UNESCO-IHE holds Information Meeting on Water Education

On 22 June 2009, UNESCO-IHE presented its contributions to water education to UNESCO Member States Delegates. The briefing was held during an Information Meeting on Water Education at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.

Mr Marcio Barbosa, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, opened the meeting by expressing his concerns for water issues around the globe. He addressed the delegates by stating the need of water education and highlighted UNESCO's cross-sectoral efforts over decades.

Barbosa gave a comprehensive overview of the four pillars of UNESCO's freshwater actions working together to deliver water education challenges: WWAP, UNESCO-IHP, UNESCO-IHE and UNESCO water-related centres and chairs. He stressed the importance of UNESCO-IHE's as the largest postgraduate water education facility in the world and the only institution in the UN system authorised to confer accredited degrees. He asked permanent delegates to fully support UNESCO-IHE.