KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica has been elected to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) executive board, securing a four-year term on the influential governing body responsible for the management and oversight of the global organisation.

The election took place during the UNESCO General Conference now underway in Samarkand, in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Jamaica will serve on the board for the 2025–2029 term.

This marks the second appointment for Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, who previously represented the country on the executive board from 2017 to 2021.

Minister Grange welcomed the election, noting that Jamaica will use its seat to advocate for issues critical to developing nations. She said the country’s priorities include strengthening “the voice and participation of Small Island developing states, and the wider global south” within UNESCO’s decision-making processes.

She added that Jamaica will also “champion priority Africa and gender equality”, two central pillars of UNESCO’s global agenda.