On 18 November 2025, the Secretary-General of the International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO), Mr. Arguj Kalantarli, met with Mr. David Fernández Puyana, Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the University for Peace (UPEACE) to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.

The meeting provided an opportunity for a constructive exchange on areas of mutual interest and the shared commitment of both institutions to promoting peace, resilience, and humanitarian stability. The discussion focused on identifying new avenues of cooperation between ICDO and UPEACE in the fields of civil defence, disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness, and peace-related capacity development.

Both sides explored possibilities for joint initiatives aimed at strengthening institutional cooperation, enhancing knowledge exchange, and supporting capacity-building activities, including the potential organization of joint training programmes, workshops, and academic exchanges to advance shared objectives and expand practical collaboration.

The parties further agreed on the importance of developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would formally establish the framework for future cooperation and facilitate the implementation of common activities.

During the meeting, a presentation was also delivered on the work of the ICDO’s International Monitoring and Coordination Centre (IMCC). The presentation highlighted the Centre’s essential role in supporting Member States through real-time information-sharing, early warning, and coordination in natural and man-made disaster situations.

The meeting reaffirmed the strong convergence of ICDO’s humanitarian mandate and UPEACE’s peace-oriented mission, emphasizing the value of continued cooperation in strengthening the resilience of communities and advancing global peace and security.