Public partners
UNESCO is financed by assessed contributions from its Member States as well as by voluntary contributions.
Voluntary contributions from governments and intergovernmental organizations such as the European Union (EU) are essential to strengthen the impact of UNESCO's programme and its role in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The target for resources to be mobilized and spent by UNESCO on a biannial basis is defined and approved by its Member States.
Jan 2022-June 2023 Top Public Donors
Top Public Partners at UNESCO
Government
UNESCO owes the greater part of its voluntary contributions to bilateral government donors who on average provide around 60 to 70% of the overall support to priority programme areas, individual projects and its specialized institutes. UNESCO’s relationships with many of its key government donors are framed within long standing partnership agreements which provide for regular strategic dialogues and joint planning and monitoring of cooperation.
Our stories with government partners
Sweden and Norway are the main contributors to the multi-donor programme, allowing for greater flexibility and programmatic coherence.
Sweden supports UNESCO’s O3 programme, promoting well-being and gender equality for young people in Africa.
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation together with UNESCO launched Translate a Story Ukraine campaign.
Italy has committed to UNESCO’s initiatives on preserving Petra and addressing hazard risk mitigation.
The additional contribution of almost $10 million to UNESCO makes Japan the leading partner in the organization's response to Ukraine.
Republic of Korea partners with UNESCO to build technology-enabled resilient learning systems in Africa.
UNESCO and France join hands to train educators and decision-makers in combating antisemitism through education.
China has continuously shown its commitment to education development in Africa through the China Funds-In-Trust since 2012.
Switzerland has supported UNESCO in improving the capacity of groundwater governance.
Germany's implementing agency GIZ has supported UNESCO's work preserving mosaic floors in Rihab.
Intergovernmental organizations
UNESCO collaborates closely with a wide range of other intergovernmental organizations such as the European Union, International Financial Institutions and other organisations with global or regional mandates with whom it holds shared values and objectives, and mutually reinforcing areas of expertise.
UNESCO recognizes the particular added value at regional and sub-regional level of regional intergovernmental organizations including the Regional Economic Communities, and Regional Development Banks and its cooperation with Member States closely aligned with regional strategies such as “Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want”.
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