The Kingdom of the Netherlands,
and
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,
Recalling that the General Conference of UNESCO, at its 34th session (34 C/Resolution 26) approved the establishment of the International Groundwater
Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC) as a centre under the auspices of UNESCO (category
2) and authorized the Director General to sign the corresponding agreement,
Recalling that the Agreement between the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization, concerning the establishment and operation of
the International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre in the Netherlands as a
category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO was concluded in Paris on 15 November 2011,
Considering that the Executive Board at its 200th session decided to renew to IGRAC the category 2 status under the auspices of UNESCO
and authorized the Director General to sign the corresponding agreement (200/EX/Decision
12.1),
Having regard to the Medium-Term Strategy for 2014–2021, approved by UNESCO’s General
Conference at its 37th session (37 C/4),
Underlining that Strategic Objective 4 of the said Strategy is “Strengthening science,
technology and innovation systems and policies – nationally, regionally and globally”,
and that its Strategic Objective 5 is “Promoting international scientific cooperation
on critical challenges to sustainable development”,
Acknowledging the importance of applying the guidelines and criteria for category
2 institutes and centres adopted by the General Conference in the Integrated Comprehensive
Strategy for Category 2 Institutes and Centres under the auspices of UNESCO (37 C/Resolution
93),
Desirous of defining the terms and conditions governing the framework for cooperation
with UNESCO that shall be granted to IGRAC in the present Agreement,