E Newsletter 76

THE INPIM E-NEWSLETTER

June 13, 2008; Number 76

http://www.inpim.org

e-newsletter@inpim.org

 

Welcome to the INPIM E-Newsletter # 76

 

NEWS

 

Ø  Austria Contributes $5 Million to Multi-Donor Water Fund.

Ø Philippines Prepare River Management Roadmap.

Ø India-Nepal Cooperation in Water Resources to Strengthen Ties.

Ø Nigeria: Jigawa Invests N150m in Water Improvement.

Ø Rwanda Becomes the Seventh Country to Be Joining the Global Water Partnership.

Ø Water Shortages Looming in MEA.

Ø  Six Rivers Lose 1.88 MAF Annually: Irrigation Water in Punjab, NWFP

Ø Waimanalo Farmers Ordered to Cut Water Use.

Ø Yemen - Groundwater and Soil Conservation Project.

Ø Australia to Invest AUS$12.9bn in 10-Year Water Program.

 

DONORS’ LENDING AND SUPPORT FOR IRRIGATION & DRAINAGE PROJECTS

 

World Bank

 

Ø      World Bank Provides US$5m to China for Implementation of Irrigation Water Improvement, Agriculture Intensification and Climate Change Projects.

Ø      World Bank Administered GPOBA Grants of US$5.25 million to Improve Access to Water Services in Urban and Peri urban Areas of Cameroon

 

Upcoming Regional and International Meets and Events

 

Ø      Singapore International Water Week 2008: Water Convention

23-27 June 2008

Singapore

Ø      Groundwater and Climate in Africa - An International Conference

25-28 June 2008

Kampala, Uganda

Ø      10th International Drainage Workshop of ICID Working Group on Drainage

06-11 July 2008

Helsinki, Finland

Ø      World Water Week in Stockholm

17-23 August 2008

Stockholm, Sweden

Ø      IV International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management

15-18 October 2008

Thessaloniki, Greece

Ø      International Convention on Water Resources Development and Management

23-26 October 2008

BITS Pilani Rajasthan, India

Ø      13th World Water Congress

01-04 September 2008

Montpellier, France

Ø      Africa Water Resources Management 2008 (AfricaWRM 2008)

8-10 September 2008

Gaborone, Botswana

Ø      WaterTech Central Asia: Central Asian International Water Technology Exhibition & Conference

16-18 September 2008

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Ø      ICID’s 20th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage

13-19 October 2008

Lahore, Pakistan

Ø      International Symposium on Multiple-Use Water Services

04-06 November 2008

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

NEW PUBLICATIONS

 

Ø      Good Practices for Estimating Reliable Willingness-to-Pay Values in the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector

Ø      Water Engineering in Ancient Civilizations5000 years of History

Ø      Changing or Transferring an Existing Water Right

 

Fellowship and funding opportunities

 

Ø      University of Groningen PhD Fellowship

Ø      Amsterdam Merit Scholarships

Ø      Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program

 

CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAININGS

 

Ø      Applied Groundwater Modelling

16 June-4 July 2008

DELFT, The Netherlands

Ø      Managing Organizations and Change

16 June-4 July 2008

DELFT, The Netherlands

Ø      Public Private Partnerships in the Water Sector

07-25 July 2008

DELFT, The Netherlands

Ø "2008 Integrated Water Resources Management Advanced International Training Programme"

11 August-2 September 2008 (Sweden)
17-28 November 2008 (Lao PDR)

Ø      Spate Irrigation and Water Management under Drought and Water Scarcity

10-21 September 2008

UNESCO-IHE

 

DETAILS

 

NEWS

 

Austria Contributes $5 Million to Multi-Donor Water Fund.

 

MANILA, PHILIPPINES: The Government of Austria has agreed to contribute $5 million to the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Water Financing Partnership Facility (WFPF), helping to provide safe drinking water and sanitation services in remote and impoverished areas of the Asia and Pacific region.

 

Austria joins Australia and Norway in the multi-donor fund that provides resources to ADB’s Water Financing Program 2006–2010. The Program focuses on the delivery of substantial investment, reform, and capacity development in three key areas – rural water services, urban water services, and river basin water management. Contributions to the Facility are directed primarily toward demonstration projects and support activities.

 

“By supporting the WFPF, our development partners directly help to improve the lives of millions of people and make a significant contribution for achieving the Millennium Development Goals,” said Karen Decker, ADB’s Senior Financing Partnerships Specialist. “The WFPF strengthens partnerships in the water sector among governments, donors, civil society, and the private sector at the project and country levels.”  ADB approved the establishment of the WFPF in December 2006 to mobilize additional resources from development partners for the Water Financing Program. Resources from partners under the WFPF are provided through project-specific loans, grants or guarantees under framework agreements negotiated with each financing partner, pooled grants through the Facility’s trust fund component, and other forms of assistance.

 

To date, WFPF actual and intended commitments include $19.8 million from The Netherlands, about $32 million equivalent from Australia, about $5.5 million equivalent from Norway, and $5 million from Austria.

 

(Source: Asian Development Bank, www.adb.org)

 

Philippines Prepares River Management Roadmap.

 

MANILA, (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX).The River Basin Control Office (RBCO) is spearheading preparation of a road map for Philippine rivers. This road map aims to establish the general direction on how we can manage our rivers, RBCO Executive Director Vicente Tuddao Jr. said.  Top of FBottom of He noted river management is urgent as these water bodies are reeling from pollution that domestic, industrial and agro-forestry sources generate.

 

With economic development, river conditions tend to worsen so we must address such, he said. National Water Resources Board, Laguna Lake Development Authority, Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, non-government organization Sagip Pasig Movement as well as Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are helping RBCO to develop the map.  Tuddao said RBCO and its partners already identified for the roadmap eight strategies that are expected to advance governments vision for Philippine rivers.

 

These strategies are the ecosystem management approach, investment inflow, land use zoning, effective river administration, database management system, institutional arrangements for financing and partnerships, socio-cultural and economic viability of action taken as well as consistency of measures with existing laws. Were envisioning our rivers to be safe, clean and able to meet needs of people working collectively for a balanced eco-system, Tuddao noted.

Last week, RBCO and its partners met to refine the roadmaps draft outline prepared in March this year.

