Water in its multiple roles as a resource that meets basic necessities, as a critical factor in the economic development of a society; and as a vital element in supporting the earth’s ecosystems, has become a global policy priority.

Lack of access to water is a critical, locally recurring global problem, which raises questions about mechanisms for allocation of water rights. The threats to the ecological and social services provided by water have brought the issue of environmental protection to the fore-front. The increasing demand for water and other environmental resources has led to the notion of integrated water resources management within the context of sustainable development.

Learning objectives

The goal of the course is to introduce the student to the complexities of the relationship between water, environmental and economic issues; the relationship between law, politics and policymaking at local, national, regional and international level.

The objectives are:

to enhance knowledge of international water and environmental law and how it influences national decision-making on resource use;
to enhance knowledge of regional and national water and environmental problems and how law, politics and policies are used to address these problems;
to increase the ability of participants to analyze the interrelations between the various issues; and to develop analytical academic skills, policies strategies and negotiation techniques;
to connect professionals from different parts of the world and different organizations to allow for exchange of ideas and insights and to learn from each other’s experiences; and
to create a continuous learning environment where professionals can 'meet' and refresh their knowledge on the subject.

Target group

The course is designed for professionals involved in or affected by policy-making, law-making or negotiations on a national or international level and who do not have the time to undertake a course of study lasting several weeks abroad, such as (senior) civil servants of ministries and government institutes, directors and staff members of NGO’s or consultants.

Course structure

This online course is to be completed in ten weeks at 8 study hours per week. The web based I-learning Environment is used for downloading training material and communication. In case of internet difficulties, materials can be obtained on DVD.

Course content

The course is sub-divided into various subjects and assignments.

The course includes short films, interviews, power-points and texts. The combination of these educational materials should help the participant understand the key elements of the course. For each topic there are multiple-choice questions to help the participants ensure that they have a factual grasp of the subject. There are points to ponder in each subject to stimulate reflection on the subject matter especially with respect to the specific context within which the participant functions.

Participants will be asked to write a paper that reflects their ability to combine the different elements in the curriculum with respect to a specific problem. Where possible, participants may also be asked to prepare a poster that communicates key issues relevant to a particular subject. Where there are a number of participants from one geographical location, it may be possible to set up face-to-face lectures and discussions via video conferencing facilities. The course will be evaluated based on the results from the different assignments. After completion, participants will receive a certificate issued by UNESCO-IHE.

Additional information

To get further information on the course and/or on the starting dates, please contact: info@unesco-ihe.org or Raquel dos Santos