Overview
The Review found that while effective in conveying the financial situation of UNESCO to Member States and thus ensuring increased transparency from the Secretariat, limited time and formality of discussions mean that the annual meeting with Member States on the Structured Financing Dialogue held during the Spring session of the Executive Board is not the most appropriate forum for a true and impactful dialogue, with effective and tangible results. The other two modalities – the Partners’ Forum and the decentralized and thematic SFDs – target a broader audience including both the private and public sector. The Partners’ Forum confirmed UNESCO’s convening power and the attractiveness of its work for potential donors. However, overall the Structured Financing Dialogue still lacks clear communication and a purposeful and structured dialogue on the Organization’s financial needs. It has therefore yet to attain its full potential to attract substantial funding. As a result, the longer term effects of the Forum have not yet been felt at the programmatic level. The decentralized SFDs that are yet to take place offer an opportunity for UNESCO to leverage the momentum created at the 2018 Partners’ Forum, whilst focusing on specific aspects of its work and highlighting to donors the importance of funding the Organization’s work to achieve common goals.