According to the General Guidelines of the Memory of the World Programme, anyAny organization or individual can nominate a documentary item for inscription on the International Register via [[Member states of UNESCO|UNESCO Member States]] through their [[National Commissions for UNESCO|National Commission for UNESCO]]. or, inIn the absence of a National Commission, the nomination is sent through the relevant government body in charge of relations with UNESCO, involving, if one exists, the relevant national MoW committee.<ref>{{Cite web |last=UNESCO |title=Memory of the World General Guidelines |url=https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/mow_general_guidelines_en.pdf |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=UNESCO}}</ref> Two proposals per UNESCO Member State are considered in each nomination cycle,. There is no limit on joint nomination proposals from two or more UNESCO Member States are unlimited.
The program is administered by the International Advisory Committee (IAC), whose 14 members are appointed by the [[Director-General of UNESCO]].<ref name="strategy" /><ref name="2003_memory" /> During its meetings, the IAC examines the full documentation of the item's description, origin, world significance, contemporary state of conservation and other criteria for admissibility and inscription contained in the General Guidelines. The IAC recommends to the [[UNESCO#Executive Board|Executive Board of UNESCO]] the items proposed for inscription.<ref>{{cite web |title=General Guidelines of the Memory of the World (MoW) Programme |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000378405 |access-date=3 March 2025 |publisher=UNESCO}}</ref> The IAC is responsible for the formulation of major policies, including the technical, legal and financial framework for the program. The IACIt also maintains several subsidiary bodies:<ref name="IAC">{{cite web |date=2009-08-11 |title=International Advisory Committee |url=http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=2254&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20160311102614/http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=2254&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |archive-date=2016-03-11 |access-date=2009-12-09 |publisher=UNESCO Memory of the World Programme}}</ref>
* ''Bureau'': Maintains an overview of the Programme between IAC meetings and makes tactical decisions in liaison with the Secretariat, reviews the use of the Memory of the World logo, and liaises with national Memory of the World committees and monitors their growth and operation.
* ''The Preservation Sub-Committee'': Develops, regularly revises and promulgates information guides on the preservation of documentary heritage, and offers advice on technical and preservation matters.
