On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the Minister of Planning and Development, Dr. Souleymane Diarrassouba, met with the Chief of Office and Representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Mame Omar Diop, at his office in Plateau.

The meeting aimed to present courtesy greetings and discuss UNESCO’s support in implementing the National Development Plan (NDP) 2026–2030. Dr. Diarrassouba praised the longstanding cooperation between the two institutions and highlighted the strategic importance of the NDP, which aligns with UNESCO’s objectives and the six strategic pillars designed to improve the well-being of the population.

The Minister emphasized the value of UNESCO’s support in developing the new sectoral education and training plan, aligned with the NDP 2026, Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and expressed readiness to work closely with UNESCO.

Mr. Mame Omar Diop and his delegation reviewed UNESCO’s major programs and reaffirmed the organization’s continued commitment to supporting Côte d’Ivoire in achieving the NDP 2026–2030 objectives. He also announced a financial portfolio of approximately 50 million USD available to fund government projects and other sectors.

The UNESCO Office, in line with its mandate in education, culture, science, communication, and information, provides multisectoral support to the Ivorian government to achieve its socio-economic development goals.