 

DENRs Environment Management Bureau (EMB) prioritized monitoring of 19 rivers for compliance by 2010 with Department Administrative Order 90-34 water quality criteria. The priority sites are Marikina, San Juan, Paranaque and Pasig rivers in National Capital Region (NCR); Cordillera Administrative Regions Balili River; Region 3s Meycauayan, Marilao and Bocaue rivers; Region 4As Imus and Ylang-ylang rivers; Region 4Bs Mogpog and Calapan rivers; Region 5s Anayan, Malaguit and Pinique rivers; Region 6s Iloilo River; Region 7s Luyang and Sapangdaku rivers as well as Region 10s Cagayan de Oro River.  Most priority rivers located in urbanized areas of NCR and Region 3 show poor water quality and continue to exhibit deteriorating DO levels, EMB said in its 2001-2005 National Water Quality Status Report released last year. EMB said dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the priority rivers must rise 30 percent from what these were during the agencys monitoring in 2003.  Oxygen is measured in its dissolved form as DO which cannot sustain aquatic life if its level dips below five milligrams per liter (mg/L), EMB noted.

 

EMB attributed plunging DO levels to domestic and industrial waste discharges from communities and industrial sites near water bodies.  The report said DO level in Bulacan provinces Marilao River plunged 62 percent from 2.6 percent (2003) to one percent (2005).  Other priority rivers where DO levels dipped to less than five mg/L in 2005 were Marikina River, San Juan River, Paranaque River, Pasig River, Meycauayan River, Bocaue River and Calapan River.

 

( Source: http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news)

 

India-Nepal Cooperation in Water Resources to Strengthen Ties.

 

Patna, India and Nepal should join hands to improve management of shared water resources for strengthening people-to-people relations, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his views. The two countries share immense water resources, which if properly harnessed, could wipe out poverty, boost economic growth and employment and lead to a more egalitarian society, he said in his inaugural speech at a two-day seminar on “Emerging Trends in India-Nepal Relations”.

 

Bihar, which shares nearly 700 kms of open, porous border with Nepal, is hit almost every year by floods due to river water flows from the neighbouring country.

 

“India-Nepal cooperation in the water resources offers a multitude of benefits to the people across the border. The annual destruction of life and properties due to floods will be reversed,” he said. Nitish Kumar said that the two neighbours can join hands to create irrigation facilities, moderate floods, generate hydro-electricity and provide navigation facilities to landlocked Nepal.

 

“India-Nepal cooperation is of paramount importance for the optimum utilisation of water and overall development of the region,” he said. Nitish Kumar also said that three important projects including the Sapta Kosi high dam, Kamla reservoir project and Bagmati reservoir need mutual cooperation. ”There is some progress at the government level in extension of embankments on some of the rivers flowing from Nepal into India,” he said.

 

Nitish Kumar said Nepal needs India’s investments in water resources development as well as expertise and hydro-electric market. India-Nepal agreements on the Kosi and Gandak projects provide the precedence for future endeavours and joint ventures by the two countries, according to the chief minister. “Our development cooperation engagement with Nepal has emerged as a cornerstone of India -Nepal relations. The importance of this cooperation grows even more now as Nepal enters a historic phase of new nation-building based on inclusive democracy, peace and stability. A strong, stable and peaceful Nepal is in India’s interest,” he said.

 

Kumar said India was undertaking projects for development of over 1,500 km of road network that would provide easy access to the east-west highway from border regions. Similarly, a proposed project for cross-border rail links at five locations along the border will boost cross-border linkages and promote trade and commerce.

 

Hisila Yami, a senior Maoist leader and minister for physical planning and works in the outgoing government, is leading a 45-member Nepalese delegation at the seminar. Minister of State for Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh, former foreign secretary Shyam Saran and Nepal’s ambassador to India Durgesh Mansingh are among the participants.

 

(Source: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/south-asia/india-nepal)

 

Nigeria: Jigawa Invests N150m in Water Improvement.

 

Alhaji Salisu Mahmud, the Jigawa state Commissioner for Water Resources has disclosed that the State Government is investing heavily in water related projects with the sole aim of improving the standard of living of the people of the state. Mahmud who was speaking at commissioning of the office of the Jigawa state Integrated Water Resources Management Committee in Dutse, disclosed that this dedication informs the government's commitment to the Hadejia Jama-are Komadugu Yobe Basin trust fund.

 

To this end, he disclosed that the State Government has contributed the sum of N150 million to the Basin Trust Fund, in order to improve the livelihood of the people living along the River basin in the State. The Commissioner noted that Jigawa State Government has been actively collaborating and cooperating in the management of water resources in Hadejia Jama-are Komadugu Yobe Basin through participation in the Governors summit and meeting all its counterpart funding obligations at all times. He also explained that his ministry is cooperating with the State Integrated Water Resources Management Committee in the area of sustainable development through enhanced water and land resources development.

 

Mahmud disclosed that his ministry has commenced consultations with a view to reviewing the state's water policy for a sustainable water resources management and development pointing out that the committee was crucial to make the policy all encompassing and all inclusive. He charged the committee to collaborate, cooperate and advice on technical issues that will enhance the water resources management in the state stressing that water is always crucial whether it is for domestic use or is a source of livelihood.

 

(Source: http://www.allafrica.com/stories)

 

Rwanda Becomes the Seventh Country to Be Joining the Global Water Partnership.

 

Global water partnership GWP is a group of countries around the world striving to ensure proper use of water and management of its resources. All countries of  Eastern Africa face similar severe water constraints in GWP whereby they are plagued by deforestation and poor agricultural practices leading to reduced retention periods, surface runoffs and soil cover losses. Conflicts over water are increasing as the population level becomes the main cause of morbidity in all the countries in the region, where poor sanitation complex health problems are seen to effect both the urban and rural environments.

 

Therefore in the quest to see to it that such hazards that have seen per capita income in the region fall drastically and are not checked and at the same time sustainable livelihoods cannot be guaranteed the Rwanda water partnership was established. During the launching of Rwanda water partner Simon Thuo the Regional Coordinator of Global Water Partnership Eastern Africa (GWP-EnA), said that Rwanda's entry would foster integrated water resources with an aim to ensure the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximize economic and social welfare in the East African Region.

