Partnership signed with UNESCO to celebrate legacy of Prince Albert I

De gauche à droite, Mme Noëline Raondry Rakotoarisoa, Direc0trice p.i., Division des sciences écologiques et de la terre, Secrétaire p.i., Programme sur l’Homme et la biosphère de l'UNESCO ; S.E. Mme Anne-Marie Boisbouvier, Ambassadeur, Délégué permanent de Monaco auprès de l'UNESCO et M. Vladimir Ryabinin, Secrétaire Générale de la Commission Océanographique Intergouvernementale. © Amandine Callens MAB

On 5 December, H.E. Anne-Marie Boisbouvier, Monaco’s Ambassador to UNESCO, and Noëline Raondry Rakotoarisoa, representing the Assistant Director-General for the UNESCO Science Sector, signed a partnership with the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme to offer financial support to young scientists and their research.

The Principality of Monaco has been keen to bring to life the legacy left by Prince Albert I in the fields of oceanography and science during 2022, the centenary of his death. The visionary prince, often described as the “Scholar Prince”, embodied the values of UNESCO. This commemoration coincides with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, led by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

The MAB programme offering grants to young scientists was created in 1989. It has already helped to reward more than 300 young scientists, 45% of whom have been female, from more than 100 countries. Their research focuses specifically on biosphere reserves. There are more than 200 biosphere reserves, including marine, coastal and island areas. During the 34^th session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme, the Principality of Monaco presented a proposal intended to strengthen the link between the programme and the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Vladimir Ryabinin, the Secretary-General of the IOC, hailed this partnership as the support became a reality.

UNESCO biosphere reserves are well placed to respond to some of the challenges identified as a focus of this United Nations Decade – in particular protecting and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity, changing humanity’s relationship with the oceans and thereby helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Through this support, Monaco is lending its assistance to UNESCO to ensure that the activities undertaken during this Decade can, in a sustainable way, clarify our relationship with the oceans and give us all a better understanding of environmental challenges.