United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Executive Board

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1 ex United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Executive Board Hundred and fifty-fourth Session 154 EX/45 PARIS, 16 March 1998 Original: English Item 7.10 of the provisional agenda RELATIONS WITH THE SOUTH PACIFIC APPLIED GEOSCIENCE COMMISSION (SOPAC) AND DRAFT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN UNESCO AND THAT COMMISSION SUMMARY As a follow-up action to the Focus on the Pacific, the Director- General submits to the Executive Board for approval a document concerning relations with the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) and a draft Memorandum of Understanding between UNESCO and that agency. 1. The South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) is an independent intergovernmental, regional organization established in Its Secretariat is located in Suva, Fiji. Member countries are currently Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Western Samoa. French Polynesia and New Caledonia are Associate Members. 2. The mission statement of SOPAC is to improve the well being of the people of Pacific island member countries through the application of geoscience to the management and sustainable development of their non-living resources. 3. Since 1994 there has been close co-operation between the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme and the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) in the implementation of freshwater field projects and workshops within the South Pacific. At the request of SOPAC and as a follow-up action to the Focus on the Pacific, the draft Memorandum of Understanding has been prepared to formalize and strengthen the existing level of co-operation.

2 - page 2 4. In accordance with the provisions of Article XI(1) of the Constitution, the Director-General is submitting to the Executive Board for approval the draft Memorandum annexed to this document. 5. In light of the above the Executive Board may wish to adopt the following decision: The Executive Board, 1. Having examined document 154 EX/45 and its annex containing the draft Memorandum of Understanding between UNESCO and the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), 2. Approves this draft Memorandum of Understanding; 3. Authorizes the Director-General to establish official relations with SOPAC and to sign the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of UNESCO.

3 Annex ANNEX DRAFT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC APPLIED GEOSCIENCE COMMISSION (SOPAC) The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, hereinafter referred to as UNESCO and the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission, hereinafter referred to as SOPAC, Recognizing the management of freshwater resources is closely linked with the sustainable development of islands in a very significant way, and Further recognizing that it is essential to understand the hydrology and related processes to be able to better manage the limited freshwater resources and the interaction with the atmosphere, biosphere, land and man, Noting that the International Hydrological Programme focuses on promoting scientific investigations and related training with a view to learning more about the nature of freshwater resources (for the purpose of applying that knowledge to assist its Member States with the sustainable development of freshwater, and ensuring complementary capacity-building activities), and also Further noting that SOPAC is recognized by its Member States as the regional organization with responsibility for activities related to water resources, and also that SOPAC uses geoscience to assist its small island members with the sustainable development of their physical environment as well as water resources, Acknowledging that many aspects of hydrology scientific investigations, water resources management and geoscience afford an excellent opportunity for international co-operation towards addressing global concerns, therefore HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

4 Annex - page 2 ARTICLE I Co-operation and consultation 1. The parties agree to co-operate on matters concerning the freshwater environment, capacity-building, data and information management and on issues of mutual interest and benefit. 2. The parties agree to co-operate in the continued implementation of the recommendations, as detailed in the Proceedings of UNESCO/SOPAC/UNDDSMS (United Nations Department of Development Support and Management, now known as Department of Economic and Social Affairs, DESA) Workshop - Pacific Water Sector Planning, Research and Training, Solomon Islands, 1-8 June This includes the field projects connected with Project 1: Catchment study on a high volcanic island; Project 2: Water management study of a freshwater lens on a low lying coral island; Project 3: Groundwater pollution transport study; and Project 4: Community level studies (to be undertaken within each of Projects 1, 2 and 3). 3. Co-operation between the parties will also be through the global IHP Humid Tropics Programme network, part of which encourages greater co-operation with scientific institutions (with interests in hydrology) in small island developing states in other regions, especially the Caribbean and South-East Asia with the assistance of the Regional Humid Tropic Centres in Panama (Water Centre for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (Centro Regional de Recursos Hidricos en las zonas tropicales humedas de America Latina y el Caribe) - CATHALAC, and Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur (Regional Centre for Humid Tropics Hydrology and Water Resources of South- East Asia and the Pacific). Such co-operation will encourage participation in international symposia and workshops, and the enhancement of exchange of technologytransfer of research methodologies and results in the management of water resources across the humid tropics. 4. The modalities of co-operation between the parties will include the joint development of new intra-regional initiatives, including the preparation of extrabudgetary proposals, connected with monitoring, data management, research linked with improved water resource management and capacity-building. ARTICLE II Representation 1. In agreeing that the development of national capabilities is also a priority, the parties agree to jointly sponsor and undertake various workshops and activities within the framework of the above terms of co-operation. 2. Representatives of either party shall be invited to the appropriate meetings of the other.

5 Annex - page 3 ARTICLE III Exchange of information and documents 1. The parties agree to the exchange of publications between the two agencies including the provision (where appropriate) of additional free copies of the IHP Technical Documents in Hydrology, miscellaneous IHP documents and the Humid Tropics Popularized Documents Series, for distribution by SOPAC within the South Pacific region in co-operation with the UNESCO Office in Apia. 2. Each party shall keep the other informed of developments in the work and activities of mutual interest. ARTICLE IV Implementation 1. The Director-General of UNESCO and the Director of SOPAC may make specific arrangements for the satisfactory implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding. 2. The parties agree that all joint activities will be conducted as full partners co-ordinated by the respective Secretariats, with the full recognition of the respective organizations, and any financial obligation by either party is solely within its purview and is strictly voluntary. 3. This Memorandum of Understanding shall not impinge on or interfere with the sovereign rights of any individual member of either organization. ARTICLE V Amendments The provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding may be amended by mutual agreement of the two parties. The amendments shall enter into force after the approval of their appropriate bodies. ARTICLE VI Termination of the Memorandum of Understanding Either party may terminate this Memorandum of Understanding subject to six months written notice. If one of the parties decides to terminate this Memorandum of Understanding the obligations previously entered into in respect of projects under implementation through this Memorandum of Understanding shall be decided upon by the parties on a case-by-case basis.

6 Annex - page 4 ARTICLE VII Entry into force After this Memorandum of Understanding has received the approval of the appropriate bodies of the two parties, it shall enter into force immediately upon signature by the Director-General of UNESCO and the Director of SOPAC. Done at.. on. 1998, in two copies in the English language. FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO) FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC APPLIED GEOSCIENCE COMMISSION (SOPAC) FEDERICO MAYOR DIRECTOR-GENERAL Date: ALFRED SIMPSON DIRECTOR Date: