UNESCO Intersectoral Platform: Support to countries in post-conflict and post-disaster situations

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At the global level, UNESCO will advocate for the respect and protection of international standards in its domains. At the country level, the Organization’s assistance will be part of the overall United Nations integrated response to humanitarian and post-crisis situations and it will seek to strengthen cooperation with regional intergovernmental organizations and develop strategic partnerships with NGOs and professional associations involved in peace-building efforts.

The platform, involving all five Major Programmes, will be the framework for assisting countries in post-conflict and disaster transitions by:

• providing upstream policy advice and capacity-building to restore national planning and management capacities to cope with challenges;
  
• supporting dialogue, confidence-building and reconciliation efforts, in particular by providing local and national policy-makers with evidence based research and analysis as well as with a platform for policy debate and dialogue to define reconciliation and reconstruction options and to reinforce national ownership;
  
• empowering local communities to participate in peace processes and in responding to their needs for access to critical information; and
  
• supporting professional communities according to their specific needs.

• reconstruction of education systems with the ultimate goal of realizing Education for All;
  
• providing advice and expertise in conflict resolution applied to natural resource management and to the integration of disaster prevention and mitigation efforts, in particular early warning systems into post-conflict and disaster responses;
  
• supporting the revitalization of in-country research facilities, policy formulation, implementation and monitoring in the various fields of the natural, social and human sciences;
  
• protecting damaged cultural and natural heritage, including emergency consolidation/rehabilitation of damaged cultural heritage sites and institutions as well as the safeguarding of endangered intangible cultural heritage;
  
• strengthening the role of communication and information in fostering mutual understanding, peace-building and reconstruction and promoting the development of institutional and human capacities for the development of sustained free, independent and pluralistic media.

• Participation in United Nations integrated post-conflict and post-disaster responses ensured, in particular with respect to common needs assessments, OCHA consolidated appeals, strategic and programmatic frameworks as well as funding mechanisms;
  
• Effective post-conflict and post-disaster operations put in place, with proper infrastructures and administrative mechanisms;
  
• Advisory services provided on natural resources management and the revitalization of institutions in post-conflict and disaster-affected countries;
  
• Framework and strategies for the safeguarding and protection of damaged cultural heritage, including intangible heritage, developed with a view to sustaining peace and social cohesion processes;
  
• Post-trauma healing of children and youth through artistic and sports activities supported;
  
• Evidence-based analysis and tools provided to policy-makers, supporting cultural pluralism, intercultural dialogue, and reconciliation;
  
• Networks for media professionals promoted and professional standards and self-regulatory mechanisms in post-conflict environment enhanced;
  
• Capacity for media to report on peace-building, conflict resolution and disaster awareness enhanced;
  
• Cultural diversity, dialogue and intangible heritage promoted through media and ICTs.