일본 외무성 차관 등을 역임한 외교관 출신의 고이치로 사무총장은 취임 후 유네스코 개혁을 앞장서 추진해온 것으로 평가받으면서 회원국들의 폭넓은 지지를 받아왔다.
Secretary-General Koichiro, a former diplomat who served as Japan's deputy foreign minister, has received wide support from member states since taking office, as he has been credited with leading UNESCO reforms.