UNESCO Jakarta was established as a field office for South-East Asian Science Cooperation (SEASCO) in 1951. In 1967, it became the Regional Office for Sciences and Technology for South-East Asia (ROSTSEA). Since 2001, it is the Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific. The Jakarta Office is also mandated to cover 5 countries - Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste after assuming the role of focal point for the country in 2002.

As a Regional Bureau for Science, it provides strategic expertise and support in science, technology and innovation, to Member States, UNESCO Field Offices, and UN Country Teams in the region. As a Cluster Office, it covers all UNESCO mandates, namely, education, natural and social sciences, culture, communication and information.