 

He went on to say that Rwanda now joining GWP is an important milestone as it has become the seventh to enter the partnership under the grouping of member countries in the Eastern Africa region which include amongst others Burundi , Ethiopia , Eritrea , Kenya , Uganda and Sudan. Officiating the launch, Bikoro Munyanganizi said that Rwanda was indeed privileged to have a regional contribution on sustainability of water management. He called on the private sector and regional partners to work together to develop a framework of working together and promised total government commitment and support for the success of Rwanda water partnership.

 

The minister also urged the civil society in the country to work together as a team for sustainable socio-economic and political development.

Simon Thou explained to focus how this partnership will benefit Rwanda where he said that it will enable GWP to promote the concept and implementation of integrated water resources management as a vital approach to managing water resources in Rwanda. He also noted that GWP EnA will facilitate Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), water policy and strategy development at the country and regional levels, where IWRM program and tools will be provided in response to Rwanda's needs.

 

Liliane Sandra Kent made a presentation on water sources in Rwanda where she said that water supply is 40 and 8.15 lpcd in urban and rural areas respectively although it should be 90 and 20 lpcd. On sanitation she pointed out that sanitation coverage is 56 and 42% in urban and rural areas respectively. "Irrigation has not yet been well developed and so far it is only practiced in marshlands plus there is high hydro potential in the country but only 4% of it is exploited," said Liliane Sandra Kent. She went on to say that IWRM is still a new concept in RWANDA which has not yet been well understood by every involved stakeholder, although it is being adopted and applied gradually.

 

Speaking on the constraints and gaps for the efficient use and management of our water sources she remarked that the Legislation Framework for the regulation of the water sector is not sufficient for the proper management of the water resources and that the country still lacks a water law. She added that the institutional framework for the coordination of water resources management as well as the mechanisms for the monitoring and assessment is weak (REMA, RBS).

 

In this regard Liliane Sandra Kent also noted that the data regarding water resources are insufficient and incomplete and also that water consumption in Rwanda is still far below the minimum allowable consumption. She also pointed out that lack of community awareness on sustainable development is leading to the misuse of available resources, and that the participation of women in water infrastructures management is insufficient. At the end of the presentation Liliane Sandra Kent spoke on some recommendations that could be used to ensure efficient use of our water resources, where she said that the level of collaboration among all stakeholders involved in the water sector needs to be increased and that people need to be sensitize on the sustainable development.

Another recommendation she mentioned was that women need to be encouraged to participate in decision making in the water sector.

 

At the end of this presentation participants called for the need of a new model of water management which they said should include other issues like air pollution and water and peace practice systems.

 

(Source: http://www.allafrica.com/stories)

 

Water Shortages Looming in MEA.

 

The amount of water per person in Middle East will be decreased to a half by 2050. The World Bank has warned that overuse of water resources in the Middle East has put the region at the risk of serious water shortages.

 

According to a report from the bank, the amount of water available per person in the Middle East, one of the world's most arid regions, will halve by 2050. However, the World Bank said that the crisis can be avoided if the regional governments tackle water waste, build more efficient networks and reduce water use. Mr Julia Bucknall natural resource management specialist at the World Bank said that "We have simply got to reduce the amount of water used, especially in agriculture which accounts for 85% of the total. If we plan for the future, it is a lot simpler than crisis management further down the line.

Declining water quality has already decreased gross domestic product in Morocco, Algeria and Egypt by around 1% and almost 3% in Iran.

 

(Source: http://steelguru.com/news)

 

Six Rivers Lose 1.88 MAF Annually: Irrigation Water in Punjab, NWFP.

                                                                                                         

At a time when the country’s agricultural production is being hampered by less availability of irrigation water, six rivers in the Barani areas of the Punjab and NWFP are losing 1.88 million acre feet (MAF) of water on annual basis, an official study says. Merely, 0.22 MAF is currently being tapped across a total basin area of 22,307 square kilometers, comprising the rivers of Soan, Haro, Reshi, Bunha, Kahan and Kanshi, according to statistics compiled by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

 

However, the ADB has agreed to finance community water storage and irrigated agriculture project, which has been proposed by the governments of Punjab and NWFP, to contribute to sustained long-term social and economic development and reduced drought vulnerability in Punjab’s Potohar region and barani areas of NWFP. The total cost of the project is estimated at $103.36 million. ADB’s share in total project cost would amount to 72.6 per cent, while the government and beneficiary shares would amount to 25.3 per cent and 2.1 per cent, respectively.


 

With a vast untapped potential both provincial governments are pursuing small dam development with Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) financing.
However, while a commitment to small dam development at the level of the government is there, the programmes do not extend beyond securing funds from the PSDP and construction of dams, the ADB noted. Though the absence of a productive section of the population that has sought its main source of livelihood off-farm due to the arid conditions of barani, agriculture has played a big role in holding back the anticipated benefits in agriculture from investment in the sub-sector, unarticulated policy, institutional dynamics and capacity compound to keep the potential of these small dams dormant, the study pointed out.

Devoid of participatory planning, involvement and inclusion of other stakeholders and direct beneficiaries, and in the absence of a dedicated irrigated agriculture advisory and support services with a well-thought out strategy to work as an initial catalyst, water remains unutilised for remunerative agriculture once the dam is built. From a sample of 28 dams, 60 per cent of the dams were able to develop only 20 per cent to 40 per cent of their command area. On the rest of the dams, on an average, 87 per cent of the planned area could be developed. Since 1961, a total of 41 small dams have been constructed in the rain-fed areas of the Potohar Plateau in the Punjab Province, 12 of which were financed through the ADB under the Small Dams Project during 1986 to 1993.

Nine dams are currently under different stages of construction. Out of the dams under construction, four are in Chakwal, three in Jhelum and one each in Rawalpindi and Attock. Similarly, since 1962, 15 small dams have been built and are operational in the NWFP, five of them under ADB funding of the Drought Emergency Relief Assistance programme, and one exclusively for municipal water supplies in Karak. In both provinces there is a marked contrast between the irrigated and non-irrigated/barani areas. In Punjab, these barani areas mainly lie in the Potohar Plateau between the Indus and Jhelum rivers that covers an area of 2.2 million hectares of which one million hectares are under rain-fed agriculture. There are around 2,600 villages having population of 4.2 million, and these people generally have far more limited opportunities for productive agriculture and the livelihoods it supports than the farmers in the irrigated areas.

