Unesco-IHE and Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment take next step in cooperation

Unesco-IHE Vice-rector Stefan Uhlenbrook and Minister Schultz van Haegen of Infrastructure and Environment signed a Memorandum of Understanding, marking a new step in the joint effort of developing research, education and innovation in the field of water security and quality.

The cooperation, which started in 2003, will be continued for another four years.

The MoU was signed at Unesco-IHE Institute for Water Education in Delft, the Nertherlands on 20 April.

Opportunities for young people
Minister Schultz is pleased with the new cooperation. "This year the World Economic Forum stated that water is the world's biggest threat. I believe it is crucial that young people are fascinated by water and want to find solutions for water issues in their country. It is essential that these young people get the opportunity to exchange experiences and take in new knowledge."

Building bridges
Professor Uhlenbrook: "The Unesco-IHE has a unique role as the largest provider of graduate level education and research specifically for the water sector, with a focus on developing countries and countries in transition. It plays a particularly important role in building bridges for the water sector between Europe - and the Netherlands in particular - and the rest of the world. I am delighted that we are able to work on this together with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment."

Training and capacity building
The cooperation, which is of programmatic nature and focuses on integral water management, aims at supporting the Dutch international water agenda. With research, education and innovation the cooperation provides a contribution for four years in many areas: from delta technology to maritime technology, but also to putting knowledge and know how on the market.

The activities UnescoIHE undertakes in the area of training, capacity building, research and knowledge sharing are the fundament.

The MoU mainly aims at developing:
● developing climate adaptation strategies of deltas within the river basin
● supporting the ministry's innovation programme regarding water technology and ports development
● contributing to the sustainable economic cooperation agenda of the Dutch government

The fact that Unesco-IHE works on these themes with a network of western and non-western partners, on an international scale, makes the Institute a suitable partner for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment.

This news item was originally published on the website of Unesco-IHE and the Dutch ministry (in Dutch only)

More information
Unesco-IHE
Delft, the Netherlands
+31 15 212 29 21
www.unesco-ihe.org

Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment
The Hague, the Netherlands
+31 70 456 00 00 
www.government.nl/ministries/ienm