On November 11-12, 2015 at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris ISEDC Executive Director Yury Posysaev attended the 38th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, and presented to the delegates a biennium report on the Centre’s activities for 2014-2015.

On November 3-18, 2015 the 38th session of the General Conference of UNESCO was held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. General Conference of UNESCO is the major event of the Organization organized every two years.

The representatives of all 195 Member States took part in this year session: either on level of heads of states and governments or ministers, ambassadors and permanent representatives to UNESCO.

This year the 38th session of the General Conference assumed a special character since it is organized in the framework of the anniversary of the founding of UNESCO. In 2015 UNESCO together with the United Nations celebrates its 70th anniversary.
It is already the third time in its history when ISEDC is entitled to attend the General Conference of UNESCO and to present to the delegates a biennium report on the Centre’s activities. On 11th of November 2015, in the context of the 38th session of the General Conference, ISEDC Executive Director Yury Posysaev presented the Centre’s Biennium Report for 2014-2015 for the delegates from Member States. During the presentation of the Centre Mr. Posysaev was also accompanied by Mr. Osman Benchikh, Chief of the Innovation and Capacity Building in Science and Engineering Section from UNESCO Natural Sciences Sector, a member of the ISEDC Governing Board.
ISEDC Executive Director informed the delegates about the major of the Centre’s activities in the field of sustainable energy development, as well as presented the key scientific, research and analytical publications of the ISEDC leading experts. In this context he especially noted following directions, which constitute the purview of the ISEDC activities: climate change mitigation, renewable energy development, ensuring universal access to energy and energy poverty eradication, development of energy efficiency and environmental aspects of modern energy development at the global, national and local levels.
In his speech to the participants of the ISEDC’s presentation, Mr. Posysaev also noted the growing importance of the development and strengthening of international cooperation in the energy sector in order to ensure its sustainable development. In this connection, he particularly reminded that in September 2015 the United Nations committed to 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to achieve in the next 15 years. Among them is SDG 7: “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”. For the first time energy will officially act as a dedicated and stand-alone UN Sustainable Development Goal. Mr. Posysaev also gave some examples of successful cooperation between ISEDC and some leading UN organizations, namely UNESCO, UNDP, UNECE, in implementing concrete projects in the field of sustainable energy development. The key among those projects which is implemented by ISEDC in cooperation with UNESCO is the Co-sponsored Fellowships Programme for young specialists from developing countries and countries in transition. The story about this project generated a considerable interest among the delegates. Mr. Posysaev informed them about the 9th session of the Fellowships Programme, recently concluded  in Moscow (5-30 October), which was attended by 19 young specialists from different countries and continents. He also outlined the plans for the next 10th session of the Programme in 2016 as well as gave detailed answers on numerous questions from the participants of the ISEDC presentation on key conditions of participation in the Programme, progress of preparation and organization of the educational process, etc. Overall, since 2008 as a result of nine sessions of the Fellowships Programme, more than 140 young specialists from 77 countries representing the regions of Africa, Asia, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe and CIS countries have participated in it.
In his turn, Mr. Benchikh in his welcoming speech as well as in the conclusion of the report of the ISEDC Executive Director, noted the obvious importance of the work of the Centre in the field of sustainable energy development which is highly important concern of UNESCO. He urged delegates of the General Conference to use the existing experience and potential of ISEDC in this area for the establishment and development of cooperation and interaction on expert level. Mr. Benchikh thanked on behalf of UNESCO the ISEDC team for the work done over the last biennium and wished the further success in implementing of the Centre's mission and its core functions.
On 12th of November, 2015 there was held the meeting of Mr. Posysaev with Mr. Stoyan Bantchev, Chief of Participation Programme and Fellowships Section from Sector for External Relations and Public Information of UNESCO. During the meeting both sides noted with satisfaction the level of interaction between ISEDC and the Section. Mr. Bantchev expressed the sincere gratitude for the successfully organized 9th session of the Co-sponsored UNESCO/ISEDC Fellowships Programme for young specialists from developing countries and countries in transition which was held on 5-30 October in Moscow, noting that after completing the current session of the Programme the Section has received and continues to receive very positive feedback and the letters of appreciation from the fellows. In addition, Mr. Bantchev also noted that Participation Programme and Fellowships Section has received and approved the official Progress Report, made by the Centre, on the implementation of the 9th session of Fellowships Programme, and will soon prepare and send to ISEDC the official letter from UNESCO on this occasion. Mr. Posysaev and Mr. Bantchev further discussed and agreed on certain modalities in the framework of implementation of the 10th session of Fellowships Programme to be held next year, and expressed readiness to sign at the beginning of 2016 the Terms of Reference for the 10th session of the Program. It is planned to invite 20 young specialists in the field of energy to take part in the next session of the Fellowships Programme.

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