Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARIS1032
2005-02-17 17:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
UNESCO SCIENCE SECTOR LAUNCHES CAPACITY
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS PARIS 001032
SIPDIS
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIA OPDC PHSA PBTS IHO KSI UNESCO
SUBJECT: UNESCO SCIENCE SECTOR LAUNCHES CAPACITY
BUILDING UNIT
UNCLAS PARIS 001032
SIPDIS
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIA OPDC PHSA PBTS IHO KSI UNESCO
SUBJECT: UNESCO SCIENCE SECTOR LAUNCHES CAPACITY
BUILDING UNIT
1. SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION: SINCE THE U.S. RE-ENTRY,
USDEL HAS ENCOURAGED UNESCO TO ASSUME A LEADERSHIP ROLE
IN PROMOTING CAPACITY BUILDING FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT. THIS STRATEGY HAS MET WITH SUCCESS. IN A
LETTER TO AMBASSADOR OLIVER, UNESCO NATURAL SCIENCES
SECTOR DIRECTOR ERDELEN ANNOUNCED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
A DEDICATED UNIT WITHIN HIS SECTOR TO COORDINATE
CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES.
2. The letter followed the successive missions of two
sets of American consultants, who worked closely with
UNESCO science sector experts. The consultants
recommended a cross-sector program (to include the
Science, Education and Communication and Information
sectors) that would strengthen and coordinate capacity
building activities in the basic sciences, hydrology,
and engineering.
3. Erdelen's letter notes correctly that a capacity
building program coordinated across UNESCO's sectors
would need to be approved by the governing bodies of
UNESCO. To that end, USDEL intends to submit a
resolution to the 171st Executive Board supporting
cross-sector capacity building programs. Given the
support expressed by member states for results-oriented
capacity building programs -- particularly in the
context of UNESCO's lead role in the Decade of
Education for Sustainable development -- we expect to
welcome many co-sponsors. End Summary and
Introduction.
TEXT of LETTER
--------------
4. Dear Ambassador Oliver, Following our most recent
meeting, the Natural Sciences Sector (SC) proposed a major
reorganization within the context of the 33 c/5 (nb BUDGET
EXERCISE). This reorganization has now been approved. I am
pleased to inform you that capacity building is officially
recognized within it.
5. I thank you for your efforts to enhance Capacity building
at UNESCO. We share a strong interest in increasing capacity
building and science education, and I hope that this is just
the beginning of a long collaboration.I have carefully read
the report "Capacity Building at UNESCO" (NB prepared by
American consultants) with keen interest and will continue
to use it for our internal planning. I envision some of the
suggested elements as part of a long-term strategy.
6. I appreciate the material on the mandates for
Capacity Building both within the UN system and within
UNESCO (nb contained in the consultants'study),and it
is extremely useful to have an external review of some
of our current activities in the area of capacity
building. This clarified for me how complex the
subject is within UNESCO, and led me to think further
how the Science Sector should proceed both within the
current biennium (NB budget exercise) and into the next
one, in particular in view of the medium term strategy.
7. I believe it would be useful in the longer term for
UNESCO to provide for a dedicated unit to monitor and
coordinate capacity building activities in all five
sectors, as indeed, capacity building is undertaken in
them all. However, that is a decision to be proposed
and taken by the member states through the governing
bodies of UNESCO. In the immediate term, I envision
enhancing the coordination of capacity building
activities within the Science Sector and to the extent
possible, of activities foreseen in joint activities
with other sectors, notably the Education and
Communication and Information sectors. As the
consultants highlighted, every division within the
Science Sector has some capacity building activity.
What is needed is to see where there are synergies and
overlaps between the activities in the Science Sector.
8. Based on these discussions, the Science Sector
proposed that a unit on "capacity building and science
and engineering education" be created in the next
biennium - if not earlier - within the Division of
basic and Engineering Sciences. As mentioned above, I
am pleased that the Director General agreed with this
proposal.This development is the start of the Science
Sector's renewed focus on capacity building. I look
forward to working with you as the Science Sector moves
forward. Yours Sincerely, Walter Erdelen.
