In keeping with its mandate, and as part of its support to Member States, UNESCO’s immediate goal is to strengthen the ability of countries to respond to, and withstand the Ebola crisis both in affected countries and beyond.
UNESCO’s objectives are to: 1. contribute to efforts to stop the epidemic; 2. contribute to preserving stability by mapping and improving relevant information flow systems and bridging knowledge and communication gaps through media development actions including enhanced media policies, journalism training, media and information literacy; 3. ensure continuity of essential services in education, by identifying and supporting the establishment of alternative methods of education (e.g. radio, mobile technology, etc.); and 4. assist countries currently unaffected to curtail misinformation and prepare for a possible outbreak by putting in place response mechanisms that can enable a continuity of services should an epidemic take hold.
UNESCO’s longer-term goal is to strengthen the ability of Member States to prepare and respond to this and/or similar public health emergencies in the future by strengthening mechanisms to help them prepare for unforeseen eventualities.