Paris, 27 April 2026. – The Permanent Delegation of Cuba to UNESCO, in its capacity as coordinator of the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) Working Group on Exact and Natural Sciences, chaired a coordination meeting on 27 April, held in Room VII of the Fontenoy building, with the participation of Latin American and Caribbean delegations and representatives of the Secretariat of the Organization.
The meeting, chaired by Ambassador María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro, provided an opportunity to exchange with senior UNESCO officials and academic actors on strategic priorities, ongoing processes, and opportunities for regional cooperation in the scientific field.
As part of the agenda, Mr. Antonio Abreu De Sousa, Director of the Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences and Secretary of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, presented the preparations for the 38th session of the International Coordinating Council of the MAB Programme, to be held in Paraguay next June. He highlighted the growing relevance of the programme, the active role of Latin America and the Caribbean, and the implementation of the new Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan (2026–2035), with emphasis on evaluation mechanisms, digitalization, and youth participation.
For his part, Mr. Anil Mishra, Chief of the Section on Hydrological Systems and Climate Change Adaptation, addressed the main elements of the 27th session of the Council of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), scheduled to take place at UNESCO Headquarters. He underscored the importance of transboundary cooperation, capacity-building, the development of open data platforms, and the definition of priorities for the programme’s next phase.
The meeting also included a presentation by Dr. Rodrigo Díaz, Director of the Center for Mexican Studies of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in France, who, together with his team, outlined the institution’s scientific capacities and its contribution to regional cooperation in areas such as astronomy, geophysics, and marine sciences, as well as its potential as a strategic partner in multilateral initiatives.
GRULAC delegations exchanged views on logistical and substantive aspects of upcoming meetings, the availability of documentation, and prospects for regional coordination, highlighting a shared interest in strengthening scientific cooperation and leveraging existing capacities within the region.
The initiative of the Cuban Delegation to convene these actors comes at a key moment marked by institutional reforms, programmatic reflections, and the search for alternatives to strengthen UNESCO’s role as the UN’s leading agency for science. Cuba reiterated the importance of promoting inclusive and cooperative approaches within UNESCO’s scientific programmes, as well as continuing to foster the active participation of Latin America and the Caribbean in these processes, in line with the country’s commitment to sustainable development and international scientific cooperation.