FASRC Strengthens Its Partnership with UNESCO and Advances South-South Scientific Cooperation at the Paris Conference

The Secretary General of the Federation of Arab Scientific Research Councils (FASRC), Prof. Dr. Abdulmajid Benamra, participated in the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD) Conference, held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, alongside leading international scientific organizations and institutions.

During the session “Strengthening South-South Scientific Cooperation within the Framework of the Decade of Sciences,” FASRC presented its vision for expanding regional and international scientific partnerships through joint research programs, shared funding mechanisms, enhanced access to research infrastructure, and increased mobility opportunities for early-career researchers.

The Secretary General highlighted the Arab Research and Innovation Co-funded Alliances (ARICA) initiative as a successful model for collaborative Arab research and proposed extending it to include research partnerships with institutions across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, further promoting South-South scientific cooperation.

FASRC also proposed launching a regional and international programme focused on Open Science, Science Diplomacy, and Research Ethics, inviting UNESCO and international partners to collaborate on its implementation within the framework of the IDSSD.

On the sidelines of the conference, the Secretary General met with Prof. Dr. Abou Amani, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, to discuss strengthening the strategic partnership between FASRC and UNESCO, updating the existing Memorandum of Understanding, and expanding cooperation in capacity building, support for young researchers, Open Science, Science Diplomacy, and Research Ethics.

This participation reflects FASRC’s continued commitment to strengthening international scientific cooperation and supporting research and innovation across the Arab region in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.