28 March 2013: During the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Council (IGC) of the Management of Social Transformations (MOST) of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which was presided by its President, Alicia Kirchner, Minister of Social Development, Argentina, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova presented a proposal to create a new Centre for Social Transformations and Intercultural Dialogue.

Bokova explained that the proposed Centre would aim to: strengthen the links between research and policy making with a view to capacity building; lead innovative initiatives in education, culture, the sciences, communication and information for inclusive societies and intercultural dialogue; and act as a global laboratory of ideas and foresight to map out current and future needs and to design innovative proposals for the development of public policies.

She added that the new Centre would build on and strengthen MOST. She underscored UNESCO’s central role in “accompanying social transformations for sustainable development” and “promoting intercultural dialogue.”

The MOST Programme, which comprises 35 member States, fosters and promotes social science research. The 11th session of the MOST Intergovernmental Council took place at UNESCO headquarters, in Paris, France, from 27-28 March 2013. [UNESCO Press Release] [Meeting Website] [MOST Website]