23 June 2011: Irina Bokova, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director General, and Walter Ammann, President of the Global Risk Forum (GRF) Davos, have signed a Letter of Intent to formalize and extend their cooperation in the field of risk management and reduction.

The Letter, which was signed on 20 June 2011, in Paris, France, aims to provide a framework for the cooperation between the two parties, strengthening the link between research and policy practice to enhance disaster risk reduction (DRR) through partnerships among government, civil society, the private sector and academia. The future collaboration will focus on disaster reduction research applications for the benefit of society and the environment, and the promotion of learning and capacity building in disaster and risk management, notably in developing countries. [GRF Davos Press Release] [UNESCO Press Release]