TryfactaEDU Global Foundation to Host UNESCO MOST BRIDGES South Asia Regional Programme Office at GIFT City
National: TryfactaEDU Global Foundation has been selected to host the South Asia Regional Programme Office of the UNESCO MOST BRIDGES Coalition at Gujarat International Finance Tec City (GIFT City), Gujarat, marking a development in regional sustainability research and international collaboration.
The BRIDGES Directorate and the International Programme Office at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David will work with the Foundation to establish the Regional Programme Office. The initiative is intended to expand the Coalition’s presence in South Asia while supporting interdisciplinary sustainability programmes across the region.
According to the announcement, the office is expected to begin operations between July and September 2026, with full programme implementation scheduled to commence in October 2026.
The decision to establish the Regional Programme Office was approved by the BRIDGES Governing Council during its meeting held on June 26, 2026. The Council cited TryfactaEDU Global Foundation’s work in education, research, innovation, and international partnerships as part of its decision.
The new office forms part of the UNESCO MOST BRIDGES Coalition’s 2026–2028 strategic roadmap, which aims to expand transdisciplinary sustainability science through a global network of regional and thematic hubs. Operating under UNESCO’s Management of Social Transformations (MOST) Programme, the initiative seeks to strengthen partnerships, expand activities in underserved regions, and support institutions working on humanities-driven sustainability science and locally relevant solutions.
Commenting on the development, Dr. John Crowley, Interim Chair of the Foundation Board of Directors, TryfactaEDU Global Foundation, said the establishment of the South Asia Regional Programme Office represents an important step in strengthening regional collaboration and advancing humanities-driven sustainability science. He added that the Foundation looks forward to supporting cooperation among academia, policymakers, civil society, and local communities on sustainability challenges.
Dr. Steven Hartman, Executive Director of the UNESCO MOST BRIDGES Coalition, said the new Regional Programme Office supports the Coalition’s strategic expansion in Asia and its efforts to strengthen transdisciplinary sustainability science through regional hubs and member institutions. He noted that South Asia’s knowledge systems, research ecosystem, and diverse communities make it an important region for developing locally relevant sustainability solutions.
The South Asia Regional Programme Office will function as a coordination hub connecting universities, research institutions, policymakers, civil society organisations, and local communities to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and humanities-driven sustainability science.
The office has been established through collaboration between TryfactaEDU Global Foundation, the UNESCO MOST BRIDGES Coalition Directorate, and the International Programme Office at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. It aims to strengthen links between international science-policy initiatives and locally led sustainability efforts.
Based at GIFT City, the office will facilitate knowledge exchange, support the onboarding of regional member organisations and hubs, and encourage the implementation of the UNESCO Guidelines for Sustainability Science in Research and Education across South Asia.
In addition, the Regional Programme Office will promote the integration of educational sciences, communications, media, and the arts into sustainability research and stakeholder engagement. Its focus areas include water resources, urban planning, energy systems, bioethics, environmental ethics, AI ethics, and food systems.
