Along with UNESCO’s senior managers, Ms Bokova shared a strong message of her commitment and enthusiasm in welcoming these diverse new talents. Several of UNESCO’s senior managers began their career through the Young Professionals Programme and made it to the higher levels of the Organization.

The Young Professionals – eleven women and five men from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Dominica, Liberia, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Namibia, New Zealand, Oman, Paraguay, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore, Slovenia, Viet Nam and Zambia - come from all regions of the world with a highly diverse array of backgrounds, including areas such as development and globalization, public policy, business administration, global communications, environmental law, and finance applied accounting. They have been assigned in every Programme Sector, and as well as in financial, legal and human resources management services of the Organization. Three of them have been appointed in UNESCO Field Offices in Santiago, Khartoum and Apia.

The 2015 programme had a substantive impact on the overall geographical distribution of the Organization whereby -  as at August 2016 - 83% of its 195 Member States are represented.  

In order to join the candidates went through an extensive and highly competitive selection process, with 907 applicants presented by Member States, more than twice the previous number. The process also brought new technologies to the fore, with video and Skype interviews allowing participation from all corners of the world.