About UNESCO Dakar

UNESCO Dakar was initially set up in 1970 to deal with educational planning in sub-Saharan Africa. The Office gradually extended its activities to other areas of educational development, eventually covering the entire education system as well as UNESCO's other fields of competence (natural sciences, human and social sciences, culture, communication and information). 

Until 2014, the Office functioned as the Regional Bureau for Education, coordinating UNESCO's education programme throughout sub-Saharan Africa. 

From 2015 to 2022, it operated as a regional office covering seven West African countries: Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger and Senegal. 

The mission of UNESCO Dakar is to : 

• document and analyse the situation and the main development trends in the Organisation's fields of competence in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo; 
• ensure that education, science, culture, communication and information are high on the development agenda of Member States; 
• assist Member States in achieving sustainable development goals in UNESCO's fields of competence through policy advice, capacity-building, technical assistance and knowledge-sharing; 
• promote partnerships and networks with governments, multilateral agencies, civil society organisations, academia and other relevant institutions, in collaboration with National Commissions for UNESCO, UNESCO Chairs, Clubs and Associated Schools.