The UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean has a mandate over 13 Member States and seven Associate Member States since 2002. The office is located in Kingston, Jamaica, works with and for 20 Small Island Developing States, SIDS, in the English and Dutch-Speaking Caribbean.
The mandate of the office is to serve the Caribbean Members in the pursuit of peace, eradication of poverty, sustainable development and inter-cultural dialogue through programmes in education, culture, natural sciences, social and human sciences and communication and information.
The Cluster Office works in close collaboration with the National Commissions for UNESCO (NATCOMs) which represent each Member State and Associate Member, and with other agencies in the UN System, the Member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Further partners include regional civil society groups, educational and research institutions as well as professional bodies working in the areas of the mandate.
Dr. Saadia Sanchez has been appointed as Director and Representative of the UNESCO Cluster Office in September 2020.
Key Priorities for the Caribbean
Responding to the special needs of the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the Cluster Office has launched the Special Initiative for the Caribbean (SPIC). Reflecting upon the common challenges of the region, the SPIC harnesses the great potential with an integrated approach to sustainable development, paying special attention to Youth and Climate Change as its two thematic development priorities.