CityUHK pledges support for UN-backed Sanitation & Hygiene Fund

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CityUHK pledges support for UN-backed Sanitation & Hygiene Fund

Vanessa Cheung

02 Aug 2024

President Boey (left) meets with Mr O'Neill to affirm their intention to promote knowledge and technical collaboration between CityUHK and the SHF of the United Nations to drive sanitation economies and catalyse financing for the Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Recognised as the Most International University in the World by Times Higher Education in 2024, City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is committed to contributing to the betterment of society and global sustainable development by strengthening collaboration with partners from around the world. A high-level delegation led by Professor Freddy Boey, CityUHK President, visited Geneva, Switzerland, to establish partnership with the Sanitation & Hygiene Fund (SHF), of the United Nations.

President Boey met with Mr Dominic O'Neill, Executive Director of the SHF of the United Nations, on 16 July, in which both parties affirmed their intention to promote knowledge and technical collaboration to drive sanitation economies and catalyse financing for the Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), both parties agreed to explore the feasibility of carrying out exchange visits of leaders and researchers and intellectual exchange on the development of market maturity frameworks for the sanitation economy and the menstrual health and hygiene market.

The MoU also explores opportunities to stress-test the SHF theory of change and its financing model and assumptions, and identify and help potential partners leverage the SHF model to start a proof-of-concept phase in Asia. Both parties will also look for opportunities to develop and execute joint resource mobilisation activities in the region, jointly pursue public policy collaboration, jointly publish guidelines and case studies, and undertake joint academic research in areas of mutual interest and publish their achievements in academic journals, books and monographs.

President Boey said, "CityUHK is actively forming partnerships with global esteemed universities and organisations to strive for academic and scientific research excellence. By joining hands with global partners, CityUHK is poised to tackle pressing global challenges and contribute to the sustainable development of society."

CityUHK is committed to promoting academic and scientific research collaboration by establishing partnerships with esteemed universities and organisations worldwide. Notable partners include (in alphabetical order): National University of Singapore, Peking University, Satbayev University, Tsinghua University, University of Cambridge, University of Johannesburg in South Africa, and others. For more information about CityUHK's global partnerships, please visit the thematic website.