Executive Board in brief

• The Executive Board is one of the three constitutional organs of UNESCO (the others being the General Conference and the Secretariat) and it is elected by the General Conference.
• Acting under the authority of the General Conference the Board examines the programme of work for the Organization and corresponding budget estimates submitted to it by the Director-General.
• It consists of 58 Member States each with a four-year term of office.

The EX Board represents the General Conference, exercises the powers delegated to it, and deals with the questions with which it is entrusted. In particular, the EX Board:

• prepares the agenda of the General Conference and examines the programme of work for UNESCO and corresponding budget estimates submitted to it by the Director-General. It submits them to the General Conference with its recommendations (Const. Article V. B. 6a)
• makes recommendations on the admission of new States that are not members of the United Nations (Const. Article II.2)
• makes recommendations to the General Conference vis-à-vis the appointment of the Director General (Const. Article IV.7)
• is responsible for the execution of the programme adopted by the General Conference and, in this connection, considers the reports on activities of the Organization submitted by the Director-General (Const. Article V.B.6.b, V.B.10)
• summons extraordinary sessions of the General Conference (Const. Article IV.D.9)
• summons international and non-governmental conferences on education, the sciences and humanities or the dissemination of knowledge, in accordance with regulations adopted by the General Conference (Const. Article IV.B.3)

The President of the General Conference sits ex officio in an advisory capacity on the Executive Board (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 9.1)

The Director-General or his representative participates, without the right to vote, in all meetings of the EXB, its organs and its Bureau. He may formulate proposals for appropriate actions of the Board and make either oral or written statements concerning any question under consideration (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 19)

At the Plenary, the Director-General

• reports on the execution of the programme adopted by the General Conference
• reports on the follow-up of decisions and resolutions adopted by EXB and General Conference at previous sessions
• presents proposals for the draft programme and budget.

In order to correct an imbalance in the geographical distribution of seats on the Board, all members of UNESCO are grouped by regional Electoral Groups. There are the following six electoral groups:

• Group I (Western European and North American States)
• Group II (Eastern European States)
• Group III (Latin-American and Caribbean States)
• Group IV (Asian and Pacific States)
• Group V (a) (African States)
• Group V (b) (Arab States)

The 58 Member States are elected to the EXB according to this system of regional grouping whereby each region is allocated a specific number of seats on the Board.

(The Ex. Board of UNESCO, I, 8.1;   Rules of Proc. of the GC, app. 2)

The principle of “equitable representation” is applied for the establishment of committees, working groups and drafting groups.

In an election of the EXB or one of the subsidiary organs of UNESCO “clean slate” refers to the situation where the number of candidates is the same as the number of seats available for an electoral group. It may be obtained through negotiations inside electoral groups.

With the permission of the Chairperson of the commission or committee:

• observers of Member States and of non-Member States may address the Board on matters under discussion.
• representatives of the United Nations and the Specialized Agencies may participate in the discussions of the Board and its subsidiary organs.
• observers of intergovernmental or international non-governmental organizations and other qualified persons may be invited by the Board to address it on matters within their competence.
• observers have no right to vote.

(Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 30)

Alternates can be appointed by each Member State of the EXB. He/she shall act in the absence of its representatives in all his/her functions.

(The Ex. Board of UNESCO, I, 11.2)

• The Executive Board Members States are elected by the General Conference.
• At least three months prior to the opening of any ordinary session of the General Conference the Director General sends a letter to ask each Member State whether it intends to stand for election to the Executive Board.
• Subsequent candidatures shall be admissible only if they reach the Secretariat of the General Conference at least forty-eight hours before the beginning of the ballot.
• The election of Members of the Board shall be conducted by secret ballot.

(Gen. Con., Rules of proc., app.2)

All Member States of UNESCO can join the EXB. Since the 27th session of GC (1993) the Board has consisted of Member States of UNESCO rather than of individuals in their personal capacity. Each Member State appoints one representative and may also appoint alternates.

(The Ex. Board of UNESCO, I, 11-11.1)

The Executive Board meets in regular sessions at least four times during a biennium. 
It holds two regular sessions per year. 
It meets for two to three weeks each time. 
There is a short session of the Board immediately after the General Conference. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 1)

The Board has to deal with following questions in private meetings (The Ex. Board of UNESCO, IV,48):

• nominations for the post of Director General
• appointments to the Secretariat: the Director General informs the Members of the Board with regard to certain appointments, promotions or renewals of contract and reports on the proper application of the personal management system. 
•  any other matters the Board may decide to examine in private meetings.

The Chairperson of the Executive Board sends the draft provisional agenda to the Bureau to solicit comments or suggestions from Members of the Executive Board.

