• Firmin Édouard Matoko, former UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Africa, formally announced his candidacy for Director-General, emphasizing continuity and selective reforms.

• His platform focuses on education and training as levers of development, at a time when Sub-Saharan Africa faces massive demographic and employment challenges.

• The election to succeed Audrey Azoulay will take place on Nov. 6, 2025, during UNESCO’s 43rd General Conference.

Firmin Édouard Matoko, a veteran Congolese diplomat and former senior UNESCO official, presented his vision for the organization during a virtual press conference hosted by AllAfrica Global Media on Sept. 30.

Matoko said he would not seek to create “a new UNESCO,” but would pursue “continuity while introducing reforms where necessary.” He framed his approach as building on progress while adapting to evolving global demands.

“Citizens remain at the center of this approach,” he said, underscoring his intention to balance institutional stability with pragmatic adjustments.

Decades of Institutional Experience

Matoko spent more than 20 years at UNESCO, rising to Assistant Director-General in charge of Africa in 2017. His tenure gave him direct exposure to African education challenges and their intersection with international policy agendas.

His candidacy comes as UNESCO, which represents 194 member states, continues to modernize its governance and redefine its strategic priorities.

Sub-Saharan Africa faces unprecedented demographic pressure. The World Bank forecasts a net increase of 740 million people of working age by 2050. Each year, 12 million young Africans enter the labor market, but only 3 million formal jobs are created.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX) report estimated 98 million African children and youth aged 6 to 18 remain out of school, accounting for nearly 40% of the world’s non-enrolled youth population.

Matoko said the future of the continent depends on transforming human capital through education and training. He pledged to strengthen UNESCO’s “education for all” programs while reforming them to boost efficiency.

An Upcoming Strategic Election for Africa

Observers say the leadership contest carries strategic weight for Africa. The region views education and skills development as key to poverty reduction and long-term economic growth.

For African governments, having a UNESCO Director-General who has spent his career focused on youth and education could reinforce their agenda within the multilateral system.

UNESCO will elect its next Director-General on Nov. 6, 2025, during its 43rd General Conference. Matoko will face Egypt’s Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz, whose candidacy was announced in October 2024.

Matoko presented himself as both “a man of institution and of the field,” stressing his ability to engage governments and international partners. He argued that combining stability with targeted reforms is the best path forward for UNESCO in a rapidly changing global education and labor landscape.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum