UNESCO Chair on Transboundary Water Management and Governance
Towards Sustainable Water Sustainability in Africa through Water Diplomacy and Science
About the UNESCO Chair
The UNESCO Chair on Transboundary Water Management and Governance at the National Water Research Center (NWRC) promotes sustainable and cooperative management of shared water resources, with a focus on regional challenges such as the Nile Basin.
Strategic Vision
African Leadership in Water Governance
This Chair is an unprecedented strategic achievement as the first UNESCO Chair awarded to the NWRC, and a pioneering global initiative critically focused on the challenges of major African river basins (including the Nile, Zambezi, and Senegal basins). It stems from a comprehensive vision adopting a multidisciplinary approach that integrates hydrology, environmental science, political science, and climate change, with an innovative focus on the management of Blue and Green Water Resources to enhance climate adaptation and the resilience of water systems against global challenges.
Strategic Objectives and Regional Impact
The Chair directly aligns with UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy and Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), aiming to achieve a paradigm shift in water diplomacy
Evidence-Based Policy Development
Providing accurate scientific consultations to support decision-makers in managing shared resources and mitigating water conflicts.
The African Community Platform
Establishing an innovative communication platform that integrates stakeholders in all communities into the heart of the policymaking process
Regional Intellectual Solidarity
Connecting African universities and research centers to exchange knowledge and technology, focusing on regional and international cooperation to enhance water security.
Tangible Action Outputs and Capacity Building
(2026 - 2030)
The Chair’s action plan is designed to deliver measurable and impactful outcomes, including
Leadership Qualification
Training and empowering 120 policymakers and water diplomats by the fourth year through postgraduate programs (Master's and PhD) and intensive courses.
Sustainable and Inclusive Education
Providing fully funded scholarships for African researchers, with a strict commitment to allocating 60% of these scholarships to women and youth, believing in their role as leaders of change.
Applied Scientific Research
Leading joint research utilizing the latest Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and hydrological modeling technologies to predict climate impacts and develop proactive strategies.
Decision Support
Publishing 5 Policy Briefs and disseminating them through UNESCO networks to guide institutional reforms across the continent.
