CCIVS is in official partnership with UNESCO – associate status, liaison status with the FAO and special consultative status with the ECOSOC. CCIVS supports in the implementation of actions developed together with or proposed by these agencies.

CCIVS was created under the aegis of UNESCO in 1948 and its Secretariat is still in UNESCO House today. Working closely together, CCIVS complements UNESCO intellectual activity and goals in the fields of Education, Culture, Sciences and Communication through a hands-on, non-formal education approach transforming societies at the grassroots level. CCIVS has actively contributed to programs and campaigns from diverse UN agencies, and was involved in discussions concerning the creation of the United Nations Volunteers. It received in 1987 the title “Messenger of Peace” by UN Secretary General, Perez de Cuellar.