How El-Enany’s Candidacy For UNESCO DG Will Impact Member States Significantly
By Raphael Ekpang
The candidacy of Khaled El-Enany for UNESCO Director-General, backed by the African Union (AU) and the Arab League, could significantly impact UNESCO Member States, AU and the Egypt’s soft power.
El-Enany while presenting his vision for the future of UNESCO to the organization’s Executive Board emphasised on inclusive governance, stronger representation for countries in the Global South, and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
He emphasised a pragmatic and human-centered approach, stating, “With my slogan ‘UNESCO for the People,’ I aim to break down barriers, give a voice to the silenced, and bring about concrete change— in villages, classrooms, and communities.” His candidacy has received widespread support, including endorsements from the African Union, the League of Arab States, France, Brazil, and Turkey.
While formally submitting his vision for the future of UNESCO On March 15, 2025, he reaffirmed his commitment to a UNESCO that serves people, grounded in local realities and dedicated to education, culture, science, and intercultural dialogue.
Drawing on over 30 years of experience and more than 50 visits around the world since launching his campaign, his vision reflects a deep understanding of Member States’ aspirations It advocates for more inclusive governance, stronger representation for countries in the Global South, and the ethical use of artificial intelligence for the common good.
El-Enany after he presented his vision for the future of UNESCO to the organization’s Executive Board on April 9, 2025, his candidacy received additional endorsements from several countries and international partners, reflecting growing support for his vision and leadership.
Over the course of the 90-minute session, he outlined the key pillars of his vision: strengthening UNESCO’s presence on the ground, promoting more inclusive governance and innovative financing policies, and placing culture, education, science, and intercultural dialogue at the heart of international action.
Responding to Member States’ questions, Professor El-Enany emphasized a pragmatic and human-centered approach, attentive to people’s needs and the major challenges of our time
His candidacy embodies the ambition of a united and supportive multilateralism, driven by a strong desire to make UNESCO an organization that is closer to the people it was endorsed three times by the African Union, in February, July, and September 2024.
This is bow Prof. Khaled El-Enany’s candidacy for the DG, UNESCO could impact significantly to Member States, AU and of course Egypt:
His emergeance as DG UNESCO will Increased Representation for the Global South: El-Enany’s platform emphasizes inclusive governance and stronger representation for countries in the Global South. As Director-General, he would prioritize the needs and aspirations of these nations, potentially shifting the balance of power within UNESCO.
Promoting Intercultural Dialogue and Cultural Preservation: With his extensive experience in tourism and antiquities, El-Enany would likely focus on preserving cultural heritage and promoting intercultural dialogue. This aligns with UNESCO’s mission and could foster greater international cooperation.
Renewed Multilateralism: El-Enany’s candidacy embodies a call for renewed multilateralism, which could lead to more effective global collaboration on education, culture, science, and communication.
African Union’s Influence: As the AU’s candidate, El-Enany’s election would amplify the AU’s voice in global cultural diplomacy. This could lead to increased cooperation between African nations and other UNESCO Member States.
Egypt’s Soft Power: El-Enany’s candidacy represents Egypt’s commitment to international cultural representation and soft power. A successful bid would enhance Egypt’s influence in global cultural policy and heritage preservation.
No doubt his candidacy may face competition from other candidates, regional politics and criticisms of Egypt’s cultural conservation, but he his recent endorsements by more UNESCO member states is a significant boost to El-Enany’s candidacy which of course is the official candidate of the African Union and the League of Arab States.
