UNESCO International Geoscience Programme turns focus to Latin America and the Caribbean

Jointly administered and funded by UNESCO and the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS)—the Council approved its project portfolio for 2026 and launched a new dedicated call for the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, backed by USD 150,000 in funding. During the open session, highlights from 2025 and key decisions made in the closed session were presented together with the 2025 Annual Report.

The new Special Call for Latin America and the Caribbean reflects a broader strategic shift toward regionally focused large-scale initiatives, building on the remarkable success of the IGCP Special Call for Africa, launched in 2025.

Designed to strengthen geoscience research and capacity-building across the continent, the Africa call attracted over 300 expressions of interest from 45 countries, involving more than 1,000 researchers in collaborative teams.

Following a highly competitive evaluation process, three projects were selected, each receiving dedicated funding of up to USD 50,000 per year between 2025 and 2028 for three years. These projects address critical regional challenges, including groundwater management, mineral resources, and climate change impacts, while embedding strong capacity-building components in UNESCO Global Geoparks in Africa.

Beyond the selected projects, the scale and quality of submissions demonstrated a substantial and previously under-supported demand for geoscience research in Africa. This response confirmed the effectiveness of targeted regional calls as a mechanism to mobilise scientific communities and address region-specific challenges.

The open session brought together over 150 participants from more than 100 countries, including project leaders, scientific board members, and representatives from UNESCO Member States.

Today, geoscience is more vital than ever because it plays a crucial role in protecting our environment. UNESCO is also proud to be the only United Nations agency with a dedicated mandate and programme for the geosciences. - Antonio Abreu, Director Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences, UNESCO

IUGS President Hassina Mouri highlighted the longstanding and successful collaboration between IUGS and UNESCO spanning over 50 years.

IGCP is a living example of what can be achieved when international cooperation is built on trust, expertise and a broad vision for our shared future. - Hassina Mouri, President, International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS)

Key figures from 2025 highlight the programme’s growing reach

During the open session, there were presentations from projects IGCP 722 (Development Minerals), IGCP 672 (Himalayan Glaciers) and IGCP 766 (FoRGe - Fostering Researchers in the Geosciences), which outlined the need for further training and research grants for African scientists.

With its next funding call focused on Latin America and the Caribbean, IGCP is reinforcing its commitment to supporting geoscience where it is most needed. Researchers from the region are encouraged to begin preparing proposals, while international partners are invited to collaborate.

The IGCP continues to serve as a global platform for scientific cooperation, advancing geoscience research and capacity-building in support of sustainable development, now with an increasingly strategic regional focus designed to maximise impact at scale.

International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme