The report outlines five reforms that UNESCO says are needed to strengthen the contribution of science to sustainable development
Science is expanding across the world, but access to research, funding and collaboration remains uneven. A new report by the United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) says that developing countries continue to face barriers that limit participation, even as hundreds of scientific initiatives support the Sustainable Development Goals and governments push for stronger links between science and policymaking.
In a press statement, UNESCO says that the benefits of this scientific activity remain unevenly distributed. Africa accounts for less than 10 pc of the initiatives despite representing 17.5 pc of the world’s population. Among participating initiatives, 40 pc identified coordination rather than funding as their main challenge, pointing to gaps in governance and collaboration.
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The statement adds that drawing on data from 397 endorsed scientific initiatives across 79 countries, the report shows that USD 50 million has been mobilised over the past two years for projects supporting all 17 SDGs.
The report outlines five reforms that UNESCO says are needed to strengthen the contribution of science to sustainable development. These include changing research evaluation systems, improving access to scientific infrastructure and knowledge, strengthening links between researchers and policymakers, increasing public trust in science, and establishing governance frameworks for technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum science.
UNESCO also released new data on the implementation of its 2021 Recommendation on Open Science. According to the findings, 81 countries have taken steps to implement the recommendation, and 60 pc of open science policies adopted over the past five years refer to it.
The data also highlights implementation gaps. While 79 pc of governments report having an open science policy framework, only 41 pc have implementation plans in place, and one in three has a system to monitor progress.
Khaled El-Enany
According to statement, the report was launched as UNESCO opened the 2026 Global Conference of the IDSSD in Paris, bringing together more than 800 ministers, scientists and policymakers to review the role of science in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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Alongside the conference, UNESCO and the Axa Foundation for Human Progress launched Next Generations, a photo exhibition featuring 11 early-career researchers from different countries.
Held under the theme Science in Action: Charting a Sustainable and Equitable Future for All, the conference will focus on reducing global disparities in science, improving the implementation of open science policies, strengthening links between research and public policy, and increasing public trust in science.
“The world is not lacking scientific knowledge — what we need now are stronger systems to put that knowledge to work for people and the planet. Two years into the Science Decade, scientists across the world have mobilized with remarkable energy. Governments must now turn this momentum into policies, budgets and measurable impact – with UNESCO’s support,” says Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO.