 

In NWFP 800,000 hectares of cultivable land is not irrigated. Barani agriculture in the Punjab represents about 20 per cent of the cultivated area, whereas in NWFP this is about 59 per cent. Rains are very erratic and a major portion is received during the monsoon months in July-August. Characteristics related to barani farming system are low cropping intensities and lower yields compared to irrigated agriculture due to mainly poor soil and water management, lack of access to services, modern inputs and production technologies, and a large number of unviable and below subsistence land holding sizes, the study said.
Both NWFP and the Punjab are pursuing a small dam development programme to harvest waters from river basins in their respective rain-fed areas. Similar to the Indus Basin canal systems, the small dams are mainly conceived to supply water to agriculture. However, unlike the Indus Basin canal system where the water mostly originates in neighboring countries or comes from snow melt in the Himalayas, water for the small dams in barani areas is harvested from relatively close proximity.

 

Through small dam projects the provinces ensure that runoff generated within catchments that lie in their territorial jurisdictions is not lost and is stored. While a rationale for water resource development to meet the needs of a growing population and to support a growing economy clearly exists for barani areas, utilization of small dams constructed in the past 40 years to add value to agriculture has not been adequate. Assumptions about transfer to remunerative irrigated agriculture, with hitherto unavailable water provided through small dams, have not proven correct. By and large farmers continue to practice rain-fed agriculture with conjunctive use of reservoir irrigation water rather than growing crops under an irrigation regime and commensurate cultural practices. Barani farmers in both NWFP and Potohar generally produce subsistence crops (wheat), along with some cash crops and fodder. A large proportion of their household income comes from off- farm sources.

 

In on-farm activities their primary concern is livestock which is mainly tended by women who do not migrate with the men for work and stay at home.

 

(Source:  http://www.dawn.com/2008/04/19/nat.htm)

 

Waimanalo Farmers Ordered to Cut Water Use.

 

Lower-than-average rainfall is affecting 85 Waimanalo farmers who will be under mandatory conservation orders that began yesterday. The reservoir that supplies the state Department of Agriculture's irrigation system for the Waimanalo farmers is low already, officials said, even though winter is usually the rainy season. Typically, an order to conserve water is issued in the summer after months of little or no rain, said Brian Kau, administrator of the Department of Agriculture's Resource Management Division. But rainfall so far this year in Waimanalo is already 36 percent below normal, he said. The Waimanalo farmers are being asked to use 20 percent less water.

 

"It's a precautionary measure at the request of our water users," Kau said. "The farmers wanted to take a more cautious approach to ensure that they had the maximum opportunity to make the water last." Statewide, about 650 farmers tap into the state's irrigation systems.

(Source: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll)

 

Yemen - Groundwater and Soil Conservation Project.

 

Task Team Leader: Satoru Ueda

Estimated Board Date: July 1, 2008

 

Sector: Irrigation and drainage (68%); Sub-national government administration

(20%); Central government administration (12%)

Theme: Water resource management (P); Rural policies and institutions (S); Participation and civic engagement (S)

 

Project Objectives

 

The Groundwater and Soil Conservation Project (GSCP) is designed to address the critical groundwater problem in Yemen. The problem of unsustainable groundwater extraction has been caused by the rapid spread of groundwater irrigation, combined with dwindling rates of recharge. The root cause is weak management framework ill adapted to ensuring sustainable extraction levels, efficient water use, and watersheds protection. The objective of the GSCP are to conserve water in farming areas, especially groundwater, improve recharge and protect watersheds by: (i) improving water use efficiency and increasing farmer returns to water, so creating the conditions that would allow farmers to reduce pumping of groundwater from aquifers towards sustainable levels; (ii) increasing surface and groundwater availability through watershed management and groundwater recharge by supporting the rehabilitation of small to medium spate irrigation schemes, bank protection works, water harvesting structures, and the rehabilitation of terraces and other soil and water conservation investments; and (iii) supporting a groundwater management framework and institutions that will have the incentive and capacity to manage local water resources in a sustainable manner. The envisaged additional financing of US$15 million is to "scale up" the ongoing project. There will be no change in the objectives, components, activities, or geographical area of intervention, from those of the original project design.

 

Project Description

 

The Groundwater and Soil Conservation Project (GSCP) has been under implementation since 2005 and reached about 52% of disbursement. The project consists of three components:

• Component 1 provides advanced irrigation equipment (PVC conveyance pipes and on farm localized irrigation system, such as dripper and bubbler).

 

• Component 2 provides water harvesting, recharge ponds, wadi banking, soil conservation, terrace rehabilitation. Most of these are small structures built by community groups with less than $10,000 per unit.

 

• Component 3 is institutional capacity building.

 

The additional financing of US$15 million will "scale up" the ongoing project allowing for providing subsidized equipment, financing of small structures, and training/capacity building to a larger number of farmers in Yemen. There will be no change in the objectives, components, activities, or geographical coverage area (15 governorates), from those of the original project design. The only change will be with regards to the targeted outputs of the project. For example, the farming area that introduces advanced irrigation systems is expected to increase from the current target under the original GSCP of 28,400 ha to about 46,940 ha with the supplementary financing. The lengths of terrace rehabilitation as well as the numbers of other small structures are expected to increase proportionally.

 

(Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/200803260701.html)

 

Australia to Invest AUS$12.9bn in 10-Year Water Program.

 

The 2008/09 Budget will deliver on the Rudd Government’s election commitments in water and establish a AUS$12.9 billion (US$12bn) water investment program over ten years. This includes AUS$1.5 billion in new urban water investment to help secure water supplies for Australian households and businesses. Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong this week outlined details of Water for the Future, the Rudd Government’s plan to secure the long term water supply of all Australians. “Climate change means most Australian cities and towns have less water, and we can no longer rely on local rainfall to supply all our drinking water,” Senator Wong said. The 2008/09 Budget will provide new money for three key election commitments, ensuring urban water is no longer ignored by the Federal Government: $1 billion for the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan $250 million for the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns $250 million for the National Rainwater and Grey water Initiative The Rudd Government is also accelerating investment in the Murray Darling Basin, with $400 million brought forward between 2007/08 and 2009/10. “This money will be used to purchase water and invest in key infrastructure projects across the Murray Darling Basin so we can begin addressing the problem of over allocation and improve river health.”

