To strengthen these efforts and to commemorate World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) and Drought, the signing ceremony of Phase III of the Carbon Sequestration Project (CSP) took place at the Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Management Organization (FRWO).

This year, the hatching of Hawksbill Turtles coincided with International Day for Biological Diversity and commemoration of Ocean Conference.

The Carbon Sequestration Project (CSP) aims to sequester atmospheric carbon in arid and semi-arid areas of Iran and improve the socio-economic status of local communities.

This publication shows how change works. It is a collection of 10 transformative development stories for development practitioners. It explains how the featured projects have yielded lasting, far-reaching results, and accelerated early progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. The interventions profiled here demonstrate how much can happen when commitment is sustained, and when governments, private sector, civil society and UNDP work together. Innovation, delivering at large-scale, and partnership are key elements of the successful projects in the publication. These stories of change document how we can design projects that help us realize the 2030 Agenda promises, particularly leaving no one behind.

Iran launched a national strategic plan today aimed at helping the country to adapt and mitigate to risks from climate change.

Every year, World Malaria Day is commemorated on 25th April. The theme for 2017: “End Malaria for Good” and this is what we - in the Islamic Republic of Iran - are trying to achieve.

Mr Steiner’s nomination for UNDP Administrator was forwarded by Secretary-General António Guterres to the General Assembly, which today confirmed him as the Administrator of UNDP for a term of four years.

The Government of Japan made fourth contribution to UNDP Iran to support restoration efforts in Lake Urmia.

In commemoration of World Water Day 2017, Gary Lewis, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative wrote an Op-Ed on Lake Urmia.

The 2016 Human Development Report was launched in Stockholm on 21 March.