Funding

We provide activity grants of up to $5,000, which are open throughout the year.

We also promote opportunities for New Zealanders to participate in and benefit from UNESCO international and regional programmes and activities, such as enabling New Zealanders to apply for UNESCO opportunities and participation by New Zealand experts in UNESCO meetings. Funding may be available to support these opportunities.

The New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO has allocated a limited amount of funding to support initiatives that align with our mission and strategic priorities (below).

Mission: Deepening connections between the people of Aotearoa – New Zealand and UNESCO globally through the sharing of ideas and building capability for a better and more peaceful future.

And priority areas:

• Oceans for the Wellbeing of People and the Planet, in particular the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).
• Empowering Communities for Sustainable Futures.
• Indigenous Knowledge, including the UN Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2031).
• Freedom of Responsible Expression.
• UNESCO programmes in New Zealand.

The National Commission invites applications from people with ideas for projects that can connect us all. Applications for Activity Grants (formerly Minor Grants) of up to $5,000 are now open.

Applications will stay open throughout the year but please apply at least six weeks before your activity starts.

To apply for an Activity Grant you need to download and complete the Activity Grant Application Form. Email the completed form to unesco.nz@education.govt.nz.

We are also open to receiving other enquiries for projects or initiatives that align with UNESCO’s mandate and our priority areas.

For more information download our Activity Grant Information Pack.

The Beeby Award is a partnership between the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO and the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER). The Award, previously known as the Beeby Fellowship, was first awarded in 1998. It is named after Dr Clarence Beeby who, in 1934, became the first Director of NZCER, and was Assistant Director-General of UNESCO from 1948-49.

The Beeby Award is offered every two years. It supports development of an innovative learning resource based on high quality research. The Award supports collaboration between research and practice communities so that learners benefit from research findings. The learning resource can be in any format that enables easy use in a range of learning environments, not limited to schools.

Unfortunately, ongoing disruption from COVID-19 has slowed the planning stages of the 2022 Beeby Award, and we are unlikely to be opening submissions until later in the year.

The Award is worth $30,000. The recipient/s are expected to devote 3-4 months full-time or equivalent on the Award. The resulting resource is expected to be of high quality and will be published by NZCER Press.

• Read about the 2020 Beeby Award recipients.
• Read about the resources created by previous Beeby Award recipients.