UNESCO and GECF sign a Memorandum of Understanding to foster scientific cooperation 07/12/2020 Share this article On 8 December 2020, UNESCO and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster collaboration and exchange of scientific expertise and knowledge to address emerging environmental challenges towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 agenda. Following the decision of the Executive board in its 209th session, the agreement was signed by Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, the Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences at UNESCO and HE Yury Sentyurin, the Secretary General of the 20-member coalition of the leading gas exporting countries of the world.