Within the framework of its action, UNESCO co-operates with Member States, Associate Members, observers and territories, and coordinates its activities with the United Nations, its specialized agencies, programmes and organs, and with other international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The Sector for External Relations and Public Information (ERI) plays a central role in developing above-mentioned relations and other outreach activities, in particular towards the media.
The Sector for External Relations and Public Information (ERI) is headed by Mr Eric Falt (France), Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Public Information, who took up his appointment on 6 September 2010.
The cooperation with Member States is carried out in particular through sustained consultation and coordination with the National Commissions and the Permanent Delegations to UNESCO. The Programme for Parliamentarians, first introduced by UNESCO in 1994, aims to ensure that UNESCO’s values and objectives are reflected in national policy-making and legislation.
UNESCO seeks to develop new forms of partnership, with Cities and Local Authorities in order to strengthen the political commitment for the priorities and the initiatives of the Organization.
UNESCO cooperates with intergovernmental organizations, in particular the United Nations and its organizations and other intergovernmental organizations (IGOs).
UNESCO places emphasis on the development of a range of partnerships, alliances and other cooperative mechanisms so as to foster visibility and impact for its programme activities at international, regional and national levels. UNESCO collaborates with organizations representative of civil society, which are non-governmental and non profit-oriented.
The network of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations, the first of which was created in Japan in 1947, is an important link between the Organisation and the civil society worldwide.
The Sector for External Relations and Public Information is also responsible for relations with the media, the Organization’s publications programme, the development and coordination of the Web Portal, the publication of ‘The UNESCO Courier’, the organization of cultural events (exhibitions, performances) and public visits, the application of standards concerning the use of UNESCO’s name and logo, and internal communication.