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UNEP Executive Director appointed Mr. Takehiro Nakamura as Director of UNEP DTIE International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC). He assumed the position on 1 July 2009.
Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Nakamura was the Senior Programme Officer, International Waters, Division of Global Environment Facility (GEF) Coordination in Nairobi from 2006 to 2009. In this position, Mr. Nakamura was engaged in the development and oversight of projects mainly funded by the GEF in addressing transboundary and global issues relevant to international water systems. In his new position, his responsibility includes the management of IETC in Osaka and Shiga under the guidance form the DTIE Director.
Technology transfer issues have been more pronounced in recent years in the international environmental agenda than ever before, particularly in the climate change negotiation. UNEP IETC has a broad mandate to address environmental challenges through transfer of technologies and good practices. Such technologies can positively impact on the environmental conditions, and should provide economic benefits to local communities, the latter of which should be emphasised especially in view of the current economic crisis. The Centre has conducted a series of successful pilot demonstration activities in the past and while continuing to test and demonstrate innovative approaches, technologies and practices, the Centre can also start disseminating the results of the pilot demonstration activities through global and regional mechanisms in order to ensure that the results will be incorporated into national and regional policies.
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