Princess Firyal was appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1992. In 1995, she was appointed Special Advisor to the Director General of UNESCO. Additionally, the Princess is involved in many other programs of UNESCO, especially programs for protection of world heritage, medical research and children’s education.

In cooperation with UNESCO, Princess Firyal launched the International Hope Foundation for Street Children in 1994. The Princess has worked with the mobile units of the Children's Health Funds in New York and frequently visits homeless and street children shelters in New York, other cities in the United States, and elsewhere. In 2005, the Princess was appointed a Global Education Ambassador. Princess Firyal participates in workshops, meetings, and fundraising, which require extensive traveling.

UNESCO Book: 60 Women Contributing to the 60 Years of UNESCO

In 2006 Princess Firyal was included in the book 60 Women Contributing to the 60 Years of UNESCO. Download the chapter featuring Princess Firyal here, or download the entire book here.

Recent UNESCO activities include:

• On September 12, 2011, UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassadors Meeting was held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. H.R.H. Princess Firyal served as President and moderator of the meetings. The topics of discussion focused on education, environment, health, and post-conflict aid. Each ambassador presented a brief presentation of their activities and future plans starting with the First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mrs. Aliyeva. The ambassadors listened to presentations by the head of the different sectors and had a very constructive exchange on planning and future cooperation going forward. Mrs. Bokova concluded the day’s meeting with a message of appreciation for the ambassadors continuous support, and for setting goals for the future.
• On April 19, 2011, H.R.H. Princess Firyal attended the UNESCO Cultural Evening "Azerbaijan" hosted by Mrs. Mehriban Alieva, Azerbaijan's First Lady and UNESCO goodwill Ambassador. The event was held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and it marked the 20th anniversary of the restoration of the Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The evening included an exhibition of unique old and new Azerbaijani rugs and a concert of music and singing by Azerbaijani musicians, followed by a dinner given by First Lady, Mrs. Mehriban Alieva, in honor of the occasion.
• In March of 2011, following the earthquake in Japan, H.R.H. Princess Firyal recorded a Public Service Announcement at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Her message, along with others from UN Goodwill Ambassadors and Messengers of Peace, will be distributed to the evacuation centers and elsewhere through podcasts, radio, the UN YouTube channel, Facebook and other social media. The hope is that these morale boosting messages will reach the citizens of Japan and show support and solidarity in their time of great need.
• In January of 2011, H.R.H. Princess Firyal spent three weeks traveling throughout India. She explored the rich culture and history of the country and many of its unique landmarks, including the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Taj Mahal, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutb Minar, Fatehpur Sikri, and the Khajurraho Group of Monuments. While in Delhi, Princess Firyal visited the UNESCO office and met with Mr. Armoogum Parsuramen (Director and UNESCO Representative to India, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka) and members of the New Delhi UNESCO council to discuss their flagship programs, ongoing initiatives and their World Heritage Sites. Princess Firyal encouraged the UNESCO staff to assist and work closely with their governments in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

  During her trip, Princess Firyal was inspired to create a program with the UNESCO office in Delhi through which notable Indians from the entertainment and social arenas would adopt and give visibility to historical sites within the country, in addition to being advocates for the maintenance and upkeep of these sites. The Princess also met with T.R.H. Asha Raje and Praggyashree Gaekwad, Princesses of the Royal Family of Baroda, to discuss this endeavor, as well as talks with H.H.Priyadarshini Raje Scindia, the Maharani of Gwalior. The Princess hopes that these ladies and their peers will be pioneers for this new program.

• The 2010 UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors Annual Meeting will be held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on June 24th. H.R.H. Princess Firyal and Mr. Jean Michel Jarre will serve as moderators of the meetings all day, which includes hosting a discussion between the new Director-General, Ms. Irina Bokova, and UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassadors. This year’s annual meeting will be the first time D.G. Bokova will address UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassadors as a group.

  Following the working lunch, Princess Firyal, along with Mr. Jarre, will moderate the Goodwill Ambassadors' discussion on their various activities during the past year. Princess Firyal will conclude the Annual Meeting by attending a celebration dinner hosted by His Excellency Sheikh Ghassan I. Shaker, given in honor of the Director General, Ms. Irina Bokova, UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassadors, and Ms. Zaha Hadid, the newly appointed Artist for Peace.

