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Uganda and UNESCO Sign Host Country Agreement Upgrading UNESCO Project Office Status to Antennae Office
On December 17, 2024, the Government of Uganda and UNESCO marked a significant milestone in their partnership with the signing of a historic seat agreement which upgrades the UNESCO Office in Uganda from a Project Office to an Antennae Office, strengthening the partnership between Uganda and UNESCO. The seat agreement was signed by Hon. Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ms. Haxthausen Louise and Representative of UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, in an event that highlighted the commitment of the organization to advancing education, sciences, culture, and communication and information in Uganda.
Established initially in January 2010, the Project Office in collaboration with the government of Uganda set out to address and respond to the specific needs of HIV in the Education sector in the country but has since grown to implement a number of active Education Programmes. The major projects currently being implemented by the office include; Capacity Building for Education and Development (CapED)Project, O3 Project, O3 Plus Project for strengthening Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health, Better Educations Africa’s Rise(BEARII) supporting the Technical Vocational Education Training, Chinese Fund in Trust(CFIT) for capacity building and skilling of University students and link them to the world of work, and Korean Funds in Trust (FIT) project, focusing on ICT Transformation within the education sector, among others.
The Project Office in Kampala also currently collaborates with the Government of Uganda, Civil Society, Private Sector and development partners within the UN Delivering as One framework with other UN Agencies to develop and strengthen policies and programmes with the aim to further the building of peace, poverty eradication, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication, and information.
Speaking at the signing event, Ms. Haxthausen Louise explained that the Antenna Office status comes with enhanced collaboration avenues that would enable the office and Uganda to gain direct access to UNESCO's vast network of experts, resources, and technical support, enabling it to address resource challenges more effectively and implement high-impact projects that align with UNESCO's priorities. “The establishment of the Seat Agreement in Uganda will expand and reinforce the continued collaboration between the Government of Uganda and UNESCO and support the collective commitment and efforts in advancing shared objectives in the country in all areas of competence of UNESCO, namely Education, Sciences, Social and Human Sciences, Culture, Communication and Information.” said Ms. Haxthausen Louise.
In part, one of the key functions the Antenna Office in Uganda will discharge include, the development and maintenance of close relations with the National Commission, government departments, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator and other United Nations Institutions with a view of securing their full co-operation in the execution of UNESCO’s activities.
The establishment of the Seat Agreement in Uganda will expand and reinforce the continued collaboration between the Government of Uganda and UNESCO and support the collective commitment and efforts in advancing shared objectives in the country in all areas of competence of UNESCO, namely Education, Sciences, Social and Human Sciences, Culture, Communication and Information.
With this Agreement in place, I believe that going forward the operations of UNESCO in Uganda will be seamless and shall be able to work with partners in Uganda government and others in a more coherent and synchronized manner. -
