Pros
grand and noble mission, arts and culture to freedom of expression and more.
Cons
reeks of nepotism and corruption, from its Director General Bokova on down. Weak and nonstrategic leadership is 'played' by member states and has led to loss of its biggest donor (US). For decades UNESCO has been the black sheep of the UN family -- mired in the worst of UN + French bureaucracy, with too many desk intellectuals enjoying comfy positions at Paris headquarters. Incompetent politically appointed senior leadership remains, while the hard working younger professionals struggle to make a difference in important programs. Under the current administration, favoritism and coverups have only gotten worse. Unlike most of the UN, UNESCO squanders 80% of its budget at HQ for the privileged class.