Nine candidates to stand for position of UNESCO Director-General

The names of the nine candidates seeking to become the next head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – whose wide mandate ranges from safeguarding the world’s archaeological heritage to stimulating scientific exchanges to protecting press freedom – were announced today.

The term of Koïchiro Matsuura, the current UNESCO Director-General, ends this November. Having served two terms, he is not eligible for a subsequent term.

The nine candidates are: Ina Marciulionyte of Lithuania, Irina Gueorguieva Bokova of Bulgaria; Farouk Hosny of Egypt, Sospeter Mwijarubi Muhongo of Tanzania, Alexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko of Russia, Ivonne Juez de A. Baki of Ecuador, Benita Ferrero-Waldner of Austria, and Nouréini Tidjani-Serpos of Benin.

In September, all candidates will be interviewed by UNESCO’s Executive Board, after which the 58-member body will vote by secret ballot for the next Director-General.