The Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO (HNC for UNESCO) is the official representative of the Organization in Greece. Its primary mission is to promote and implement UNESCO’s Programs and Priorities in Greece across its five fields of competence: Education, Culture, Natural Sciences, Social & Human Sciences, and Communication & Information. To fulfil this mission, the HNC for UNESCO collaborates with Ministries and public authorities, civil society organizations, higher education institutions, and the private sector.
The HNC for UNESCO has established an extensive UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet), which currently comprises 170 schools of all educational levels throughout the country. It has also facilitated the establishment of 18 UNESCO Chairs in 13 Greek higher education and research institutions.
In addition, it has contributed to the inscription of numerous Greek Monuments and Elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage on UNESCO’s national and international Lists, as well as to the accreditation of six Greek institutions as advisory bodies to the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Among its most distinguished initiatives are the “L’Oréal–UNESCO Greek Awards for Women in Science”, which honor women researchers for their outstanding contributions to the sciences, and the “Awards for Educational Contribution in Border Regions”, established to recognize the exemplary work, initiatives and innovative teaching practices of primary school educators serving in remote and hard-to-reach areas of Greece.
June 15, 2026