Paris, France – The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) participated in the International Conference of Official NGO Partners of UNESCO, held from December 17 to 19, 2024, at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris. The event brought together over 400 international organizations and aimed primarily to discuss UNESCO’s preliminary proposal for the 2026-2029 period, evaluate the challenges and successes of implemented strategies, and strengthen global collaboration around the organization’s strategic goals.
The conference featured prominent representatives, such as Ambassador Simona-Mirela Miculescu, President of the General Conference of UNESCO; Xinq Qu, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO; and Nick Newland, President of the International Conference of NGOs.
The event also served as a key space for official allied NGOs to connect, exchange experiences, and discuss potential partnerships and collaborations in areas of common interest. These interactions aim to enhance global and regional efforts through joint work.
Representing GFDD were Ambassador Laura Faxas and Lynda Rodríguez, who highlighted UNESCO’s historic initiative to integrate for the first time the feedback and observations of organizations working in the field. “This dialogue is essential for bringing together strategic objectives and resources, and ensuring better outcomes through concrete and coordinated actions,” Ambassador Faxas stated.
During the three days of the conference, strategic dialogues took place in key sectors such as education, communication and information, gender equality, and the impact of emerging technologies. One of the highlights was the strategic dialogue with young people under 35, where their fresh ideas and perspectives were heard in order to motivate and engage youth in UNESCO’s initiatives and goals.
Additionally, the successes and challenges of strategies implemented in various regions were discussed, focusing on mutual learning and adjusting actions to strengthen global collaboration and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
GFDD’s participation in this event reaffirms its commitment to strengthening international strategic partnerships and its active role in promoting education, gender equality, democratic governance, and sustainable development in the Dominican Republic and the region.
