What can save UNESCO?

Money is not everything, but without money, all is nothing. Since 2011, all regular budget plans of UNESCO lapsed. Why? The United States decided not to pay their share to the regular budget because of the admission of Palestine as a Member State. This political decision has serious consequences for the continued existence of the Organization, because the financial crisis shows not only a structural crisis but also a survival crisis of UNESCO. Nevertheless, no one dares to question the current structure. Among other things, the author proposes: given the multiplicity of heterogeneous tasks of UNESCO it is essential to reduce and concentrate them. UNESCO should act as a think tank within the United Nations system and link the world of states and the specialized NGOs. He calls for a stronger commitment of the Member States for und within UNESCO in order to preserve the Organization from decay.

Klaus Hüfner, former university professor (Freie Universität Berlin), has been engaged in many activities of UNESCO since the early 1970s; he served on several boards and committees. He is Honorary President of the World Federation of United Nations Associations, Geneva/New York and Honorary Member of the German National Commission for UNESCO. Presently, he is engaged as: senior research fellow of the Global Policy Forum, New York/Bonn, consultant for UNITAR teaching activities about financing the UN system, and IREG audit coordinator, Brussels/Warsaw.