Our Chair, G.Avellis was invited to UNESCO ICNGO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF NGO, being ICORSA a UNESCO NGO. She attended the conference in Paris and presented ICORSA in the section dedicated to the NGOs, NGO HUB:Sharing Experiences from around the World – Open space for civil society to present their experiences, exchange ideas, and network for future collaboration.
She received positive feedback from her presentation on ICORSA form the attendance NGOs and made several contacts with other NGOs interested in the same topics of ICORSA. Unfortunately, the time for presentation was only 5 minutes and she had to present mainly Vision and Mission of ICORSA along with the work of ICORSA with partnership with policy organisations such as ISE, ISC, UNESCO, EU>RODOC, MCAA, YAE, YGA, and collaboration for joint projects with them such as OPUS and SECURE EU projects and organization of several events such as the World Science Forums WSF2016, WSF2019 and WSF2024, but had to skip presentation of all the EU past and ongoing projects.
However, she brought with her some leaflet of ICORSA where the ICORSA EU projects are described along with their website for reference, which she distributed to the interested NGOs, such as ANSO Alliance of National and International Science Organiszations for the Belt and Road Regions and others.
ANSO is a no-profit and non-government scientific organization founded in 2018 by 37 international science and education institutions from around the world, among them the ones in the ANSO Governing Board are:
- National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Brazilian Academy of Sciences
- The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye
- Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
- National Research Center Egipt
- Mongolian Academy of Sciences
- National Academy of Science and Techniques of Senegal
- The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South
The ANSO Programs are as follows:
- ANSO Science Programs – Echoing UN’s “International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development” (2024-2033) – To launch projects co-designed and co-funded by CAS and ANSO members and -To support SDG related collaborative research projects initiated by CAS scientists and ANSO member scientists
- CAS-ANSO Sholarship
- CAS-ANSO Fellowship
- CAS-ANSO Conference -To support selected international conferences or workshops organised by ANSO Members, – To support ANSO Members to represent ANSO in world-level international academic conferences, such as WSF, UNCSTD, UNEP, …
ANSO currently has 75 Members -28 National Academies, 28 Universities, 14 National Research Institutes and Agencies, and 8 International Organizations. Their priorities are the following global challenges:
- Global environment challenges (Climate Change, Natural Disasters, Water Security, Pollution, Urbanization, Land Degradation, …
- Agriculture and Food Security
- STI-Policy and Strategy for Sustainable Development
- Emerging Technology: Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, …
- Health and Biosafety
- Biodiversity
- Energy Security
- Higher Education
Addressing the SDG HEALTH, GREEN TECHNOLOGY, ENERGY. FOOD SECURITY.
Another interesting presentation by S. Giannini was on Education for Peace initiative, presenting the UNESCO report “Greening Education”, and asking for partnership in Education for Peace and cultivate green-digital global citizens
C. Barbieri mentioned the Recommendations on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development (2023), revision of its predecessor in 1974 Recommendations, with a Lifelong and Life.wide learning perspective, society-wide approach (speak to civil society), common ground for different educational approaches such as ESD, GCED, PHR, …He mentioned an important report by UNESCO “Dealing with violent past through education to prevent atrocity crimes – A Guide for teachers in Africa”, and UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education.
A further contact was with HillinGJE Van’t Land of International Association of Universities, who presented the Guide for SD in Universities, and pointed out -Common ground for different approaches such as ESD, GCED (Green and Global Citizens Education), PHR (Peace and Human Rights), …and What are potential areas of collaboration foreseen to sharing their collaboration particularly with ESD and support the ESD for 2030 century initiatives on Green Education Partnership at the Recommendation on Education, Peace, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development.
Finally, G. Avellis contacted Teresa Kennedy to include ICORSA in the OCEAN DECADE TASK GROUP.
In the discussion on the work done by the previous UNESCO LIASON COMMETTEE, G.Avellis mentioned the Thamatic Mapping of NGOs which in her view should address more the current topics that NGO are dressing for future collaboration between NGOs.
A new UNESCO LIASON COMMITTEE was elected during the conference and results announced at the end of the conference.