At least 30 days before the opening of a regular session, Members will receive the provisional agenda prepared by the Chairperson which includes:

• all questions referred to the Board by the General Conference
• all questions proposed by:
  •  the United Nations 
  •  Member States 
  •  Members of the Board 
  •  the Director-General
• all questions the inclusion of which has been decided by the Board at the previous sessions
• questions required by the Constitution, the Rules of Procedure or any other applicable Rules and Regulations

(Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 5)

3. Revised provisional agenda: the Chairperson may prepare a revised provisional agenda to include any questions proposed between the dispatch of the provisional agenda and up to two weeks before the opening of the session or any other necessary modifications.

(Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 6)

The Board may amend or add new items to the agenda any time before the Plenary of the EXB has adopted its respective provisional or revised provisional agenda. In session, items can be added to the agenda so adopted if so decided by a majority of the Members present and voting. Unless the Board decides otherwise, such new items shall not be discussed until 48 hours after their inclusion in the agenda.

(Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 8 and rule 22)

• The Chairperson of the EXB prepares a draft provisional timetable of the items.
• The Chairperson of EXB sends the draft provisional timetable to the Bureau to elicit comments or suggestions from Members of the Executive Board.
• At least 30 days before the opening of a regular session, Members will receive the provisional timetable prepared by the Chairperson.

The general debate takes place at every session and consists of the statements of Member States of the EXB on the Programme and Budget. The thematic debate is organized at specific times to consider specific matters. It usually includes the participation of a guest speaker.

By 182 EX/Decision 27, the Executive Board invites the Chairperson of the Executive Board to continue to arrange thematic debates, ensuring that the debate has focused themes with clear objectives linked to UNESCO's programme priorities and to major forthcoming items on the Executive Board agenda.

1. The Chairperson of the Executive Board sends the draft provisional agenda to the Bureau to solicit comments or suggestions from Members of the Executive Board.

2. At least 30 days before the opening of a regular session, Members will receive the provisional agenda prepared by the Chairperson which includes:

• all questions referred to the Board by the General Conference
• all questions proposed by:
  •  the United Nations 
  • Member States 
  •  Members of the Board 
  •  the Director-General
• all questions the inclusion of which has been decided by the Board at the previous sessions
• questions required by the Constitution, the Rules of Procedure or any other applicable Rules and Regulations

(Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 5)

3. Revised provisional agenda: the Chairperson may prepare a revised provisional agenda to include any questions proposed between the dispatch of the provisional agenda and up to two weeks before the opening of the session or any other necessary modifications.

(Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 6)

The Board may amend or add new items to the agenda any time before the Plenary of the EXB has adopted its respective provisional or revised provisional agenda. In session, items can be added to the agenda so adopted if so decided by a majority of the Members present and voting. Unless the Board decides otherwise, such new items shall not be discussed until 48 hours after their inclusion in the agenda.

(Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 8 and rule 22)

• The Chairperson of the EXB prepares a draft provisional timetable of the items.
• The Chairperson of EXB sends the draft provisional timetable to the Bureau to elicit comments or suggestions from Members of the Executive Board.
• At least 30 days before the opening of a regular session, Members will receive the provisional timetable prepared by the Chairperson.

All Member States can propose an item (Rule 5§2 of the Rules of Procedure of the 
Executive Board). Items proposed shall have a direct link with the Organization’s fields of 
competence (Rule 5§3 of the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board).
 

Member States can propose an additional item upon receipt of the draft provisional agenda, during the consultation period or after the statutory dispatch of the provisional agenda. The deadline for the proposal of an additional item on the agenda by a Member State is up to two weeks before the opening of the session (Rule 6 of the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board). The final deadline for the submission of an item by a Member State for the 220th session of the Executive Board is therefore 25 September 2024.

NB: Under Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board, an new item may be added to the adopted agenda “if so decided by a majority of the Members present and voting” during the session. Such new items shall not be discussed until 48 hours after their inclusion in the agenda, unless otherwise decided by the Board.

The request should be submitted by Member States to the Chairperson of the Executive Board by email (pres.exb@unesco.org), copying the Secretariat of the Executive Board (exb-secretariat@unesco.org) and contain the following elements:

• A Note Verbale to the attention of the Chairperson of the Executive Board, containing the exact and definitive title of the new item as it is to appear on the agenda
• The explanatory note and draft decision in Word format

• The final list of co-authors, which will appear in the document and the Agenda

Once all these elements have been submitted, the Secretariat of the Executive Board will be able to process the document.

Template

The following information must be provided to the Secretariat of the Executive Board at the same time as the request for inclusion of the item :

• The language in which the document has been drafted, in the top right-hand corner on the cover page of the document 

• The final list of co-authors of the document in the Summary box on the cover page of the document

• Whether or not there are financial implications in the Summary box on the cover page of the document

This information is essential for processing the document.