 

Senator Wong said $3.1 billion will be set aside to purchase water to put back in Murray Darling Basin waterways as part of the Government’s key focus on supporting healthy rivers. A further $5.8 billion will be available under the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure program for key rural water projects that help secure a long term sustainable future for irrigation regions and return water to the rivers. COAG recently agreed that a new cap for the Murray Darling Basin would be approved by the Commonwealth in 2011. As part of that agreement, existing state water plans will continue until they expire, with New South Wales plans to expire in 2014 and Victorian plans in 2019.

“In making money available for sustainable irrigation in the Murray Darling Basin, I will also give consideration to community driven projects that enable early adjustments in anticipation of a new cap.” Water for the Future identifies four key priorities for the Rudd Government: taking action on climate change, using water wisely, securing water supplies and supporting healthy rivers. The $1 billion National Urban Water and Desalination Plan and the $250 million National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns will help secure new water supplies for households and businesses.

“These programs will help us deal with the impacts of climate change and reduce our reliance on rainfall by investing in desalination, water recycling, stormwater re-use and efficient water infrastructure,” Senator Wong said. The private sector, water utilities companies and governments will be able to apply for funds, which will be delivered through grants and tax offsets. Under Water for the Future, the $250 million National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative will deliver on the key priority of using water wisely. “We recognise people across the country want to do their bit to conserve our precious drinking water supplies,” Senator Wong said. “Through this initiative, families will receive support to install rainwater tanks and greywater systems which will reduce their use of drinking water.” Households will be able to receive rebates of up to $500 for the purchase and installation of rainwater tanks and greywater products. Funding has been set aside to provide rebates to 500,000 homes over six years.

Water for the Future is a $12.9 billion long-term plan to secure the long term water supply of all Australians. Funding under Water for the Future will be used to support significant water reform across the country.

 

Why is this important?

 

The Rudd Government is committed to helping all Australians take action on climate change as we adapt to living with less water. The National Urban Water and Desalination Plan for Cities program will help cities find new sources of water by funding the use of desalination, recycling and stormwater harvesting. It will also fund a Centre of Excellence in Desalination in Perth, and a Centre of Excellence in Water Recycling in Brisbane, to develop and commercialise new technologies and practices.

 

Who will benefit?

 

Cities of 50,000 people or more will benefit directly from this program by securing new water supplies that are less dependent on rainfall and runoff. State, territory and local governments and public water utilities will be able to apply for grants for eligible projects. Private companies will be able to apply for tax offsets for eligible projects.

 

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

 

The government is providing $1 billion over six years from which: $20 million will be for the establishment of a centre of excellence in desalination technology in Perth; $20 million will be for the establishment of a centre of excellence in water recycling in Brisbane; $30.1 million will be for the Glenelg to Adelaide parklands water recycling project in South Australia; and $20 million will be for the Barwon Shell recycling project in Geelong, Victoria.

 

Time frame for delivery?

 

Funding will be available from 2008-09. Most of the funds will be expended in 2010-11 through to 2012-13, reflecting the long lead times for major infrastructure projects.

 

(Source:http://www.environmental-expert.com/resultEachPressRelease)

 

DONORS’ LENDING AND SUPPORT FOR IRRIGATION & DRAINAGE PROJECTS

 

World Bank

 

World Bank provides US$5m to China for implementation of Irrigation Water Improvement, Agriculture Intensification and Climate Change Projects.

 

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a grant of US$5 million from the Special Climate Change Fund of the Global Environment Facility to the People’s Republic of China to help adapt the country’s water and agricultural sectors to climate change.  The grant would be partially blended with the ongoing, Bank-financed Irrigated Agriculture Intensification III Project (IAIL3, IBRD Loan US$200 million) which would be modified to incorporate climate change adaptation.

 

The Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation in Irrigated Agriculture Project will focus on North China Plain consisting of six provinces in the Huang-Huai-Hai River Basins, with a population of 425 million.  It is China’s primary agricultural production region, accounting for about 50% of the total grain production.  Agricultural production is heavily dependent on water for irrigation.  However, the region’s per capita water availability is only one third of the country’s average.  The available water resources are already fully allocated and often overexploited.  Consequently the region is highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change.  Higher temperature and higher crop evapotranspiration further aggravates the problem of water shortage.

 

“Under this project, we will work with the Government of China to pilot and mainstream adaptation measures in agricultural production and water resources management, for example, to explore and develop alternative water resources, adopt adaptation-oriented farming practice and technologies, promote adaptation-oriented irrigation and drainage design and water saving management,” said project leader Li Qun, Senior Operations Officer for the World Bank.  “The goal is to reduce the vulnerability of farmers and rural communities to climate change.”

 

The project will introduce and pilot climate change adaptation measures at demonstration sites, which would be integrated into IAIL3.  Once proved successful, these measures are expected to be mainstreamed into the national comprehensive agricultural development program and replicated in other parts of the country. 

 

The project will be carried out in six project provinces - Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu and Ningxia. The total project cost is $55.5 million, including co-financing from the IAIL3 IBRD loan (US$20 million) and counterpart funding (US$30.5 million).

 

Contact:

In Colombo: Chulie De Silva

Tel: (94-11) 5561-323

E-mail: cdesilva@worldbank.org

 

World Bank Administered GPOBA Grants of US$5.25 million to Improve Access to Water Services in Urban and Peri urban Areas of Cameroon

 

The World Bank, acting as an administrator for the Global Partnership on Output-Based Aid (GPOBA), today signed a grant agreement for US$5.25 million with Cameroon’s state-owned asset holding company Camwater to expand access to urban and periurban water supply for poor households. Under the project, an estimated 40,000 households will be connected to the water supply in urban and periurban areas countrywide over four years, providing access to safe piped water for an estimated 240,000 people and increasing the total number of water connections in the country by about 18 percent.

