Scientific cooperation with UNESCO in natural sciences: The category 2 centre model and policy recommendations for Vietnam

Abstract

The world is currently facing an era of profound complexity, uncertainty, and escalating crises that exert serious negative impacts on global peace, security, and development. Global challenges such as natural disasters, pandemics, climate change, environmental and energy security, and growing inequality are becoming increasingly severe, slowing progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, member states have increasingly emphasized multilateralism, in which UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) plays a vital and strategic role. Since its establishment, UNESCO has taken a leading position in promoting multilateral cooperation to sustain peace, respond to global challenges, and support collaboration among nations - particularly in the field of natural sciences - to advance the implementation of the SDGs. This paper examines the Category 2 Centre model under UNESCO’s framework for natural science cooperation and proposes several recommendations to enhance Vietnam’s engagement and strategic positioning within this mechanism.