Côte d’Ivoire Highlights Its Exemplary Partnership with UNESCO at the 222nd Executive Board Session
query_builder 07-10-2025
On Tuesday, 7 October 2025, H.E. Ms. Ramata Bakayoko-Ly, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Côte d’Ivoire to UNESCO, spoke on behalf of Côte d’Ivoire during the plenary sessions of the 222nd Executive Board to commend the quality of the Council’s work, pay tribute to the outgoing Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, and reaffirm Côte d’Ivoire’s commitment to the Organization’s ideals.
In her address, the Ambassador first conveyed the condolences of the Ivorian Government to the people of South Africa following the passing of Ambassador Emmanuel Mthethwa. She then expressed Côte d’Ivoire’s gratitude to the President of the Executive Board and to the President of the General Conference for their dedication to the vitality of the Organization, before paying tribute to Ms. Audrey Azoulay, whose mandate is coming to an end.
She praised Ms. Azoulay’s humanism, the quality of her leadership, and her commitment to peace, culture, education, science, and communication, noting that she successfully restored UNESCO’s influence and credibility within the United Nations system.
On behalf of the President of the Republic, H.E. Mr. Alassane Ouattara, the Ambassador extended congratulations to the new Director-General, Dr. Khaled, and assured him of Côte d’Ivoire’s support in implementing his mandate.
Addressing institutional challenges, the Ambassador called for the strengthening of budgetary reforms and for increased mobilization of voluntary and private resources to enhance UNESCO’s financial resilience. She also advocated for the expansion of the Regional Gender Advisors program to all regional offices, in order to reinforce a culture of inclusion and equality within the Organization.
Regarding cooperation, the Ivorian Permanent Delegate welcomed the tangible results of the partnership between Côte d’Ivoire and UNESCO, particularly in the fields of education, culture, and science. She highlighted UNESCO’s pivotal role in supporting the États Généraux de l’Éducation et de l’Alphabétisation (EGENA), notably in the digitalization of the education system and the promotion of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
Furthermore, the Ambassador praised Asia-Africa cooperation through the CFIT project (Chinese deposit fund), from which Côte d’Ivoire benefits, and expressed hope for the continuation of this program within the framework of the Africa Campus under the “Priorité Afrique” initiative.
On the cultural front, Ambassador Bakayoko-Ly thanked UNESCO for involving Côte d’Ivoire in the implementation of the Virtual Museum of Stolen Objects, notably through the submission of a list of ten items from Ivorian heritage, emphasizing the significance of this initiative for the symbolic and memorial restitution of African works.
In conclusion, she reaffirmed Côte d’Ivoire’s commitment to working alongside UNESCO to build a stronger, more inclusive, and more resilient Organization, serving peace, sustainable development, and human dignity.
