About UNESCO
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.Activities by UNESCO
UNESCO High-level discussion on AI in the audio-visual industry (2023)
GlobalA high-level discussion on AI in the audio-visual industry that brought together film stakeholders and AI experts to voice diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the cultural and creative sectors. Recommendations from the discussion highlighted the need for inclusive and participatory international guidelines and standards that are human-centered.
Activity Type Research/Reports/AssessmentsPolicy/Regulatory GuidanceNetworks/Mentorship/ExchangeAI-Ready Flemish Public Administration
Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States Belgium
This project enhances the capacity of AI governance within Flemish public administration. Funded by the European Commission Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (SG REFORM) and implemented by UNESCO, the project also pioneers the world’s first regional Readiness Assessment Methodology.
The project is a close collaboration with Digital Flanders’ AI Expertise Centre, whose mandate is to support the 90+ Flemish public administration entities in a 1-to-many approach. This means that across the different governance tools, the focus is on supporting both the central organisation as well as how it can support the diversity of public administration entities.
The project responds to the needs of civil servants with governance tools and works across three pillars:
1) Institutional capacity for AI governance, to help civil servants navigate the complex legal and ethical landscape,
2) Technical infrastructure for AI, to establish current technical needs and future architecture strategies, and
3) AI literacy training for responsible use, to provide a baseline AI literacy for all and identify profile-specific competencies.
Global Forum on the Ethics of AI
Global Not ApplicableThe annual Global Forum on the Ethics of AI convenes global leaders, AI experts, industry pioneers, policymakers and civil society to address critical challenges and opportunities in AI development, serving as a vibrant platform for international dialogue, collaboration, and policy innovation on the ethical and governance dimensions of AI. From 24 to 27 June 2025, the 3rd UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI took place in Bangkok, Thailand. The Forum was co-hosted by Thailand and involved over 2,770 participants from 90 different countries, 30+ ministers, and 13 intergovernmental bodies. With 22 thematic sessions and 11 side-events, the Global Forum covered essential topics such as gender, environment, health, disaster risk reduction, disabilities, education, culture, neurotechnology, quantum computing, and judicial systems. With 33 representatives from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the event amplified voices from Asia, Africa and Latin America for equitable, human-centred AI to help address national and regional challenges.
Activity Type Policy/Regulatory GuidanceAwareness/AdvocacyNetworks/Mentorship/ExchangeLandscape Study of AI Policies and Use in Southern Africa
Africa AngolaBotswanaLesothoMozambiqueNamibiaSouth AfricaSwazilandZambia and ZimbabweThis project includes a policy mapping of AI and relevant digital policies in 9 countries in Southern Africa and a light-weight review of the extent of AI use across four key sectors. The study aims to understand and raise public awareness on the actual utilization of AI technologies in the region, alert policymakers and technicians on the potential risks and threats of AI utilization on human rights and fundamental freedom of individuals, and guide the process of ethical governance by investigating existing stewardship principles from industries and government agencies.
Activity Type Research/Reports/AssessmentsPolicy/Regulatory GuidanceAwareness/Advocacy