UNESCO and Omenaa Foundation Launch Global Education and Culture Partnership
Three-year cooperation focuses on culture, youth and social inclusion
September 10th, 2026
UNESCO and the Omenaa Foundation have entered a three-year Framework Agreement aimed at advancing education, culture, heritage and the creative economy. The agreement was signed in Paris in the presence of UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany and Maja Wawrzyk, Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Poland to UNESCO. The Foundation pledged EUR 1 million to support UNESCO activities, establishing a new framework for cooperation between the organisation and a Polish private foundation.
The partnership was developed with the support of the Polish Permanent Delegation to UNESCO and was signed by UNESCO Deputy Director-General Åsa Regnér and Omenaa Mensah, President of the Omenaa Foundation. It will focus on culture and arts education for children and young people, the revitalisation of heritage sites and the promotion of contemporary African art and artists. The partners will also use arts education to address discrimination, in line with UNESCO’s Framework for Culture and Arts Education.
The agreement connects UNESCO’s international mandate with the Foundation’s activities across Europe and Africa. Founded in 2014, the Omenaa Foundation supports women, children and vulnerable groups while developing cultural, educational and social initiatives. Its work includes building connections between Europe and Africa through scholarships, residencies, mentorship and educational partnerships, including activities in Poland and Ghana. The cooperation therefore places cultural exchange and education within a broader framework of international and institutional collaboration.
The partnership also reflects UNESCO’s Global Priorities on Africa and Gender Equality, while creating a platform for public-private cooperation. According to the source, the Foundation and UNESCO teams have already discussed implementation and the next stages of their work over the coming three years. By linking cultural heritage, creative industries and education, the agreement is intended to create opportunities for young people and participating communities while supporting exchanges between cultural and educational institutions.
The UNESCO–Omenaa Foundation partnership demonstrates how cultural cooperation can connect international organisations, private foundations and national diplomatic representation around shared educational and cultural objectives. Its focus on Europe–Africa relations, heritage, contemporary art and opportunities for young people gives the agreement a clear people-to-people dimension. Over its three-year duration, the initiative provides a framework through which cultural and educational exchange can contribute to wider international dialogue and cooperation.
