The Graduate Institute and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), represented by their directors, Philippe Burrin and Inger Andersen, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 22 March 2019 to enhance and widen their cooperation in the areas of research, internship and career opportunities, joint outreach projects and executive education training programmes.

The Memorandum solidifies the already close partnership between the two international institutions. Most recently, the IUCN celebrated its 70th anniversary at the Graduate Institute in a public event entitled, “Nature’s Contribution to the 2030 Agenda”. The event was opened by Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Swiss Confederation, and followed by interventions from HSH Prince Albert of Monaco and Audrey Azoulay, Director General of UNESCO, amongst others. The IUCN is also a partner in the Institute’s 2019 capstone projects, where students in the interdisciplinary master programmes will research the essential role of parks and reserves in finding protected area solutions.

The Memorandum will be valid for a period of five years. It further strengthens the network of strategic relationships of the Graduate Institute with key actors in International Geneva.