Participation Programme

The Participation Programme functions as a vital complement to UNESCO’s regular activities by analysing, evaluating and facilitating the implementation of national, sub-regional, inter-regional and regional projects submitted by Member States and NGOs directly related to the activities of the Organization.

Furthermore, it serves as a means employed by UNESCO to strengthen the partnership between the Organization and its Member States as well as between the Organization and Non-Governmental Organizations in official partnership with UNESCO. Thus the Participation Programme enhances the inclusive and generous spirit of UNESCO’s noble mission.

Budget

The Participation Programme has become an important part of the Programme and Budget. The present budget approved for the Participation Programme for 2022-2023 is US$10,992,900. Following the suspension of the United States financial contribution to UNESCO ordinary budget, the budget has been reduced.

The 41st session of the General Conference, decided that for the 2022-2023 biennium the total value of the assistance provided for each request should not be in excess of:

• US$26,000 for a national project or activity
• US$28,000 for a subregional or interregional project or activity
• US$38,000 for a regional project or activity.

The percentage of the total amount approved for the Participation Programme for 2022-2023 should not exceed: 7% for Emergency Assistance, 5% for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and 3% for regional activities.

First appearance

During his introduction of the 9 C/5, in 1957, the Director-General of UNESCO at the time, Luther Evans, stated his belief that many of UNESCO’s initiatives in the field of special activities should “… cross over to the Participation Programme...” It was during the first Biennium of 1957-1958 that the term “Participation Programme” was used for the first time in UNESCO’s Programme and Budget.

The legal text

The basic legal, technical, administrative and financial text establishing the Participation Programme is to be found in 10 C/Resolution 7.31 adopted by the General Conference at its 11th session (14 November-15 December 1960), which was improved and expanded at its 12th session (9 November-12 December 1962, 12 C/Resolution 7.B.21). UNESCO’s membership then stood at 109. In the early 1960s, the accession to independence of a large number of former colonies may have been a factor in the establishment of this programme.

Basic Principles

Resolution 12 C/7.21 had the merit of laying down in specific terms the basic principles of the Participation Programme together with the criteria, eligibility conditions and relevant procedure. This basic text adopted in 1962 was improved and expanded at subsequent sessions of the General Conference, in particular in 1976, 1980, 1997, 2003, 2005, 2013 and 2015.

A complementary Programme

The participation Programme is in no way a substitute for the regular programme; it is to be seen as rather complementing it by enabling Member States to carry out important projects, particularly in the organisation’s main areas of competence. Through this programme UNESCO aims to:

• Achieve its objectives by participating in the sub-regional, inter-regional and regional projects, lead by its Member States and directly related to the activities of the Organization;
• Strengthen the partnership between the Organization and its Member States as well as between the Organization and International Non-Governmental Organizations;
• Boost the actions of the National Commissions for UNESCO;
• Achieve better visibility of UNESCO’s action in its Member States

Member States

The projects or action plans submitted by the Member States under the Participation Programme must relate to the activities of the Organization, in particular to the major programmes, interdisciplinary projects, the activities on behalf of Africa, least developed countries, developing countries, SIDS, youth and women and the activities of the National Commissions for UNESCO. 

Submitting a request 
For each biennium, after the definite adoption of the programme and budget, a Circular Letter is issued and sent out by the Director General to Ministers responsible for relations with UNESCO, National Commissions and Permanent Delegations, inviting them to submit online their requests under the title of the Participation Programme. (Please view Circular letter CL/4372 for 2022-2023).

Requests are submitted to the Director-General by the Member State, through the National Commission for UNESCO, or where there is no National Commission, through a designated government channel. 

At the 41th session, the Conference decided that the limit should be set at 7 requests for Member States for the 2022-2023 biennium. The requests must be numbered in order of priority from 1 to 7. The order of priority may be changed only by an official letter from the National Commission and before the start of the evaluation process. 

The deadline set for the submission of requests is 28 February 2022.

NGOs

Non-Governmental Organizations in official partnership with UNESCO may submit up to 2 requests under the Participation Programme for projects with subregional, regional or interregional impact, provided that their request is supported by at least the Member State where the project will be implemented and another Member State concerned by the request. In the absence of supporting letters, none of these requests may be considered. These requests must be numbered in order of priority from 1 to 2. 
The different types of assistance that can be requested under the Participation Programme are as follows: 

• The services of specialists and consultants-Not including staff costs and administrative support
• Study grants and fellowships
• Publications, periodicals, documentation, translation and reproduction
• Supplies and equipment (other than vehicles)
• Conferences, meetings, translation and interpretation services, participants' travel costs (not including those of UNESCO staff members)
• seminars and training courses

Regional Projects

With the aim of strengthening regional cooperation, a new resolution was adopted by the General Conference at it 32nd session (resolution 32/C) for activities of regional character. 

For activities of a regional character, each region (Africa, Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean) may submit two requests in amount not exceeding $38,000, each presented by one Member State. 

These projects, exclusive to Member States, need the support of at least three Member States of the same region. The support of other Member States has no implication for requests submitted on their own behalf and they are not included in the quota (of 7 requests) submitted by each Member State.

Emergency Assistance

Since the 1990-1991 biennium, UNESCO has granted emergency assistance through the Participation Programme to its Member States by providing aid in its field of competence. 

The idea of emergency assistance was dealt with for the first time in 25 C/Resolution 15.3, paragraph 7, adopted by the General Conference at its 25th session (November 1980). That resolution, while listing the various forms of participation, stipulates that emergency assistance may be provided by applying “adequately flexible and expeditious procedures, for meeting exceptional situations ...” in the Organization’s fields of competence. 
Emergency assistance may be accorded by UNESCO when there are insurmountable circumstances nationwide (earthquakes, storms, cyclones, hurricanes, tornadoes, typhoons, landslides, volcanic eruptions, fires, droughts, floods or wars, etc.) which have catastrophic consequences for the Member State in the fields of education, science, culture or communication and which it cannot overcome on its own and where multilateral emergency assistance efforts are being undertaken by the international community or the United Nations system. 

The assistance only begins once the threat to life has been overcome and the physical priorities have been met (food, clothing, shelter and medical assistance). 
Emergency assistance in cash or kind cannot exceed US$50,000 and should be limited to the strict minimum and only provided for assessing the situation and evaluating the basic requirements, providing expertise and helping to identify outside funding sources and extrabudgetary funds. This form of assistance is provided in coordination with other UN agencies.