 

 “The GPOBA project will make a direct and tangible contribution to achieving the water Millennium Development Goals in Cameroon by subsidizing connections to the water distribution network for some of the country’s poorest households,” said Basile Atangana Kouna, Director General of Camwater. The project is introducing an innovative Output-Based Aid approach, designed to ensure ownership and demand-driven service provision, and to set the basis for long-term operational and financial sustainability.  All the connections will be pre-financed by Camwater and the GPOBA subsidy will only be paid once the connections and services have been verified by an independent expert.  While Camwater is the nominal recipient of the GPOBA grant, the project will be implemented by the Camerounaise des Eaux, the newly formed company replacing the former Cameroon National Water Company (SNEC), whose management has been transferred to a consortium including ONEP of Morocco, competitively selected to run the national water utility under a 10-year lease contract in September 2007.

 

Only 35 percent of the urban population in Cameroon currently has access to piped water, with development of the water distribution network limited to the richer neighborhoods. The GPOBA program will initially benefit low-income families located in the neighborhoods without a distribution network who have to obtain water either from unsafe local wells, street vendors or privately managed standpipes at a much higher price.

 “The individual household connections will have direct positive economic and health impacts, in particular through time savings for women and children in the poorer neighborhoods as they won’t have to spend time fetching water anymore, allowing them to use this time to study or develop income generating activities,” said Xavier Chauvot de Beauchêne, Infrastructure Specialist and the project’s manager for GPOBA and the World Bank.  “The introduction, wished by the Government, of a private operator will also significantly improve the quality of water supply service provision in Cameroon.”

 

Each beneficiary household will be required to pay an upfront contribution of 10 percent of the connection fee; the GPOBA subsidy will cover the remaining 90 percent up to a ceiling of 44,000 FCFA or around US$88 at the current exchange rate.  For the very poorest families (those who cannot afford to make an upfront payment), community fountains will be provided under an Urban and Water Development Support project financed by the International Development Association (IDA), the concessional arm of the World Bank.

 

The Global Partnership on Output-Based Aid (GPOBA) is a multi-donor trust fund administered by the World Bank.  GPOBA was established in 2003 to develop output-based aid (OBA) approaches across a variety of sectors including infrastructure, health, and education.  OBA subsidies are designed to create incentives for efficiency and the long-term success of development projects.

GPOBA’s current donors are the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is a member of the World Bank Group, the Directorate-General for International Cooperation of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS), AusAid of Australia, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation (Sida).

 

Contacts:

In Washington:

Cathy Russell, tel. (+1-202) 458 8124

E-mail: crussell@worldbank.org

In Yaoundé:

Henri Bateg, tel. (+237) 2220 3815

E-mail: hbateg@worldbank.org

 

UPCOMING REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEETS AND EVENTS

 

Singapore International Water Week 2008: Water Convention

23-27 June 2008

Singapore

 

With a special focus on technology and practical delivery, the Water Convention will see water industry experts, practitioners, researchers and academics gather to share the latest advances in water and used water treatment technologies, and examples of the applications of such technologies in urban environment. There will be posters and more than 100 oral presentations on various tracks covering areas such as newly commercialized technologies, innovative solutions in technology, infrastructure financing, and sustainable applications for the urban environment.

 

Purpose

 

The Singapore International Water Week is a platform for government officials, industry leaders and water specialists to meet and discuss policies, business solutions and water technologies. Comprising the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention and Water Expo, it culminates in the presentation of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, a prestigious international award to recognize outstanding contributions in solving water issues. The inaugural Singapore International Water Week will be held from 23 to 27 June 2008.

ADB has agreed to support Singapore International Water Week to stimulate water investments, reforms, capacity development and knowledge sharing under its Water Financing Program 2006-2010.

 

Objectives

 

This is an opportunity to:

·         Network with thousands of water professionals

·         Seek out global opportunities and partnerships

·         Update yourself on the latest cutting-edge water technologies

·         Learn from the experiences of others in the water sector

·         Showcase your products and services

·         Increase exposure for your company and extend your market reach

 

Target Participants

 

Delegates will include city mayors, top government officials and policy makers, senior officials from international organizations, academics and business leaders. The event is expected to attract delegates from around the world, with a good proportion from the Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

 

Contact Information:

Chong Mien Ling

SIWW Water Convention Secretariat

Tel: +65-6731-3362

Fax: +65-6235-2118

waterconvention@siww.com.sg

 

Groundwater and Climate in Africa - An International Conference

25-28 June 2008

Kampala, Uganda

 

Current assessments of the impacts of climate variability and change on water resources commonly exclude groundwater. This omission is of particular concern in Africa where current usage and future adaptations in response to climate change and rapid population growth, place considerable reliance upon groundwater to meet domestic, agricultural, and industrial water demands.
The conference seeks to bring together water and climate scientists from research/academic institutions, government departments, and private sector as well as representatives from international agencies, donors and consortia in order to share knowledge and expertise, and thereby improve current understanding of the impact of climate variability and change on groundwater resources in Africa.

 

This event is being organized by Directorate of Water Development (Uganda) and supported by UNESCO/IHP, IAHS, IHDP/START

 

 

Contact:

Richard Taylor
E-mail: info@gwclim.org
URL: http://www.gwclim.org

 

10th International Drainage Workshop of ICID Working Group on Drainage

06-11 July 2008

Helsinki, Finland

 

The national committees of ICID in Finland and Estonia have a great honour to invite all members of the ICID-family to the 10th International Drainage Workshop in Helsinki and Tallinn during the second week of July 2008, the period of Northern white nights.

 

Objectives of agricultural drainage have evolved over the years and vary with circumstances. The primary objective is to make agricultural production possible and profitable. Agricultural drainage can be seen as a part of integrated land and water resources management where environmental aspects play an important role. Advances in the science of drainage allow the evaluation of the effects of system design and management on both productivity and environmental aspects. The water quality is as important to farming as the public opinion and sustainability of farm production.

 

Contact:

Workshop secretariat:
Fincid Simonkatu 12 A 11

00100 Helsinki, Finland

Tel: +358 9 694 2100
Fax: +358 9 694 2677

Email: fincid@fincid.fi

Website: www.fincid.fi

 

World Water Week

17-23 August 2008

Stockholm, Sweden

 

The World Water Week in Stockholm which is being organized by SIWI, is the leading annual global meeting place for capacity-building, partnership-building and follow-up on the implementation of international processes and programmes in water and development. The 2008 World Water Week in Stockholm will take place August 17-23, 2008. The First Announcement and Call for Papers is now available. The theme of the week is "Progress and Prospects on Water: For a Clean and Healthy World", including a Special Focus on Sanitation. The deadline for workshop paper proposals is February 1, 2008.

