The 12th Governing Board Meeting (GMB) of UNESCO’s Regional Centre on Urban Water Management (RCUWM) held virtually on 26 May 202, with the participation of delegations from 18 countries. Representatives of 9 international and regional organizations including the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) also participated in the Meeting.
Regional Centre on Urban Water Management (RCUWM-Tehran) has been established under the auspices of UNESCO since 2002 in Tehran. The 12th GBM was attended by the relevant Ministers of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Sri Lanka, Syria and Tajikistan; while Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and Turkey participated in the meeting through their concerned deputy Ministers.
The meeting discussed several important issues including joint projects and transfer of experiences in the field of essential quality assured data and information for integrated urban water management, support for the development of water startups, and the use of new technologies in unconventional water management as well as task sharing between the interested member states on the approved proposals during the last GBM held in September 2020.
In his remarks, Head of International Relations Section of the ECO, Mr. Muhammad Farooq, appreciated the UNESCO and the government of Islamic Republic of Iran for their excellent contributions in the smooth and efficient functioning of the centre. He further recommended enhanced collaboration between the RCUWM and the ECO for extending regional cooperation in the relevant fields.
In the concluding Remarks, Chairman of the Governing Board, H.E. Mr. Reza Ardakanaian, Minister of Energy of I.R. of Iran, while thanking all the delegates for their active participation in the meeting, requested the member states and the relevant organizations to cooperate in the joint activities and projects of the Centre.