The document:

• Should be concise and succinct

• All paragraphs must be numbered

• Maximum length is four pages (1 280 words)

• The draft decision should be concise and its ideal maximum length is five paragraphs
• All the paragraphs are numbered
• The draft decision is usually composed of:
• the preamble: recalling of references and general considerations
• the operative paragraphs that present the measures or recommendations and are therefore composed of action verbs

The document processing service does not make any substantive changes but may make grammatical corrections and/or harmonization for all languages.

• The Member State proposing the item is responsible for centralizing the list of Member States wishing to be co-authors in order to appear on the document and on the provisional or revised provisional agenda.

• The co-authors will appear on the agenda and the document in the same way as the Member State having proposed the item. All Member States are listed by alphabetical order. Official designations and alphabetical order must strictly follow the latest version of the list of Member States and Associate Members of UNESCO in Part Q of the Basic Texts (accessible by clicking here).

• The final list should be transmitted, at once and integrated directly in the Summary box of the document.

• Addition of co-authors will not be reflected after the publication of the document and after the presentation of the Agenda to the first Bureau (for the forthcoming session, on 9 October 2024). Any addition of co-authors must then be communicated directly in room, when the item is considered by the Commissions or Committees concerned.

• The Secretariat of the Executive Board checks the conformity of the document and sends it back to the Member State for final approval prior to the publication.

• The Member State can make revisions on the content of the returned document by notifying them through the « track changes » functionality of Word. These will be integrated and harmonized in all language versions.

According to 207 EX/Decision 20, the agenda of the Preparatory Group may include “new agenda items”. Therefore, should they so wish, Member States are invited to present their item during the meeting of the Preparatory Group. Items are presented for information of the Members of the Preparatory Group (Member States) by the representative of the Member States who has included the “new agenda item”. In this case, it is recommended that the Executive Board document including the explanatory note and the draft decision be accessible online, in the six languages, before the start of the meeting of the Preparatory Group.

• A DR is a new proposal that one or more Member States of the Executive Board wish to present before or during the debate on the item.
• The list of co-signatories of the DR relating to an item submitted by a Member State is different from the list of co-signatories of the document in the main series of the Executive Board. It should be borne in mind that only members of the Executive Board can propose amendments to draft decisions, which means that the list of co-signatories of a DR can only be composed by one or more Member States or by a group of Member States of the Board (please see point 6 of this Q&A). 

For further information, please contact the Deputy Secretary of the Executive Board, Ms Sophie El Akremi (s.el-akremi@unesco.org).

A DR (initials of Draft Resolution, term from the General Conference) at the Executive Board corresponds to the following two possibilities:

• Draft amendments: Changes made to a proposed draft decision appearing in a main series document 
• Draft decision: Proposal for a new decision in comparison with the proposed draft decision appearing in a main series document

A DR may be submitted on any agenda item by:

• One or more Member States of the Executive Board only
• A group of Member States of the Executive Board

A DR can be presented at any time, before or during the session of the Executive Board.

Under Rule 22§3 of the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board, « unless the Board decides otherwise, it shall not discuss any items, except the reports of commissions and committees, until at least 48 hours after the distribution of the relevant documents in its working languages to Members present ».

It is therefore recommended to send the DR in time to ensure that it can be published 48h before the examination of the related item.

• Template Draft Amendment
• Template Draft Decision

It is recommended to use the template above, to complete it with the requested information and to insert the draft decision or the draft amendment(s), reflecting the changes in comparison with the original decision (as indicated in bold in the template).

The document should be sent as soon as possible in Word format.

The draft decision

• As for the main series documents presented as a new item on the agenda by a Member State, the draft decision should be concise and its ideal maximum length is five paragraphs
• All the paragraphs are numbered
• The relevant verbs are underscored
• The draft decision is usually composed by:

- the preamble: reminders of references and general considerations

- the operative paragraphs that present the measures or recommendations and are therefore composed of action verbs

• The DR should be sent to the Secretariat of the Executive Board: exb-secretariat@unesco.org.
• The Secretariat of the Executive Board processes the document and sends it back to the Member of the Board for final approval for publication.
• The Member of the Board can make corrections to the returned document by notifying them through the « track changes » functionality of Word. These will be integrated and harmonized in the six working languages.
• The DR is published online and printed on pink paper.

• The final list of co-signatories of the DR, which must include only members of the Executive Board, must be communicated either, directly on the Word template, in alphabetical order. Official designations and alphabetical order must strictly follow the latest version of the list of Member States and Associate Members of UNESCO in Part Q of the Basic Texts (accessible by clicking here).
• This list must be submitted in its entirety.
• Once the DR has been published, the addition of co-signatories is not possible. Subsequent additions of co-signatories must then be communicated directly in room, to the Commissions or Committees concerned by the item.

DRs are discussed during the debate at the same time as the corresponding item in a commission or a committee.

