UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Mr. Jorge Ivan Espinal - UNESCO Representative

Mission

UNESCO - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - was established on November 16, 1945 and its Headquarter is in Paris. As specialized agency of the United Nations, UNESCO contributes to the building of peace, the alleviation of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. It is doing so promoting international co-operation among its 193 Member States and six Associate Members UNESCO is working to create the conditions for genuine dialogue based upon respect for shared values and the dignity of each civilization and culture.
The main mission of the UNESCO Tashkent Office is to represent the Secretariat in the country, to ensure that education, science, culture and communication are taken into account within the planning and implementing activities of the full UN system based in Uzbekistan, to raise funds to promote and implement UNESCO's programme activities, in close cooperation with the National Commission for UNESCO in Uzbekistan and local and international partners.

Main areas of work

Education
UNESCO office in Tashkent is working to assist the Government to improve quality and access to education in Uzbekistan through technical advice, standard setting, innovative projects and networking. Education sector of UNESCO office in Tashkent is mainly focused to enhance the national education sector by means of strengthening the capacity of teachers' education institutions, improvement of teaching quality, training opportunities and learning materials. In this regard, UNESCO education sector is actively conducting following activities:
• teacher training courses for integration of ICT to teaching and learning processes with the aim of improving quality of learning process.
• strengthening capacities of policy makers by introducing them Education Management Information Systems, by means of which policy makers would be able to retrieve accurate data from all levels of basic education.
• intervention for the development and improvement of technical and vocational education and training in Uzbekistan, UNESCO Tashkent office is conducting country analysis study of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system.
• training of trainers courses (ToT) on Education for Sustainable Development - UNESCO in cooperation with National University of Uzbekistan, has designed and conducting ToT courses to integrate Education for Sustainable Development concepts into the existing curricula, and increase awareness among educators and policy makers in Sustainable Development issues.
• UNESCO supports comprehensive education sector responses to HIV and AIDS in five essential areas: quality education; content, curriculum and learning materials; educator training and support; policy, management and systems and the use of multiple approaches and entry points. UNESCO leads EDUCAIDS, the UNAIDS Global Initiative on Education and HIV & AIDS, the Organization supports Member States in achieving universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support of HIV/AIDS.

Culture
UNESCO mission in the field of culture is to:
• protect tangible heritage through the implementation of 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. This convention recognizes that some places are of outstanding universal values and common heritage of humanity. Today, Uzbekistan has four Heritage places on the World Heritage List: Khiva (Itchan Kala), Old cities of Bukhara, Shahrisabz and Samarkand. To do so, UNESCO is conducting documentation and condition assessment on GIS basis for the preparation of the management plan of Bukhara, prepares guidebook of Samarkand heritage and organizes trainings on conservation of archaeological artifacts.
• protect and promote intangible heritage through the implementation of 2003 Convention for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, ratified by Uzbekistan in 2008. Boysun area and Shashmaqom (classical music) are inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity. In this framework, UNESCO leads inventory of Karakalpakstan musical traditions.
• promote cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and cultural tourism through handicrafts, fairs and publications such Golden Ring of Khorezm- a cultural tourist guide to Karakalpakstan and Khorezm and block-printing revival programme in Fergana Valley, which allows HIV-infected children to get access to technical skills and artistic education.
• enhance national capacities in the field of Movable Cultural Heritage and cultural tourism, especially museums, through trainings and publications: seminars on museum management, safeguarding and conservation of collections for museum staff, translation and publications of guidebooks and manuals on movable heritage management.

Science
UNESCO also considers that the scientific and technological process must be placed in the context of ethical reflection rooted in the cultural, legal, philosophical and religious heritage of the various human communities. Environmental issues and protection of natural heritage means:
• promote sustainable use of land and water resources through research and education project such as ZEF/UNESCO project in Urgench
• promote the use of renewable energies through yearly summer camp for young scientist on solar energy in Samarkand
• develop science education through awareness-raising campaigns on sustainable development at schools
• print publications on environmental issues: Ecological Atlas of Uzbekistan, Atlas of Spring water in Uzbekistan, Water and Migration case study
• develop eco-friendly technologies: introduction of indigo culture in Khorezm and Karakalpakstan.

Communication
Equitable access to information and knowledge, support to the development of communication sphere in Uzbekistan were defined as priority by Communication sector of UNESCO Tashkent office. In collaboration with local partners, Communication sector implement projects on enhancing the role of communication and information, such as:
• Promote the development of free, independent and pluralistic media and foster community participation in sustainable development through community media. In the context of this programme, UNESCO Tashkent office implements with the national partners the project on dissemination of and capacity building for the diverse content on sustainable development through educational soap operas in rural areas, and implementation of Silk Road Radio Project
• Fostering universal access to information and the development of info-structures. In the framework of this programme, the project "Fostering universal access to information through the conservation and documentation of historic archival materials" aims at digitization of printed materials and historic archives of glass negatives.
• Supporting the national efforts to create the environment for the growth of free and pluralistic media. Within this activity, UNESCO is carrying out trainings and workshops to strengthening capacity of local information professionals with focus on environmental issues, notably in Khorezm and Karakalpakstan, celebration of the World Press Freedom Day, etc.

Main partners:

National:

• National Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan for UNESCO,
• national and international NGO's and foundations,
• Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs),
• Bi-and multilateral organizations,
• Cities and Local Authorities,
• National Institutions and organizations,
• Ministries,
• Private sector,
• Media,
• UNESCO clubs,
• Centres and associations.

International:

• CRA Terre-ENSAG,
• ICOMOS,
• CACSA,
• IICAS,
• University of Barcelona,
• Swiss Government,
• UN agencies in Uzbekistan. 

Contact information:
UNESCO
9, Ergashev street
100037 Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Phone: (+ 998 71) 1207116, 1207154, 1207155
Fax: (+ 998 71) 1205159

Website: www.unesco.org