UNESCO. General Conference; 36th; 36 C/5: volume 1: Draft ...

Intersectoral Platform on UNESCO’s Support to Countries in Post-Conflict
and Post-Disaster Situations
07046 The platform, based upon representation from all five Major Programmes and all relevant central services
as well as Field Offices, is UNESCO’s main framework for coordinating the operational assistance to
crisis-affected countries, from immediate relief and early recovery to longer-term reconstruction and
development. The platform functions as a crisis cell leading the immediate coordination of urgent
response as well as a facilitator for UNESCO’s overall strategic response to post conflict and post
disaster situations.
07047 The human dimensions of relief, recovery and reconstruction processes and policy advice and
institutional capacity-building will be at the heart of UNESCO’s response. The platform’s priority will
be to meet needs related to disrupted or dysfunctional educational, cultural and media services, to
confront conflict and disaster-related trauma and to address threats to cultural and biological diversity
resulting from conflicts or natural disasters. When supporting post-conflict recovery and reconstruction
processes, special attention will be given to the root causes of conflict and to the facilitation of national
dialogue and reconciliation efforts, so as to mitigate the risk of a relapse back into conflict. In the context
of post-disaster situations, support will be provided for the full integration of disaster prevention into
recovery and reconstruction efforts, notably by promoting more early warning systems worldwide.
Disaster risk reduction and conflict prevention are indispensable elements of the Platform’s mandate.
07048 Beyond coordinating UNESCO’s post-conflict and post-disaster activities the platform will also, at
the global level, advocate for the recognition of UNESCO’s role within the overall United Nations
coordination machinery. This takes place through participation in United Nations integrated postconflict
and post-disaster responses, in particular with respect to common needs assessments; OCHA
consolidated appeals; strategic and programmatic frameworks as well as funding mechanisms.
Furthermore, the platform will ensure UNESCO’s participation in the Executive Committee
for Humanitarian Affairs (ECHA) and in the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC), in close
collaboration with the liaison offices in New York and Geneva. The platform will also seek to strengthen
cooperation with regional intergovernmental organizations and to develop strategic partnerships with
NGOs and professional associations involved in peace-building and disaster mitigation efforts.
07049 At the operational level, the platform supports field offices in their post-conflict and post-disaster
responses by coordinating programme support, providing proper infrastructures and facilitating
administrative mechanisms and arrangements.
07050 At headquarters level, the platform will engage programme sectors and central services to facilitate
adequate support and staffing of offices working in PCPD countries, as well as streamlined administrative
processes adapted to crisis situations.
07051 UNESCO’s activities will comprise providing early peace dividends through emergency education,
communication and cultural heritage reconstruction programmes; providing upstream policy advice
and capacity-building to restore national planning and management capacities to cope with challenges;
“building back better” by providing technical assistance and advisory services to national authorities,
international partners, and professional and civil society organisations in longer-term sustainable
reconstruction; generating skills and economic opportunities, and empowering local communities to
participate in the reconstruction and peace processes; supporting professional communities, according
to their specific needs; and supporting dialogue, confidence-building and reconciliation efforts, in
particular by providing local and national policy-makers with evidence based research and analysis
as well as with a platform for policy debate and dialogue to refine reconciliation and reconstruction
options and to reinforce national ownership;
36 C/5 – Intersectoral platforms 212