In the case of amendments to the draft decision transmitted that do not involve any substantial change to the initial draft decision contained in the document, they may be processed as "non-paper" (not printed), i.e. not as pink-paper DRs. Amendments are then transmitted for translation for projection on the screen in English/French only when the decision is examined. It is important that these amendments, although processed outside the paper circuit and not subject to the 48-hour deadline, are transmitted within a reasonable timeframe before the examination of the item, to enable a qualitative translation (in English/French only).

For further information, please contact the Deputy Secretary of the Executive Board, Ms Sophie El Akremi (s.el-akremi@unesco.org). 

All Members of the Board are allowed to ask for the floor at any moment.

With the permission of the chairperson, the floor can be taken by:

• representatives of the United Nations and the Specialized Agencies
• observers of Member States and of non-Members States
• observers of intergovernmental or international non-governmental organizations
• other qualified persons invited by the Board to address it on matters under discussion.

The Rules of Procedures establish that the Board shall adopt the entire set of draft decisions recommended by each plenary commission (PX and FA) as a whole (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 47)

However, a Member State can request that a specific decision be adopted separately and even if the draft decisions have been recommended by the subsidiary bodies, amendments can be made at this time.

Order of speeches

• The Chairperson shall call upon speakers in the order in which they signify their wish to speak. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 31)
• Time-limit on speeches - The Board may limit the time to be allowed to each speaker. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 32)

During the course of a debate the Chairperson may announce the list of speakers and, with the consent of the Board, declare the list closed. He/She may, however, accord the right of reply to a Member if a speech delivered after the list has been declared closed makes this desirable. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 33)

At the request of any Member, supported by two other Members, discussion of any substantive motion, resolution or amendment shall be suspended until the text is circulated in the working languages to all Members present. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 34)

The Executive Board shall not take a decision involving expenditure unless it has before it a report from the Director-General on the administrative and financial implications of the proposal. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 34A)

A proposal may be withdrawn by its proposer at any time before voting on it has begun, provided that the proposal has not been amended. A proposal withdrawn may be reintroduced by any other Member. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 35)

Points of order involve questions necessitating a ruling by the presiding officer, subject to possible appeal.

During the discussion of any matter a Member may rise to a point of order and the point of order shall be immediately decided by the Chairperson.

A point of order may relate to:

• the manner in which the debate is conducted
• the maintenance of order
• the observance of the rules of procedure
• the limit of the speeches
• the way in which presiding officers exercise the powers conferred upon them by the rules

(Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 39)

No. A point of order may only be raised by Members of the Board.

At the opening of the session following each ordinary session of the General Conference, the Board shall elect, from among the 58 representatives of the Member States elected to the Executive Board, a Chairperson. The Board shall also elect six Vice-Chairs from among its Members. The Chairperson shall be elected by secret ballot. If the Chairperson finds that there is a lack of consensus regarding the election of the Vice-Chairs, an election by secret ballot shall then be held.

The Chairperson shall not be immediately re-eligible. At the end of the two-year mandate of the outgoing Chairperson, a new Chairperson shall be elected from among the representatives of the other Members of the Board. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 10)

Each Member of the Board shall have one vote. A Member State shall have no vote in the Executive Board or in any of its committees, commissions and other subsidiary organs if the total amount of contributions due from it exceeds the total amount of contributions payable by it for the current year and the immediately preceding calendar year. The General Conference may nevertheless permit such a Member State to vote, if it is satisfied under the procedure and decision provided for in Rule 80 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Conference, that failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the Member State. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 48)

Voting shall normally be conducted by show of hands. In this case, if there is any doubt concerning the result of a vote, the Chairperson may take a second vote by show of hands or by roll-call (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 52)

After the Chairperson has announced the beginning of voting, no one shall interrupt the voting except on a point of order in connection with actual conduct of voting (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 49)

Types of voting:

• Show of hands

Voting shall normally be by show of hands. In this case, if there is any doubt concerning the result of a vote, the Chairperson may take a second vote by show of hands or by roll-call. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 52)

• Roll-call

At the request of any Member, a vote shall be taken by roll-call; Members’ names shall be called in alphabetical order and the vote of each Member participating shall be recorded in the summary record of the meeting. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 53)

• Secret ballot

The nomination of a candidate for the post of Director-General shall be decided by secret ballot.
All other elections and decisions relating to individuals shall be voted on by secret ballot whenever five or more Members shall so request or if the Chairperson shall so decide. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 54)

Decisions of the Board shall be taken by a simple majority of the Members present and voting, except where otherwise specified in these Rules. For the purposes of determining the majority, only Members casting an affirmative or negative vote shall be counted as ‘present and voting’; Members who abstain from voting shall be considered as not voting. (Ex. Board, Rules of Procedure, rule 50)

In the following cases a two-thirds majority of the Members present and voting is required:

