Theme 6: Water Education, Key for Water Security
To meet the challenges identified in the previous five themes, efforts should continue to be made to improve and update water education at all levels. In this context, water education must be interpreted in a broader sense than the teaching of hydrological sciences and related scientific disciplines. Water education within the eighth phase of IHP includes a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach aimed to advance scientific knowledge through the training of scientists, as well as to strengthen and enhance the water sector through the formation of water professionals and decision makers. Water education also entails working with mass and community media professionals to improve their capacities to communicate water issues accurately and effectively. In addition, the program includes community education strategies to promote community-wide water conservation, as well as skills in local co-management of water resources. Finally, actions to make water a significant component of the K-12 curriculum are considered an integral and important part of the water education agenda.
The major challenge that faces the implantation of the various focal areas identified within this theme is related to the need to mobilize adequate human resources to engage in educational and capacity building activities. Notwithstanding the work that started in the sixth phase of the IHP (2002-2007), and the substantial extension of IHP’s action in the field of water education within the seventh phase (2008-2013), during the eight phase efforts to attract and support scientists, professors, teachers and community mobilizers in the sector are to be multiplied to attain the objectives of the program. In this endeavor, the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education and the network of UNESCO Category II Water Centres play an important role. Similarly, during phase VIII IHP is expected to continue to stimulate responsive actions through its partners across UNESCO and the UN System, as well as through its National Committees for the implementation the water education component.
Focal Areas
For more information on each focal area and the implementation plan, please follow the links below:
Implementation Matrices for Theme 6 Focal Areas
- Focal area 6.1 - Enhancing tertiary water education and professional capabilities in the water sector
- Focal area 6.2 - Addressing vocational education and training of water technicians
- Focal area 6.3 - Water education for children and youth
- Focal area 6.4 - Promoting awareness of water issues through informal water education
- Focal area 6.5 - Education for transboundary water cooperation