It is a chartered non-profit voluntary association with up to 114 members: Its members represent the German Federal government and the governments of the Laender, representatives of important German institutions working within UNESCO's fields of competence as well as individual experts.
It coordinates the contribution of German government, academia, expert institutions and civil society to UNESCO’s programme activities: Education, Natural and Social Sciences, Culture, Communication and Information.
The Bureau and the executive committee of the German Commission for UNESCO are elected for two years, by a general assembly meeting once annually.
Within its fields of competence, UNESCO will "contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture".
After the United States of America and Japan, Germany makes the third largest financial contribution to UNESCO.