unescolatest news & developments
The UN has clearly recognised the urgent need to reform or face the prospect of its own demise.

The UN at 80: Adapt or Die

With US President Donald Trump blithely brushing aside the United Nations’ many achievements, it is worth revisiting the organization’s successes and failures over the years. While it is obvious that the world’s premier multilateral body must reform, it is equally obvious that we would all be worse off without it.

6 min read
Bright future: Unesco’s Gabriela Ramos focuses on social inclusion and an antidiscriminatory agenda and ethics of artificial intelligence. (Photo supplied)

From code to cooperation: How the G20 and Unesco can shape ethical AI

Open-source models and falling costs have democratised access, with actors such as DeepSeek proving foundational AI is no longer exclusive to Big Tech

  • Des Erasmus
2 min read
With youth month around the corner, education support networks have raised the alarm on the persistent underperformance and marginalisation of boys in the education system. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Calls grow to address marginalisation of boys in education system

In 2022, the out-of-school rate was 10.54% for boys, compared with 8.17% for girls

  • Umamah Bakharia
5 min read
The human thread: South African designer Thebe Magugu was a speaker at the Abu Dhabi Culture Summit.

The Soul in the machine: Holding onto our humanity in a tech-driven world

In a world rushing toward automation, one city’s cultural celebration reminds us that connection, spirit and story are still our most vital technologies

  • Eyaaz
7 min read
The Ibrahim index found South Africa’s governance structures since 2014 had deteriorated. (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Ibrahim report finds SA’s governance has not improved much since 2014

The 2024 Ibrahim Index of African Governance report ranks South Africa and Mauritius in the top two in the business and labour environment

  • Umamah Bakharia
4 min read
Tendeka Matatu, Netflix Director of Content, Africa

The Netflix effect

South Africa’s youth take centre stage in film boom

  • Derek Davey
7 min read
A piece from the odAOMO jewellery brand, created by the Kenyan designer (and surgeon) Dr Sophia Omoro. (Quentin Alexander)

African fashion boom’s frayed edges

While the continent’s design talent is in top form, bold policy moves are needed to realise the vast potential of the sector, according to a Unicef report

  • Eyaaz
8 min read