The World Water Week in Stockholm is being organized by SIWI.

 

Contact:
E-mail: secretariat.www@siwi.org

Phone: +46 (0)8 522 139 60

 

IV International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management

15-18 October 2008

Thessaloniki, Greece

 

Objectives of the symposium

The aim of the IV International Symposium on Transboundary Water Management (TWM IV) is threefold:

 

1.     To assess the state of the art and the progress recently made in the sustainable management of transboundary waters by different disciplines such as law, socio-economics and water science.

2.     To review current major international programmes concerned with the assessment and management of transboundary water resources.

3.      To promote interdisciplinary approaches for integrated transboundary water resources management.

 

Symposium themes

The main topic of the symposium is Transboundary Surface Waters and Shared Aquifers. The following, specific topics will be developed in depth either for surface and groundwaters separately, or in combination. Papers will be presented and discussed in separate thematic workshops followed by plenary debates and exchanges of views on inter and trans-disciplinary approaches.

 

Ø      Common Monitoring Networks

Ø      Sharing Data and Information

Ø      Remote Sensing, Cooperative Modelling & Simulation

Ø      International Political Issues, Decision Making & Conflict Resolution

Ø      Involving Stakeholders in Transboundary Areas

Ø      Institutional & Legal Issues

Ø      Transboundary Water Economics

Ø      Planning under Climate Change

Ø      EU Policy in Transboundary Water Issues

Ø      Education and Training, with an emphasis on shared aquifers

 

Call for papers

The structure of the symposium will facilitate both in-depth disciplinary workshop presentations and discussions, and plenary interdisciplinary exchange of views and suggestions for effective regional actions on sustainable TWM. The working language will be English.

Extended abstracts up to 3 pages on the above mentioned themes should be submitted by 30th April 2008. After review by special expert groups, authors of the accepted abstracts will be notified by 30th June 2008. Authors will also be informed about the type of presentation, which will either be oral or a poster. The accepted abstracts will be published in a CD Rom before the symposium and full papers in a printed volume afterwards.

 

Important dates

Submission of abstracts Form A and pre-registration Form B 30 April 2008 Notification of acceptance 30 June 2008

Second announcement and final programme 20 September 2008

 

Contact details

For submission of abstracts and papers Form A

Ganoulis, J. e-mail: iganouli@civil.auth.gr

 

Pre-registration Form B and other organisational matters

Conference Secretariat (see below)

 

Conference secretariat:

Topline Travel & Tourism

27 Tsimiski Steet

54624 Thessaloniki, Greece

Tel: (+30) 2310 252 103 or (+30) 2310 252 105

Fax: (+30) 2310 252 104 or (+30) 2310 252 107

E-mail: info@toplinetravel.gr

 

International Convention on Water Resources Development and Management

23-26 October 2008

BITS Pilani Rajasthan, India

 

The International convention on Water Resources Development and Management has been scheduled during October 23-26, 2008 at BITS Pilani Rajasthan. The convention plans to have a two day conference and a two day workshop. The technical sessions in the conference include Water Resources Development and Management, Technology Advancement as well as Socio economic aspects. The Workshop will focus on alternate water resource management schemes, optimization models, public awareness means, field visits etc.

The proposed convention will be of immense interest and benefit to academicians, researchers, NGOs, Consultants, State and Central Government Administrators from Pollution Control Boards, Power Generation - Ground Water – Irrigation – Urban Water Supply & Sewerage departments.

Several alumni of the Institute have been passionate about water. Vijay Kedia Mechanical engineer from BITS Pilani is a celebrity for pioneering rain water harvesting in Aurangabad Maharashtra. Proud to be BITSians Gyanendra Singh, SN Sanwal, Kushal Sacheti, Pradeep Bishnoi and Rajiv Gupta have been spearheading the CDDT at BITS Pilani.

For more details about the convention contact Dr Ajit Pratap Singh aps@bits-pilani.ac.in and apsbits@gmail.com

 

13th World Water Congress

01-04 September 2008

Montpellier, France

 

The main theme of this congress will be ‘Global Changes and Water Resources: Confronting the Expanding and Diversifying Pressures.’ The congress aims to enhance knowledge and raise global consciousness of the impact of global changes on water resources.

 

The main themes of the congress are:

ØWater availability, use and management

ØTowards the future: water resources and global changes

ØClimate change and disasters

ØDevelopment of water resources and infrastructure

ØWater governance and water security: 30 years after the UN Mar del Plata conference of 1977

ØWater conservation and demand management

ØFinancing water development and capacity building

ØCapacity-building in developing countries.

 

This event is being organized by International Water Resources Association (IWRA).

 

Contact:

Congress Secretariat

E-mail: wwc2008@msem.univ-montp2.fr

URL: http://wwc2008.msem.univ-montp2.fr/

 

Africa Water Resources Management 2008 (AfricaWRM 2008)

8-10 September 2008

Gaborone, Botswana

 

This conference is being organized by the International Association of Science and Technology for Development (IASTED). The purpose of this conference is to act as an interdisciplinary forum for decision-makers, academics, and professionals interested in the development and application of technology in ensuring the sustainable use and management of our water resources. This purpose is consistent with the goals of the United Nations Decade of Water for Life. The forum will cover both hard and soft technology and will serve to promote the use of appropriate technologies.

 

AfricaWRM 2008 will be held in conjunction with the IASTED International Conferences on:

 

 

Ø      Power and Energy Systems (AfricaPES 2008)

Ø      Modelling and Simulation (AfricaMS 2008)

 

The conference topics include, but are not limited to, the following themes:

 

Theme 1: Water Supply and Sustainable Use

 

Theme 2: Wastewater and Storm water Management

 

Theme 3: Integrated Watershed Management

 

Theme 4: Pollution Prevention and Reduction in Industry  

 

Theme 5: Issues in Implementing Environmentally Sound Technologies

 

WaterTech Central Asia: Central Asian International Water Technology Exhibition & Conference

16-18 September 2008

Almaty, Kazakhstan

 

Throughout the world, the dismal state of water supply in Central Asia has gained notoriety. The famous image of broken-down ships beached far from shores of what remains today of the Aral Sea tragically illustrates this situation. Clearly, the imperative of securing and maintaining quality water supplies has become a critical strategic challenge facing Central Asian countries, and particularly Kazakhstan.