• reconsideration of proposals (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 45);
• consultation by correspondence (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 60);
• amendment of Rules of Procedure (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 66);
• suspension of Rules of Procedure (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 67);

establishment, before each session of the General Conference, of the list of States not Members of UNESCO which are to be invited to send observers to that session. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 51)

• At least six months before the expiry of the term of office of the Director-General or in case of vacancy at any other time, the Executive Board shall, as soon as possible, invite Member States to suggest the names of persons who might be considered for the post of Director-General, requesting them at the same time to provide full biographical details regarding these persons.
• The Executive Board shall consider in private meeting all the names so suggested, together with any proposed by Members of the Board, provided that no candidature shall be considered unless biographical details are available.
• The person to be nominated by the Executive Board shall be chosen by secret ballot.
• The Chairperson of the Board shall inform the General Conference of the candidate nominated by the Board. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 58)

• The Director-General shall inform the Board of every appointment, promotion or renewal of a contract of officials at D-1 level and above that has taken place since the previous session and report on the proper application of the personnel management system.
• The Director-General shall consult the Executive Board in private meeting at least once every two years regarding the structure of the Secretariat and, in particular, on any important changes he contemplates making in it and on any questions of policy involved in making appointments to senior posts in the Secretariat. On this occasion, the Executive Board shall review any appointments or renewals of contract, referred to in paragraph 1, which the Director-General may have made since the Board’s last private meeting for purposes of consultation. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 59)

Should the approval of the Executive Board be required for measures of exceptional urgency and importance while the Board is not in session, the Chairperson may, if he judges proper, consult the Members by correspondence. The proposed measures shall be adopted if they are approved by two thirds of the Members. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 60)

The Plenary discusses policy questions on the basis of the Director General’s written or oral reports.

Among other responsibilities, the Plenary of the EXB:

• approves the respective provisional or revised provisional agenda
• examines its own agenda items (for example all GC items)
• decides on the items to be referred to the commissions, and when adopting the timetable for the session it determines the time to be allocated to them
• approves the PX and FA agendas
• approves the provisional timetable of work
• approves summary records of previous sessions.

The Board adopts the entire set of draft decisions recommended by each plenary commission (PX and FA).

The Plenary usually meets during the first three days of the EXB session and reconvenes the last two days to approve decisions.

The 12 Members of the Bureau of the Executive Board are (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 14.1):

the Chairperson of the Executive Board

Ms Vera El Khoury Lacoeuilhe (Saint Lucia)

the six Vice-Chairpersons countries of each electoral group

• United States of America
• Lithuania
• Haiti
• Pakistan
• Botswana
• Oman

the five Chairpersons of the permanent commissions (PX, FA) and committees (SP, CR, NGP)

• Programme and External Relations Commission (PX)

Chair: Mr Liborio Stellino (Italy)

• Finance and Administrative Commission (FA)

Chair: Ms Anna Plassat Murinova (Slovakia)

• Special Committee (SP)

Chair: Mr Ayeid Mousseid Yahya (Djibouti)

• Committee on Non-Governmental Partners (NGP)

Chair:  Mr Khondker Mohammad Talha (Bangladesh)

• Committee on Conventions and Recommendations (CR)

Chair: Dr Nasser Hamad Hinzab (Qatar) 

The election of the Bureau takes place at the brief session of the Board held after each ordinary session of the General Conference (The Ex. Board of UNESCO, III, 32)

The Bureau has the role of facilitating the Board’s discussions, particularly by recommending in advance specific questions for discussions under each item of the agenda. It does not have any decision-making power.

The most important tasks of the Bureau are to:

• assist the Chairperson in his/her functions
• ensure a balanced distribution of agenda items among the different sessions
• organize the work of its sessions in such a way as to ensure that the examination of the issues relating to the preparation, implementation and evaluation of the Programme and Budget and the Medium-Term Strategy takes a central place
• study questions relating to invitations to conferences and the conclusion of agreements with international organizations or other matters which do not appear to require debate and it transmits to the Board its suggestions as to required decision.

(The Ex. Board of UNESCO, III, 33)

The Executive Board has five permanent subsidiary bodies:

• Programme and External Relations Commission (PX)
• Finance and Administrative Commission (FA)
• Special Committee (SP)
• Committee on Conventions and Recommendations (CR)
• Committee on Non-Governmental Partners (NGP)

While all members of the Board are automatically members of both the PX and FA commissions, committees have restricted membership.

• All Members of the Board are automatically members of both commissions (The Ex. Board of UNESCO, III, 23)
•  For each committee, the Board establishes from among its Members the representatives from each electoral group. The Board lays down the specific terms of reference and number of members of its committees for each biennium (The Ex. Board of UNESCO, III, 28)
• The Chairpersons of the commissions and committees are elected, in their personal capacity, by the Board by secret ballot from among the representatives appointed by the Members elected to the Board (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 16, 2)
•  At the opening of each session and for the duration of that session, each commission and committee elects, from among the representatives of its Members, a temporary Chairperson, preferably belonging to the same electoral group as its Chairperson in order to replace the latter in the exercise of all his/her functions during his/her temporary absence (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 16, 2)

The Board divides items between its commissions in accordance with the responsibilities implicit in their respective titles.

