UNESCO and the Netherlands agree to change the status of the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education | WPN World People News

Water stands at the heart of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as an essential force for the implementation of many of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

UNESCO and the Netherlands share the view that a key challenge for many countries in advancing more sustainable development is the lack of well-trained water professionals. This is why we are proud of the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, located in Delft, the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Since its creation in 1957 as a center of excellence in water management, and as a UNESCO Category 1 Centre since 2003, the Institute has trained more than 15,000 water professionals from more than 160 countries. The Institute has been and remains highly valued by Member States of UNESCO. UNESCO-IHE is a strong pillar in the UNESCO «water family», including the Organization's International Hydrological Programme, the World Water Assessment Programme, as well as UNESCO Centres and Chairs specialized in water around the globe.

With this in mind, UNESCO and the Netherlands have assessed the current agreements regarding UNESCO-IHE, which will come to an end by 3151 December 2016.

Both parties have come to the conclusion that in order to facilitate continuous funding beyond 2016 by the Dutch Government, and for the Institute to continue providing its highly appreciated activities in education, training and research, supporting and complementing UNESCO's water programmes, a new cooperative framework would provide the necessary flexibility to allow the Institute to grow and develop for the benefit of UNESCO Member States.

In this spirit, the Netherlands have decided to initiate within the coming weeks the application process for the Institute to become a Category 2 centre under UNESCO auspices. At the same time, UNESCO and the Institute will pursue a smooth transition process through the signing of a cooperation agreement in order to ensure the continuous operation of the Institute beyond 2016, including the use of the name UNESCO-IHE and UNESCO logo, until the Category 2 status will be considered by the General Conference of UNESCO at its 39th session in November 2017.

UNESCO expresses its deep gratitude to the Government and people of the Netherlands for their renewed commitment to continue providing the basic subsidy to the Institute beyond 2016, providing a vital service to the international community as a whole by supporting a scientific institution of global excellence in education, training and research on water issues in the years to come.

UNESCO and the Netherlands recognize and appreciate the role and good offices of the IHE Delft Foundation in facilitating past and leading future operations and for the functioning of UNESCO-IHE, notably through the dedication and commitment of the personnel at the Institute to provide educational programmes of excellence and an inspiring learning environment for students and professionals from across the world.

UNESCO and the Netherlands appeal to all Member States, concerned entities in the United Nations System, as well as academic institutions and non-governmental organizations committed to water management, to continue supporting the Institute and also further increase the number of students and professionals benefitting from its excellent programmes in education, training and research.

Source: United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization