Firmin Edouard Matoko
Firmin Edouard Matoko | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations | |
| In office 2017–2025 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 17, 1956 Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo |
| Nationality | Congolese |
| Alma mater | Sapienza University of Rome Cesare Alfieri Institute, Florence Center for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies, Paris |
| Occupation | Diplomat Economist International relations specialist |
Firmin Edouard Matoko (born February 17, 1956 in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo) is a congolese diplomat, development economist, and international relations specialist. He served as the Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations at UNESCO from 2017 to 2025. Since March 2025, he is an official candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO.[1][2]
Biography
Early life and education
Matoko completed primary and secondary education in Brazzaville and earned his high school diploma in 1974. He holds a PhD in Economics and Commerce (1981) from Sapienza University of Rome, a postgraduate diploma in International relations from the Cesare Alfieri Institute in Florence (1983), and a postgraduate degree from the Center for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies in Paris (1996).[3]
He also pursued further training in political science, diplomacy, management, and education policy. Matoko is multilingual: he speaks fluent French, Italian, English, and Spanish; has intermediate proficiency in Portuguese; and is learning Lingala and Swahili.[4]
Career at UNESCO
Matoko began working with UNESCO in 1985 as an education expert at the BREDA office in Dakar, Senegal. He later served as an international education consultant in Paris (1987–1990), and became program specialist and head of national programs for a culture of peace (1994–2000). He was promoted to Division Chief for Quality Education Promotion (2000–2003).[5]
He then held various representative positions: UNESCO Representative in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger (2003–2007), Head of the Quito office and Representative in Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, and Venezuela (2007–2011) then Head of the Addis Ababa office, Representative to Ethiopia, the African Union, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (2011–2015).[3][5][6]
He became Director of the Africa Department (2014–2015), Assistant Director-General of that department (2016–2017), and finally, Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations (2017–2025).[7][3]
In 2023, He participated in the 25th L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards International Award ceremony, where medals of honor were awarded to three exiled women researchers for their scientific work and resilience.[8]
Candidacy for Director-General of UNESCO
In March 2025, the Republic of the Congo officially nominated Matoko for the position of UNESCO Director-General. He is running against Egypt's Khaled al-Anani and Mexico's Gabriela Ramos.[1][9][10]
He resigned from his position at UNESCO to focus on his campaign.[4]
Publication
Matoko has contributed to debates on traditional conflict prevention mechanisms in Africa. His works focus on development and peace in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. His 1996 book ((Africa by Africans. Utopia or Revolution, Ed. L'Harmattan) received honorable mention from the International Literature Prize of the Association of French-Language Writers (ADELF).[3]
References
- ^ a b "UNESCO prepares for its next leader in a tense context". Le Monde. 2025-04-15. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ "Élection du directeur général de l'UNESCO : Firmin Edouard Matoko". Newsafrica24 (in French). 2025-03-30. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ^ a b c d "Firmin Edouard Matoko". Normandy for Peace.
- ^ a b "Interview with Firmin Edouard Matoko, UNESCO Assistant Director-General: "If elected, my priority will be to build the UNESCO of the future!"". Financial Afrik (in French). 2025-04-09. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ a b "UNESCO official biography of Firmin Edouard Matoko" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ "A Congolese in Quito". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). 2007. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ "UNESCO: Appointment of Assistant Director-General for Africa". 2016.
- ^ "25th L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards: The Fondation L'Oréal and UNESCO pay Special Tribute to three displaced women scientists". L'Oréal Finance. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ "UNESCO's next chapter: Spotlight on Firmin Edouard Matoko's candidature for director-general". Businessday NG. 2025-05-24. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ "Congo/Egypt : Two candidates emerge to challenge Egypt's Anani for top UNESCO job - 13/03/2025". Africa Intelligence. 2025-03-13. Retrieved 2025-08-07.