• The PX Commission (Programme and External Relations Commission) generally considers questions relating to the programme and external relations. Chairperson –  Mr Liborio Stellino (Italy)
• The FA Commission (Finance and Administrative Commission) generally deals with financial and administrative questions. Chairperson – Ms Anna Plassat Murinova (Slovakia)

The Commissions meet simultaneously during the sessions of the Board and in a joint meeting.

At its first Plenary Meeting the Executive Board decides on the items to be referred to the commissions, and when adopting the timetable for the session it determines the time to be allotted to them.
(The Ex. Board of UNESCO, III, 23, 25 and 26)
In response to 33 C/Resolution 92, paragraph 5, concerning relations between the three organs of UNESCO, the Executive Board recommended at its 179th session “that, while maintaining the present structure and division of functions between the Programme and External Relations Commission (PX) and the Finance and Administrative Commission (FA), the Executive Board should pursue greater harmonization between the PX and FA Commissions and a more rational, efficient and less costly division of functions, leading to a more orderly, rule-based and transparent form of decision-making” (recommendation R.18 of the 179 EX/18)

The Board lays down the specific terms of reference and number of members of its committees for each biennium. (The Ex. Board of UNESCO, III, 28) (Ex.Board, Rules of Proc., article 17)

Any Member of the Board may take part in the work of subsidiary bodies to which it does not belong. In such cases it shall not have the right to vote. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 30.5).

In addition to these Committees “the Board may also establish such temporary committees as it considers necessary for the execution of its task. The terms of reference of such committees shall be specifically defined by the Executive Board at the time of their establishment” (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 17).

The Special committee (SP) is composed of 18 members, three from each electoral group. Its main functions are:

• methods and machinery for evaluating the activities of UNESCO,
• relations with the Joint Inspection Unit of the United Nations,
• organization of the work of the General Conference and the Ex. Board.

In the light of recommendation R.19 (i) of 33 C/Resolution 92 concerning the report by the ad hoc working group on relations between the three organs of UNESCO, approved by the General Conference at its 33rd session and which has been appropriately implemented (179 EX/Decision 18 and 35 C/Resolution 100), the Special Committee (SP) should continue to meet only as needed and for the time necessary to fulfill the duties required of it by the Executive Board
The Chair of the Executive Board is authorized, in consultation with the Chair of the Special Committee, to identify future items that fall within the Special Committee’s terms of reference, for examination at future sessions (174 EX/Decision 20)

• Chair: Mr Ayeid Mousseid Yahya (Djibouti)

Website of the Committee on Conventions and Recommendations (CR)

The Committee on Conventions and Recommendations (CR) is composed of 30 members, five per regional group. Its mandate is to examine:

• the periodic reports of Members States on the implementation of Conventions and Recommendations ;
• all communications relating to cases and questions concerning the exercise of human rights in the fields of competence of UNESCO ;
• the report of the Joint ILO-UNESCO Committee of Experts on the Application of the Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers ;
• the reports of the Joint Expert Group (CR)/ECOSOC (CESCR) on the Monitoring of the Right to Education once a year.

Chair: Dr Nasser Hamad Hinzab (Qatar) 

The Committee on Non-governmental Partners (NGP), composed of 24 members, four per regional group, studies:

• general policy to pursue its dialogue with all relevant non governmental partners and the Secretariat with a view to promoting the input of those organizations to the work of UNESCO ;
• any other matters concerning UNESCO’s cooperation with international non-governmental organizations, and, in particular, new applications for the establishment of formal relations.

Chair: Mr Khondker Mohammad Talha (Bangladesh)

With the permission of the Chairperson of the commission or committee:

• observers may address the commission on matters under discussion ;
• any Member of the Board who is not a member of a committee may take part in the work of subsidiary bodies to which it does not belong ;
• Observers have no right to vote.

(Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 30.5)

• The Board frequently establishes temporary working groups and drafting groups to consider specific questions.
• For example, a drafting group is established, on the basis of equitable geographical distribution, to prepare the draft comments of the Board on the Medium-Term Strategy (C/4) and the Draft Programme and Budget (C/5).  This group drafts the recommendations by the Executive Board on the Draft Programme and Budget (C/6) to submit to the General Conference.

The Chairperson, H.E. Ms Vera El Khoury Lacoeuilhe

• prepares the provisional agenda, as well as, the revised provisional agenda
• directs the discussions
• ensures the observance of rules of procedures and accords the right to speak
• rules on points of order
• puts questions to the vote and announces decisions
• has the right to take part in the discussions
• represents the Board with Member States, the United Nations, the Specialized Agencies, governmental and non-governmental organizations and the Director General
• Is ex officio a member of all organs of the Board.