• On September 8, 2009, H.R.H. Princess Firyal attended the UNESCO International Literacy Day Conference and Private Luncheon hosted by Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura in honour of former First Lady Laura Bush, UNESCO Honorary Ambassador to the UN Literacy Decade.
• In January of 2009, Princess Firyal joined the humanitarian initiative of First Lady of Qatar Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned to ensure that educational systems along the Gaza Strip are preserved and sustained even in the face of extreme conflict. View Princess Firyal's letter of support here.
• On September 25, 2008, Princess Firyal took part in UNESCO's High-level Event on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and was asked by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to lead a round table on Education and Health. Read her speech here.
• In July of 2008, Princess Firyal joined UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura in the 32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee Meeting in Quebec City.
• In July of 2008, Princess Firyal joined UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura in the 32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee Meeting in Quebec City.
• H.R.H. Princess Firyal attended the 2009 Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on May 14, 2009. Princess Firyal served as moderator of the meetings all day, along with Mr. Cheick Modibo Diarra of Mali.
• Mehriban Aliyeva hosts the UNESCO Regional Literacy Conference - HRH Princess Firyal and HE Mrs Vigdís Finnbogadóttir chair panels
  Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, First Lady of Azerbaijan, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, hosted the fifth in the series of the UNESCO Regional Conferences in Support of Global Literacy from 14 to 16 May 2008 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
• On the occasion of the 7th Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan visits the Organization’s Headquarters
  On 3 April 2007, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, the Director-General of UNESCO, opened the 7th Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors at the Organization’s Headquarters. A unique highlight of this year’s meeting was the visit of Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan to UNESCO.
• HRH Princess Firyal meets with the Director-General to discuss education issues
  Her Royal Highness Princess Firyal, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the Education for All initiative, met with the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, on 1 March 2007 in New York, USA.
• Princess Firyal attended the Annual Meeting of Goodwill Ambassadors at UNESCO Headquarters in 2000, 2002,2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
• H.R.H. participated in the round table at the Headquarters on micro-credit and the experiment of the Grameen Bank, and participated in the exposition of the Bangladeshi weavers' artistry.
• On the occasion of the inauguration of the Education for All exhibition at UNESCO Headquarters in October 2005, H.R.H. Princess Firyal made a donation of US$ 100,000 to the Education for All initiative, which is at the heart of the Organization’s work.
• On 30 September 2004, H.R.H. Princess Firyal co-chaired the annual Global Leadership Award dinner, which was organized by the United Nations Association of the USA, presided by Ambassador William H. Luers, and the Business Council for the United Nations. In her keynote address, the Princess put forward the objectives of UNESCO’s Education for All initiative and the efforts of the Organisation in the fight against AIDS.
• During a briefing meeting held on 14 September 2004 at UNESCO Headquarters, the Director-General conferred on HRH the mission of promoting the "Education for All" initiative.
• Princess Firyal attended the Charity Gala for the Purcell School in the presence of H.R.H. Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales on February 6, 2003 at UNESCO Headquarters.
• H.R.H. Princess Firyal of Jordan, Ms Marianna Vardinoyannis and Wole Soyinka, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors, were nominated as Patrons for the World Heritage International Congress 2002: Shared Legacy and Common Responsibility marking the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the World Heritage Convention. The congress took place on 14 November 2002 at the Giorgio Cini Foundation on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, Italy.
• Princess Firyal annually attends musical conferences in Verona, as she is a founding member of the "Nausicaa", the Poetry and Music international Organization sponsored by UNESCO in Verona, Italy. H.R.H. is also a founder of the Institute of Opera and Poetry (IIOP), based in Verona, and was appointed Honorary President of the IIOP and member of its Scientific Council in October 1999.
• H.R.H. represented UNESCO at the Second International Congress on Family Law and the Rights of Children and Youth, and has chaired the Children's Fund Committee and participated in many workshops during the conference. She also gave conferences in San Francisco in July 1997 on "Street Children" and "Child labor".
• Princess Firyal has sponsored and chaired the Musical Event "Nuit de la Paix" in Arles, France during the summer of 1996. This event raised funds for war victims and was organized by Chico Bouchikhi, UNESCO Artist for Peace. Princess Firyal is an active member of all musical events sponsored by UNESCO for peace.
• H.R.H. launched the International Hope Foundation for Street and Working Children in co-operation with UNESCO in 1994. Since then, she has been actively serving their causes, visiting countries all over the world and fund raising.
• H.R.H. participated in the fundraising event for "Children in Need" (Kinder in Not) in Düsseldorf, Germany in 1993, an event organized by Mrs Ohoven, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.