73rd meeting of the Executive Committee, Paris, 9-13 November 2014

1.             Venue

The Seventy-third meeting of the Executive Committee will be held in Paris, France, from
9 to 13 November 2014, at the following venue:

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
UNESCO Fontenoy Building

125 Avenue de Suffren

75007 Paris 07

France

Tel:  +33 (0) 1 45 68 10 00

Fax: +33 (0) 1 45 67 16 90

Email: bpi@unesco.org

Website: www.unesco.org

2.             Meeting schedule

The meeting will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Conference Room XI.

3.             Meeting documents

All pre-session meeting documents will be posted on the website of the Multilateral Fund four weeks before the start of the meeting as they become available. Translated documents will be posted approximately seven days following the English posting and no physical dispatch of meeting documents in hard copies shall be made in support of efforts towards international paperless meetings. Delegates should continue obtaining their username and password to access the restricted area of the Multilateral Fund website (the log in link can be found at the top
right-hand side of the home page) through their heads of delegations. Should any difficulties be encountered with the username and password provided, please contact Mr. Mulu Alem Syoum, Information Technology Officer, by e-mail at alem@unmfs.org.

Executive Committee participants are kindly reminded to bring their own laptops to enable access and reference to documents on line. The Secretariat, in cooperation with UNESCO, will provide a stable and fast wireless internet connection to access all meeting documents from the Executive Committee Meeting conference room and from any point in the UNESCO premises.

It is anticipated that Conference Room Papers (CRPs) and the draft meeting report will be accessible through the restricted area of the Secretariat’s website. All CRPs must be sent by the group facilitator/convenor to Ms. Elina Yuen, Programme Assistant, by e-mail at elina@unmfs.org.

4.                Registration and identification name badges

Participants are requested to register and to collect their badges at the Registration Counter at the entrance of UNESCO (next to security) on Sunday, 9 November 2014 starting from 8 a.m. Access to the meeting of the Executive Committee (and its subsidiary meetings) is by invitation only.

5.                Security

For security reasons, the display of name badges is mandatory for admission to the UNESCO building in Paris, as well as to its meeting rooms. Loss of meeting badges should be reported personally to the Multilateral Fund Secretariat at the Registration Counter so that new ones can be issued without delay. In addition, delegates are requested to have their valid passports and identification cards for entry into the UNESCO building.

6.                Visa information

Visa information for France is available from the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France (http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr).

Participants are advised to check with the French embassy in their home country as to whether they need a visa to enter France. Participants are expected to apply for their entry visas themselves. The Secretariat can provide an official invitation letter to eligible participants to support the visa application. A list of French embassies and consulates by country is available from the following link: http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/le-ministere-et-son-reseau/annuaires-et-adresses-du-ministere/ambassades-et-consulats-francais-a.

7.                Official language

The official language of France is French.

8.                Service to delegates

An IT Help Desk, located next to Room XI of UNESCO, is made available to the participants of the meeting. 

9.                Postal services

A post office is located very near to the UNESCO building. It is open from Monday to Friday during regular working hours, except for official holidays. Information on the exact location of the post office can be provided by UNESCO staff.

10.             Health requirements and medical services

There are no vaccination requirements to enter France. It is recommended that participants have up to date vaccinations against food-borne diseases such as hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid. Information about doctors may be obtained from pharmacies in Paris. Basic medical services would also be made available at the UNESCO clinic in case of emergency and to the extent possible.

11.             Electricity

The electric power in France is 220-240 volts/50Hz, and the plug type used is a C-2 parallel (see figure below). Delegates are advised to carry their own electrical adapters for use with laptop computers and other electrical appliances. Adapters can be purchased from shops in the city selling electronic or electrical items.

12.             Weather

Temperatures in Paris in November average around 6 degrees Celsius (43 degrees Fahrenheit). The weather in Paris can be rainy and chilly.

13.             Local currency and payment facilities

The currency of France is the euro. As at 23 September 2014, US $1 was equivalent to €0.78. For an update on the exchange rate, please access the following website: http://www.x-rates.com. Foreign currency exchange for certain currencies is available at bureaux de change located in the airports and international train stations, in tourist areas and in some banks, including the UNESCO branch of Société Générale (there is a minimum charge of 16 euros, in addition to a commission, depending on the amount to be exchanged). Holders of major credit cards can withdraw cash from ATM machines at the airports and throughout the city and at the bank at UNESCO (Société Générale), which is open from Monday to Friday, from 9.30 a.m. to
12.15 p.m. and from 1.15 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.

14.             Financial & administrative arrangements

In those cases where the participation costs are borne by the Multilateral Fund, the Secretariat will provide only travel and daily subsistence allowance and will not assume responsibility for any other expenditure, including the following:

(a)              All expenses in the home country incidental to travel abroad, including expenditure for visa, medical examination, inoculations and other such miscellaneous items and internal travel to and from the airport of arrival and departure in the home country;

(b)             Salary and related allowances for the participants during the period of the meeting;

(c)              Costs incurred by participants in respect of travel insurance, accident insurance, medical bills or hospitalization fees in connection with attending the meeting;

(d)             Compensation in the event of death or disability of participants in connection with attending the meeting;

(e)              Any loss of or damage to personal property of participants while attending the meeting or losses or damages claimed by third parties as a result of any negligence on the part of the participants; and

(f)              Any other expenses of a personal nature, not directly related to the purpose of the meeting.

15.          Arrival at airport

Paris has two international airports, both within an hour’s commute from UNESCO:

(a)    Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG);

(b)  Paris-Orly (ORY).

Airport transfers to the city centre/UNESCO may be made by train, bus or taxi. Taxi rates from the airports to the city centre/UNESCO start at around 50 euros from Orly and at around 60 euros from Charles de Gaulle. There are a number of international train stations in Paris.

For further information about the airports and public transport options to and from Paris, please visit: http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/ADP/en-GB/Passagers/Home.

16.          Local transportation

Paris has a good public transport network. For routes and timetables, please visit: http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/tourists.

UNESCO is located in the seventh arrondissement, and there are a number of metro stations and bus stops nearby. For a metro map, please visit: www.aparisguide.com/maps/metro.htm

Parisian taxi companies can be called for pick up. Participants may wish to note a few taxi numbers: Alpha Taxis (Tel: 01 45 85 85 85), Les Taxis Bleus (Tel: 08 91 70 10 10), Taxis G7 (Tel: 01 47 39 47 39) and G7 Horizon (Tel: 01 47 39 00 91).

17.         Restaurants and cafés at UNESCO Fontenoy Building

Participants are expected to cover the costs of their meals while in Paris. The UNESCO Fontenoy Building has two cafés, one cafeteria and one restaurant. In addition, there are many restaurants near UNESCO.

18.          Hotel information

Participants to the meeting are advised to make hotel bookings as early as possible to secure accommodation during the meeting. A list of recommended hotels located near the meeting venue is set out in the table below. The rates given are only indicative, and can vary according to season, events, holidays, etc. When booking please also check hotel websites for current and/or promotional internet rates. In order to qualify for special rates, delegates should indicate at the time of booking that they are participating in a United Nations meeting being held at the UNESCO building and are invited to mention the UNESCO special rates.