The University Twinning and Networking Programme (UNITWIN) and UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chairs Programme adopted the ‘Geneva Milestone,’ which outlines areas of collaboration and action for the 2030 Agenda.
The Conference represented the first time that the Chairs have come together to reflect on sustainable development.
6 July 2017: The University Twinning and Networking Programme (UNITWIN) and UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chairs Programme discussed opportunities for building synergies and cooperation among the Chairs, UNESCO and the UN system to support implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Conference adopted the ‘Geneva Milestone,’ a blueprint to strengthen UNESCO Natural Science Chairs’ contribution to transformative change and cooperation for the 2030 Agenda.
UNESCO organized the event, ‘Mobilizing UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks in Natural Sciences for Policy Action towards the 2030 Agenda,’ which took place from 5-7 July in Geneva, Switzerland. The Conference represented the first time that the Chairs have come together to reflect on sustainable development.
The Geneva Milestone emphasizes the important role of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks in Natural Science in efforts to link science, policy and society through adopting open science practices to implement the 2030 Agenda and other UN development agendas. The document outlines opportunities for collaboration related to, inter alia: increasing and enhancing the focus of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks on the 2030 agenda; fostering interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity to contribute to achieving the SDGs; addressing the science-policy-society interface; fostering collaboration; and increasing visibility and knowledge sharing.
The Geneva Milestone recommends identifying main SDGs for each Chair and indicating specific fields of action where they can provide advice to stakeholders and policymakers.
To increase the focus of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks on the 2030 Agenda, the Geneva Milestone recommends identifying main SDGs for each Chair and indicating specific fields of action where they can provide advice to stakeholders and policymakers. The document further calls for developing programmes to generate new knowledge and innovative tools for Member States to address challenges raised by the SDGs.
On interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity, the outcome document recommends: encouraging interactions between Chairs from different but relevant disciplines to implement joint pilot projects that contribute to achieving the SDGs; and adopting open science practices to promote collaboration and knowledge co-production.
On science-policy-society, the document calls on UNESCO Chairs to influence host institutions to put the 2030 Agenda at the core of their mission, increase collaboration with policymakers and other stakeholders and establish multi-stakeholder strategic partnerships to facilitate research and training towards the SDGs; and further develop and promote UNESCO Chairs’ capacities and roles as think tanks for advancing the SDGs through science, technology and innovation (STI).
On fostering collaboration, the Geneva Milestone calls for, inter alia: engaging in concrete, impact-driven actions to strengthen Chairs and Networks exchanges, particularly through regional, inter-regional, South-South and South-South-North cooperation; foster collaboration in development and implementation of programmes, capacity building and standards development, with a special focus on gender and Africa; and encourage UNESCO and UNESCO chairs to incorporate the 2030 Agenda in their meetings, conference and forums.
To increase visibility and knowledge sharing, the outcome document recommends, inter alia: promoting establishment of networks and working groups of Chairs at national, regional or thematic levels to enhance communication, create linkages and support programme development; establishing a knowledge-sharing platform linked to the SDGs to facilitate information exchange and contacts among UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks in Natural Science; and enhance communication and outreach activities on UNESCO Chairs achievements and activities towards the SDGs and share success stories.
The UNESCO Secretariat and Chairs’ representatives will prepare an Action Plan for follow-up of the Geneva Milestone by the end of 2017.
The UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2017. There are over 700 UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks in 116 countries world, including more than 170 that focus on natural sciences. [UNESCO Press Release] [Publication: The Geneva Milestone] [Chairs Programme]