The principal goals of the IBSP are building capacities in science and the transfer and sharing of scientific information and excellence in science through North-South and South-South cooperation.

The IBSP is a regular programme suitable for a project to be carried out in any country. A project submitted within the framework of IBSP should address an issue of regional or international priority and be submitted to UNESCO by partners of at least two different countries, one of which should be a developing country or a country in transition. The participation in the project of least developing countries would be particularly welcome.

The identification of concrete IBSP project proposals is the prerogative of UNESCO’s Member States and partners participating in the IBSP.