(EX. Board, Rules of Proc., rules 5 & 6 and Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 13)

• Ms Tamara Rastovac Siamashvili (Serbia), 2021-2023
• Mr Agapito MBA MOKUY (Equatorial Guinea), 2019-2021
• Mr Byong-Hyun LEE (Republic of Korea), 2017-2019
• Mr Michael WORBS (Germany), 2015-2017
• Mr Mohamed Sameh AMER (Egypt), 2013-2015
• Ms Alissandra CUMMINS (Barbados), 2011-2013
• Ms Eleonora Valentinovna MITROFANOVA (Russian Federation), 2009-2011
• Mr Olabiyi Babalola Joseph YAÏ (Benin), 2007-2009
• Mr Xinsheng ZHANG (China), 2005-2007
• Mr Hans-Heinrich WREDE (Germany), 2003-2005
• Ms Aziza BENNANI (Morocco), 2001-2003
• Ms Sonia MENDIETA DE BADAROUX (Honduras), 1999-2001
• Mr Christopher J. CHETSANGA (Zimbabwe), 1999
• Mr Pál PATAKI (Hungary), 1997-1999
• Mr Nouréini TIDJANI-SERPOS (Benin), 1995-1997
• Ms Attiya INAYATULLAH (Pakistan), 1993-1995
• Ms Marie BERNARD-MEUNIER (Canada), 1991-1993
• Mr Yahya ALIYU (Nigeria), 1989-1991
• Mr José Israel VARGAS (Brazil), 1987-1989
• Dr Ivo MARGAN (Yugoslavia), 1985-1987
• Mr Patrick K. SEDDOH (Ghana), 1983-1985
• Mr Victor MASSUH (Argentina),1980-1983
• Mr Chams Eldine EL-WAKIL (Egypt), 1978-1980
• Mr Leonard C.J. MARTIN (United Kingdom), 1976-1978
• Mr Hector WYNTER (Jamaica), 1974-1976
• Mr Fûad SARRUF (Lebanon),1972-1974
• Mr Prem N. KIRPAL (India), 1970-1972
• Mr Gian Franco POMPEI (Italy), 1968-1970
• Mr Antilio DELL'ORO MAINI (Argentina), 1966-1968
• Mr Mohammed EL FASI (Morocco), 1964-1966
• Mr Rodolfo BARON CASTRO (El Salvador), 1964
• Mr C. Edward BEEBY (New Zealand), 1962-1964
• Mr Mohamed AWAD (Egypt), 1960-1962
• Sir Ben Bowen THOMAS (United Kingdom), 1958-1960
• Mr Gholam Ali RAADI (Iran), 1958
• Mr Vittorino VERONESE (Italy), 1956-1958
• Mr Arcot L. MUDALIAR (India), 1954-1956
• Sir Ronald ADAM (United Kingdom), 1952-1954
• Mr Paulo E. de BERRÊDO DE CARNEIRO (Brazil), 1951-1952
• Count Stefano JACINI (Italy), 1950-1951
• Sir John MAUD (United Kingdom), 1949-1950
• Sir Ronald W.WALKER (Australia), 1947-1948
• Mr Victor DORE (Canada), 1946-1947

The Vice-Chairs are States Members of the Executive Board, each one representing an electoral group.

In the absence of the Chairperson during a session, his/her functions are exercised in turn by the Vice-Chairpersons.

(Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 15)

At the opening of the session following each ordinary session of the General Conference, the Board shall elect, from among the 58 representatives of the Member States elected to the Executive Board, a Chairperson. The Board shall also elect six Vice-Chairs from among its Members. The Chairperson shall be elected by secret ballot. If the Chairperson finds that there is a lack of consensus regarding the election of the Vice-Chairs, an election by secret ballot shall then be held.

The Chairperson shall not be immediately re-eligible. At the end of the two-year mandate of the outgoing Chairperson, a new Chairperson shall be elected from among the representatives of the other Members of the Board. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 10)

• Anna Paolini, Secretary of the Executive Board
• Sophie El Akremi, Deputy Secretary of the Executive Board
• Victoria Moorhead, Executive Assistant to the Chairperson of the Executive Board
• Inés Mens, Chief Documentalist
• Sandrine Garcia, Secretarial Assistant
• Amna Naas, Secretarial Assistant
• Anton Tsygankov, Executive Assistant
• Bakary Konate, Junior Conference Assistant
• Administrative support - Cristina Petre Camard, Administrative Officer

They are:

• documents of the main series
• information documents
• private documents (yellow paper)
• draft decisions (pink paper)
• decisions
• summary records.

All documents are posted in the official languages of the Organization as soon as the respective language versions become available. The document code is usually on the top right of the first page.

