The MOST Intergovernmental Council is composed of 35 Member States of UNESCO, elected by UNESCO's General Conference.
The Council convenes every two years and establishes the priority areas to be researched, decides on overall policy and funding questions, and handles the relations with governmental authorities.
During the Sixth session of the IGC, held at UNESCO Headquarters (Paris) from 19 to 21 February 2003, it was recommended that:
- IGC be given a greater role in governance, approval of strategies and programmes and the facilitation of relations with national research centers and policymakers.
- The role of the IGC Bureau should be considerably strengthened and it should meet twice a year.
Member States of the IGC 2021-2023
Western Europe and North America: France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland
Central/Eastern Europe: Croatia, Russian Federation, Slovakia
Latin America and the Caribbean: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Asia and the Pacific: Bangladesh, Mongolia, Thailand, Afghanistan, India, Philippines
Africa: Botswana, Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Uganda, South Africa, Guinea
Arab States: Oman, Mauritania, Qatar, Algeria
Member States of the IGC 2019-2021
Western Europe and North America: France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland
Central/Eastern Europe: Croatia, Czech Republic, Russian Federation, Slovakia
Latin America and the Caribbean: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Venezuela (Bolivar Republic of)
Asia and the Pacific: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Thailand, Sri Lanka
Africa: Benin, Botswana, Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Arab States: Oman, Mauritania, Qatar and Saudia Arabia
Member States of the IGC 2017-2019
Western Europe and North America: France, Turkey
Central/Eastern Europe: Czech Republic, Russian Federation, Slovakia
Latin America and the Caribbean: Argentina, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador
Asia and the Pacific: Afghanistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand
Africa: Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Togo, Zimbabwe, United Republic of Tanzania
Arab States: Bahrein, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
Bureau
The IGC Bureau consists of the President of the IGC, 4 Vice-Presidents and a Rapporteur. The IGC Bureau, in cooperation with the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), discusses the issue-driven pertinence of projects and approves the competence and expertise of researchers and policy formulators involved.
For the current period 2021-2023, the MOST IGC Bureau is composed as follows:
President
- Dr Mary Khimulu (Kenya)
Vice-Presidents
- Dr Iris Goldner Lang (Croatia)
- Dr Dendev Badarch (Mongolia)
- Mrs Reem AlaJmi (Qatar)
- Dr. Yury Triana Velázquez (Cuba)
Rapporteur
- Ms Sylvia van de Bunt (The Netherlands)
Sessions
- 16th Session, UNESCO Paris, France, 18-19 April 2023
- Meeting of the Bureau of the IGC, UNESCO Paris, France, 26 September 2022
- Extraordinary Session, Online from Paris, 9-10 March 2022
- Extraordinary Session, Online from Paris, 17-18 February 2022
- Extraordinary session of the IGC to elect its Bureau, Online from Paris, 30 November - 1 December 2021
- Joint Session of the Bureau of the IGC and the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), Online from Paris, 22-23 September 2021
- 15th Session, UNESCO Paris, France, 30-31 March 2021
- Extraordinary session of the IGC to elect its Bureau, UNESCO Paris, France, 25 November 2019
- 14th Session, UNESCO Paris, France, 18-20 March 2019
- Extraordinary session, 11 November 2017
- 13th Session, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 16-17 March 2017
- 12th Session, UNESCO Paris, France, 1-2 June 2015
- Joint meeting of the Bureau of the IGC and the Scientific Advisory Committee, UNESCO Paris, France, 10-11 June 2014
Summary Report on the Proceedings - 11th Session, UNESCO Paris, France, 27-29 March 2013
- 10th Session, 14-16 March 2011
- 9th Session, 28-30 September 2009
- Extraordinary session, 31 October 2007
- 8th Session, 16-18 July 2007
- Extraordinary session, 19 October 2005
- 7th Session, 25-27 July 2005
- 6th Session, 21 February 2003. Final Report
- 5th Session, 14-17 March 2001. Final Report and Recommendations
- 4th Session, 22-25 February 1999. Final Report
- 3rd Session, 16-20 June 1997. Final Report
- 2nd Session, 3-7 July 1995. Final Report
- 1st Session, 7-10 March 1994. Final Report