End text of letter.
Oliver
SIPDIS
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIA OPDC PHSA PBTS IHO KSI UNESCO
SUBJECT: UNESCO SCIENCE SECTOR LAUNCHES CAPACITY
BUILDING UNIT
1. SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION: SINCE THE U.S. RE-ENTRY,
USDEL HAS ENCOURAGED UNESCO TO ASSUME A LEADERSHIP ROLE
IN PROMOTING CAPACITY BUILDING FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT. THIS STRATEGY HAS MET WITH SUCCESS. IN A
LETTER TO AMBASSADOR OLIVER, UNESCO NATURAL SCIENCES
SECTOR DIRECTOR ERDELEN ANNOUNCED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
A DEDICATED UNIT WITHIN HIS SECTOR TO COORDINATE
CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES.
2. The letter followed the successive missions of two
sets of American consultants, who worked closely with
UNESCO science sector experts. The consultants
recommended a cross-sector program (to include the
Science, Education and Communication and Information
sectors) that would strengthen and coordinate capacity
building activities in the basic sciences, hydrology,
and engineering.
3. Erdelen's letter notes correctly that a capacity
building program coordinated across UNESCO's sectors
would need to be approved by the governing bodies of
UNESCO. To that end, USDEL intends to submit a
resolution to the 171st Executive Board supporting
cross-sector capacity building programs. Given the
support expressed by member states for results-oriented
capacity building programs -- particularly in the
context of UNESCO's lead role in the Decade of
Education for Sustainable development -- we expect to
welcome many co-sponsors. End Summary and
Introduction.
TEXT of LETTER
--------------
4. Dear Ambassador Oliver, Following our most recent
meeting, the Natural Sciences Sector (SC) proposed a major
reorganization within the context of the 33 c/5 (nb BUDGET
EXERCISE). This reorganization has now been approved. I am
pleased to inform you that capacity building is officially
recognized within it.
5. I thank you for your efforts to enhance Capacity building
at UNESCO. We share a strong interest in increasing capacity
building and science education, and I hope that this is just
the beginning of a long collaboration.I have carefully read
the report "Capacity Building at UNESCO" (NB prepared by
American consultants) with keen interest and will continue
to use it for our internal planning. I envision some of the
suggested elements as part of a long-term strategy.
6. I appreciate the material on the mandates for
Capacity Building both within the UN system and within
UNESCO (nb contained in the consultants'study),and it
is extremely useful to have an external review of some
of our current activities in the area of capacity
building. This clarified for me how complex the
subject is within UNESCO, and led me to think further
how the Science Sector should proceed both within the
current biennium (NB budget exercise) and into the next
one, in particular in view of the medium term strategy.
7. I believe it would be useful in the longer term for
UNESCO to provide for a dedicated unit to monitor and
coordinate capacity building activities in all five
sectors, as indeed, capacity building is undertaken in
them all. However, that is a decision to be proposed
and taken by the member states through the governing
bodies of UNESCO. In the immediate term, I envision
enhancing the coordination of capacity building
activities within the Science Sector and to the extent
possible, of activities foreseen in joint activities
with other sectors, notably the Education and
Communication and Information sectors. As the
consultants highlighted, every division within the
Science Sector has some capacity building activity.
What is needed is to see where there are synergies and
overlaps between the activities in the Science Sector.
8. Based on these discussions, the Science Sector
proposed that a unit on "capacity building and science
and engineering education" be created in the next
biennium - if not earlier - within the Division of
basic and Engineering Sciences. As mentioned above, I
am pleased that the Director General agreed with this
proposal.This development is the start of the Science
Sector's renewed focus on capacity building. I look
forward to working with you as the Science Sector moves
forward. Yours Sincerely, Walter Erdelen.
End text of letter.
Oliver