The Association of Amazonian Universities (UNAMAZ) and the World Bank discussed new possibilities for cooperation aimed at the sustainable development of the Amazon. The meeting took place on October 15th at the World Bank office in Brasília, with the participation of international representatives from UNAMAZ.
The meeting focused on building partnerships that strengthen the production of scientific knowledge and the promotion of sustainable practices in the region. During the meeting, the president of UNAMAZ, Professor José Seixas Lourenço, presented the Association's revitalization plan, which seeks to restructure regional and international cooperation, with an emphasis on the integration of education, science, and the environment.
Erwin de Nys, Practice Manager of the World Bank's Climate Finance Mobilization Unit, presented the "Living Amazon" program, which supports sustainable economy initiatives and the protection of the most vulnerable groups in the forest. Funded by the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the program allocates part of its resources to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) for the development of the Amazon Regional Observatory (ORA).
UNAMAZ could collaborate with OTCA within the framework of the “Amazônia Viva” program, maintaining its institutional autonomy and contributing to the dissemination of knowledge produced by ORA among educational institutions in the region. Opportunities for cooperation in short-term actions, with support from the World Bank, aimed at the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge about the Amazon were also discussed.