Standard abbreviations are used in the document’s code to denote certain shared attributes for common structure or a specific type of data content:

• Number for the session, the abbreviation EX and the serial number of the document
• The reference code EX/Decisions
• Reference code EX/INF are published in English and French only. Information documents intended for subsidiary bodies (EX/PX/INF)

Standard abbreviations are used in the document code to denote certain shared attributes, e.g. a common structure or a specific type of data content.

• 169/EX...: The number of the session of the Executive Board
• .../EX/... : Board document
• .../EX/1, 2, etc: Documents in the main series of documents of the Board
• .../EX/1: Agenda of the Board
• .../EX/PX/... : Agenda or timetable of the Programme and External Relations Commission
• .../EX/FA/... : Agenda or timetable of the Financial and Administrative Commission
• .../EX/CR/... : Documents of the Committee on Conventions and Recommendations
• .../EX/SP/... : Agenda of the Special Committee
• .../EX/ONG/... : Agenda of the Committee on International Non-Governmental Organizations
• .../EX/INF.1, 2, etc. : Information documents of the Board
• .../EX/INF.1 : Timetable of the Board
• .../EX/PLEN/DR... : Draft Decisions submitted in plenary meetings of the Board
• .../EX/PX/DR... : Draft Decisions submitted in PX Commission
• .../EX/FA/DR... : Draft Decisions submitted in FA Commission
• .../EX/PX/FA/DR... : Draft Decisions submitted in PX and FA Commissions
• .../EX/CR/DR... : Draft Decisions submitted in CR Committee
• .../EX/SP/DR... : Draft Decisions submitted in SP Committee
• .../EX/PRIV : Private documents of the Board
• .../EX/Decisions : Decisions of the Board
• .../EX/SR : Summary Records of the Board
• .../EX/PRIV/SR : Summary records of the private sessions of the Board
• General Conference documents used at the Board:
• ...C/3 : Report of the Director-General on the activities of the Organization in the previous biennium to the General Conference
• ...C/4 : Medium-term Strategy (six-year period)
• ...C/5 : Programme and Budget for the biennium
• ...C/6 : Recommendations by the Board on the Draft Programme and Budget

At least 30 days before the opening of the session of the Board, the following documents shall be distributed to members of the Board:

• documents relating to items on the provisional agenda of each session
• the proposed programme and budget to be submitted to the General Conference in its working languages (submitted for the Board’s consideration at the session before the General Conference) (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 22)

Unless the Board decides otherwise, it shall not discuss any items, except the reports of commissions and committees, until at least 48 hours after the distribution of the relevant documents in its working languages to Members present (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 22.3)

One month following the session, decisions adopted by the Board are issued in the six working languages (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 24)

The Director General communicates all documents and final summary records of public meetings of the Board, and the text of the decisions adopted at each session, to Member States, National Commissions, the United Nations and the Specialized Agencies immediately on publication. (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 26)

Every representative to the EXB receives one copy from the EXB’s Secretariat. When the representative lives outside Paris, the respective Delegation of that Member State also receives one copy from the EXB’s Secretariat.

It should be noted that additional copies of Board documents are distributed to Member States, including delegations and National Commissions, by UNESCO’s documentation distribution service.

• All public documents of the Executive Boardcan be found:
• on the Executive Board website
• in Office D.060 (for the documents of the latest session)

Representatives of Members of the EXB and their alternates enjoy, during their stay in France on official duty, such facilities, privileges and immunities as are accorded to diplomats of equal rank belonging to foreign diplomatic missions accredited to the Government of the French Republic (The Ex. Board of UNESCO, I., 15-16)

• Members of the EXB are entitled, inter alia, to the following:
• subsistence allowance (Ex. Board, Annex to the Rules of Proc.,§3, §5)
• travel expenses (Ex. Board, Annex to the Rules of Proc.,§1, §2,§5)
• travel for consultation (Ex. Board, Annex to the Rules of Proc.,§1.1.b)
• insurance (Ex. Board, Annex to the Rules of Proc.,§4(link is external)
• attestation card

The representatives and alternates appointed by Members of the Board shall not, during their term of office, accept from the Organization payment of any expenses or allowances other than those provided for in (Ex.Board, Rules of Proc., rules 61, 62 and 63). They shall not receive any fees or remuneration from the Organization during their term of office (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 64)

• A cloakroom is at the disposal of representatives of Members of the Board beside Room X. Each representative keeps the key of his/her own cupboard until the end of his/her mandate.
• A key can be obtained in office D.060.

• Executive Board’s website: www.unesco.org/new/en/executive-board
• Secretariat of the Executive Board
• An Information Meeting organized by the Secretariat of the Executive Board for Members of UNESCO.
• Related resources:
  • Basic Texts 
  • Information Brochure
  • Rules of Procedures 
• Telephone number + 33 1 45 68 10 00