Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA continues its active participation in the 43rd Session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) General Conference currently underway in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
During the first week of proceedings, the Namibian delegation attended several key meetings, including the General Policy Debate, the Education Commission, the Administrative and Programme Commission (APX), the Nominations Committee, and the Legal Committee, along with multiple side events.
UNESCO’s General Policy Debate (GPD) allows all 194 Member States to outline their priorities and raise emerging challenges within UNESCO’s fields of competence. Namibia’s national statement was delivered on 3 November 2025 by Honourable Sanet Steenkamp, Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, and Chairperson of the Namibia National Commission for UNESCO.
The Education Commission concluded its work on 4 November, focusing on the global coordination of the SDG 4 education agenda, teacher transformation, foundational learning, inclusive education, and revisions to the 1966 and 1997 Recommendations on the Status of Teachers and Higher Education Teaching Personnel.
From 5 November, discussions shifted to the Communication and Information (CI) Commission and the Social and Human Sciences (SHS) Commission, both of which Namibia is participating in.
The Administrative and Programme Commission (APX) examined the Draft Programme and Budget for 2026–2029 and reviewed the audited financial statements submitted by the External Auditor, while the Legal Committee verified Member States’ credentials for participation. Namibia submitted its credentials prior to the conference opening in line with procedure.
Meanwhile, the Nominations Committee processed submissions for election to UNESCO’s Executive Board and other statutory bodies.
Namibia’s delegates also took part in several side events, including a presentation by the Türkiye Culture and Heritage Foundation on Türkiye’s Cultural Heritage and the World Turkic Language Family Day, as well as a review session on the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education (2019). The latter brought together education ministers, UNESCO officials, and international higher education representatives to discuss progress on implementation.
The 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Conference continues this week, with Namibia engaging in deliberations on education, science, culture, and communication to strengthen multilateral cooperation and promote inclusive development.
