Non-governmental organizations and foundations

Collective cooperation

What form can take collective cooperation between NGOs and UNESCO?

Apart from individual relations, UNESCO also promotes collective cooperation with NGOs through different mechanisms:

◈ The NGO International Conference, which takes place every two years and comprises all NGOs maintaining official relations with UNESCO.
◈ Theme-specific collective consultations, organized regularly in accordance with UNESCO programme implementation needs, sometimes in parallel with international conferences held under its auspices.
◈ Regional consultations, held at regular intervals in the different regions, with a view to examining the state of cooperation with UNESCO, discussing the programmes of the Organization and regional priorities and promoting the development of regional cooperative networks.

The NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee, elected by the NGO International Conference, is responsible for permanent coordination and continuity of this collective cooperation. It is based at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

More information:

• Collective Consultation of NGOs on Education for All
• UNESCO/NGO Collective Consultation on Higher Education


• Joint Programme Commissions of the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee