) through national and international partnership; Drugs & HIV/AIDS Prevention Education, Life Skills and Physical Education; Education in after-crisis situation management; EFA Mid-Decade Assessment; Inclusive education integrated in the Bam Model School Complex (BMSC) projects; Publication of Global Monitoring Report in Persian; Establishment of Creative Music Training Center (CMTC) in Tehran; Support to Afghan education system reconstruction in cooperation with Iran’s Ministry of Education; Iran UNESCO National Education Support Strategy (UNESS) document prepared; Organization of Regional Meeting on Education for Sustainable Development; Support to policy enhancement and continuous capacity building for Education for Sustainable Development.

Science:

Enhanced management of water resources with the Ministry of Energy; Support to the two Centers established under the auspices of UNESCO; the Regional Centre on Urban Water Management Tehran and the International Centre on Qanats and Historic Hydraulic Structures Yazd; Reports on Qanat systems in Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan; Technical assistance and capacity building for science parks; Capacity building and publications related to enhanced disaster preparedness; Support to nine biosphere reserves and new nominations; Advocacy of the Global Network on Water and Development Information for Arid Lands (G-WADI) and support to two pilot basins in Iran; Advocacy for Natural World Heritage protection; Collection of data and information on Qanats and other historic hydraulic systems.

Culture:

Support to the nine UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites in Iran; Comprehensive Management Plan and pilot conservation projects for Bam and its Cultural Landscape World Heritage Property; capacity building for national consultants, professionals and policy makers for cultural heritage management; capacity building for safeguarding tangible, intangible, cultural and world heritage; choghaZanbil conservation activities; training for strengthened museum management; promotion of inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogue in the region; support for craft development, marketing and design protection; advocacy and training for integrated approach to heritage conservation, disaster management, and sustainable urban development.

Communication & Information:

The use of media for addressing development issues and supporting the UNESCO mandates; Regional links for supporting and sustaining relationships developed with national partners;

Activities on “Memory of the World”; Training and workshops on emerging issues such as HIV/AIDS, refugees, disabled access, earthquake awareness and science journalism.

Address: Bahman Building, Sa’adabad Cultural Complex, Darband Square, Tajrish Square, Tehran,

P.O. Box: 19894

Tel: (98-21) 2275 1315-7 E-mail: tehran@unesco.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2275 1318 website: www.unesco.org