Press Releases

UNESCO-IHE was mentioned in several Dutch newspapers as one of the seven aid organisations in the Netherlands whereby the top management earns more than the salary of a Director-General at the ministerial level (gross salary of 124,073 Euro). This was published in a report that was commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2009 these aid organisations received over 500,000 Euro in subsidy from the department.

In response to the news items UNESCO-IHE would like to state that the Institute employs its 160 staff members according to the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) of Dutch universities. The Institute is headed by the Rectorate, which comprises of the Rector and Deputy Director. The Rector of the Institute is employed as a UNESCO staff member and therefore falls under the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations. This was agreed upon by the Dutch government and UNESCO at its establishment.

In November 2001, UNESCO’s 31st General Conference decided to make the IHE Delft Foundation an integral part of UNESCO. By March 2003, the necessary treaties and agreements between the IHE Delft Foundation, UNESCO and the Government of the Netherlands were signed, allowing for the entry into operation of the new UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education. UNESCO-IHE continues the work that was started in 1957 when IHE first offered a postgraduate diploma course in hydraulic engineering to practising professionals from developing countries.

More information:

Ms. Alida Pham
Communication and Press Officer
UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
Tel. +31(0)15-2151722 or mobile +31(0)6-12974079
Email: a.pham@unesco-ihe.org