UNESCO creates a water grants programme

With this initiative, UNESCO aims to increase the numbers of water professionals to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to ensure their sustainability in the longer term.

The continuing shortfall in funds available for fellowships to support training at UNESCO-IHE encouraged UNESCO to enable new means to increase the financial support of good students coming from developing countries facing burning water problems.

UNESCO calls for all Member States to provide direct support to this grants’ programme and to actively support and contribute to research efforts within the scope of a global assessment of water education needs, in particular through the IHP National Committees.

UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education receives more than 1,400 applications for its Msc programmes per year, but can only provide funds for 160 students. Most of the Institute’s students require external funding to pursue their studies.