 

In order to address the urgent challenges and necessary solutions for the future of water supply in Central Asia, Kenes Exhibitions has joined with ITECA from Kazakhstan in hosting the Central Asian International Water Technology Exhibition & Conference, the premier event to exchange information about these issues.

Contact:

Olessya Somkina, Kenes International and Iteca LLP
E-mail: Olessya.Somkina@iteca.kz
URL: http://www.iwtca.com/en/2008/

 

ICID’s 20th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage

13-19 October 2008

Lahore, Pakistan

 

The theme of the Congress is ‘Participatory Integrated Water Resources Management-From Concepts to Actions’. The topics for the two Questions, Special Session, Symposium and Seminar along with other relevant information are available at ICID website: www.icid.org.

 

Integrated water resources management is an issue of very high significance as it involves national and global assets of great socio-cultural, ecological and economic values. The prevailing system of uncoordinated water resources management cannot sustain the ever increasing water needs of the various expanding sectors, therefore, a strategy must be sought to integrate the various sectoral needs against the available water resources in order to attain both economic and ecological sustainability. Participatory approach with the stakeholders needs to be established on several key issues. Capacity building of stakeholders on water natural resources management policies, water rights and enforcement of laws would be an important input for a participatory integrated water resources management where roles and responsibilities have to be ironed out.

 

Contact:

Conference Secretarial: 506 WAPDA House, Lahore, Pakistan.

Tel: +92 42 9202538

Fax: +92 42 9202154,

E-mail: icid@icid2008.org

 

International Symposium on Multiple-Use Water Services

04-06 November 2008

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

 

This symposium is being organized by the MUS (Multiple Use Services) Group and the RiPPLE (Research-inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile Region) research consortium.

 

Multiple-use water services (MUS) is a consumer-oriented approach to water service delivery that takes people’s multiple water needs as a starting point and involves planning, finance and management of integrated water services for multiple domestic and productive uses.

 

Target audience: professionals from the water sector (irrigation, water supply, water resources), particularly researchers, policy makers, practitioners and donors.

 

Symposium objectives:

Ø      Provide a platform for sharing and consolidating experiences and lessons learnt on different aspects of providing multiple-use water services, including technologies, financial models, institutional arrangements, support mechanisms, and impacts, and;

Ø      Discuss implications for taking the MUS approach forward, in different areas such as implementation, research, capacity development and policy.

Contact: symposium@musgroup.net or visit;

http://www.musgroup.net/page/746

 

NEW PUBLICATIONS

 

Good Practices for Estimating Reliable Willingness-to-Pay Values in the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector

 

Herath Gunatilake, Jui-Chen Yang, Subhrendu Pattanayak, and Kyeong Ae Choe write that beneficiaries’ willingness-to-pay estimates provide crucial information for designing water supply and sanitation projects. There are pressing needs to improve the quality of contingent valuation studies conducted in developing countries. This paper recommends good practices in design, survey administration, and analysis in water supply and sanitation sector contingent valuation studies.

 

Asian Development Bank

6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City

1550 Metro Manila, Philippines

ISSN 1165-5236655-5236

Publication Stock No. 020908

 

 

To download the full report, click the link below;

http:// www.adb.org/economics

 

Water Engineering in Ancient Civilizations5000 years of History

 

This new book offers an engineer's perspective on the history of water technology and it's impact on the development of civilization. Second Edition and translation into English of the French book  “L’Hydraulique dans les Civilizations Anciennes”

 

Water professionals, engineers, scientists, and students will find this book fascinating and invaluable to their understanding of the fundamental role of water engineering in the development of civilization. The book abounds with descriptions of hydraulic techniques in the civilizations of the classical era and the middle Ages, including illustrations ands translated descriptions of ancient observers and authors. The work is unique in offering an engineer perspective not only on the history of water technology, but also demonstration of the genesis of ideas and the transmissions of ideas and technology from one age and civilization to the next. The book is especially noteworthy for its efforts to situate hydraulic developments in their historical and intellectual context.

 

Publisher: IAHR

ISBN: 978-90-78046-05-9

Price: €68.00

Changing or Transferring an Existing Water Right

 

This report describes the change application process, what can and cannot be changed and information they will need to submit with their application. With much of our water already allocated in Washington State, new water rights are increasingly difficult to obtain. As a result, more and more people are choosing to make changes to existing water rights. In many areas of the state, water is already claimed or over appropriated and no new water rights are being granted. The Washington Department of Ecology may consider changes to the following elements of an existing water right permit, certificate, or claim:

 

1.     Place of use;

2.     Point of diversion or withdrawal;

3.     Additional point(s) of diversion or withdrawal; or

4.     Purpose of use.

 

Editor: Geller, Lynne-(360) 407-6450 -- (Original Author: Smith, P.)

Publication No: 98-1802-WR

 

Fellowship and funding opportunities

 

University of Groningen PhD Fellowship

 

Selection criteria

 

Target group:        PhD degree

Purpose:                Research

Field of study:        All

 

Countries:              Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria , American Samoa, Angola, Anguilla , Antigua And Barbuda , Argentina , Armenia , Aruba , Azerbaijan, Bahamas , Bahrain , Bangladesh, Barbados , Belarus , Belize , Benin , Bermuda, Bhutan , Bolivia , Bosnia-Herzegovina , Botswana , Bouvet Island , Brazil, Brunei , Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi , Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands , Central African Republic , Chad , Chile , China , Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands , Colombia , Comoros , Conch Republic , Congo, Democratic Republic of the , Cook Islands , Costa Rica , Croatia , Cuba , Cyprus, Djibouti , Dominica , Dominican Republic , East Timor , Ecuador , Egypt , El Salvador , Equatorial Guinea , Eritrea , Estonia , Ethiopia , Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Fiji, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam , Guatemala, Guinea , Guinea Bissau, Guyana , Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India , Indonesia, Iran , Iraq , Israel, Ivory Coast (Cote D'Ivoire), Jamaica , Japan , Jordan , Kazakhstan , Kenya , Kiribati, Kuwait , Kyrgyzstan, Laos , Latvia , Lebanon , Lesotho , Liberia , Libya, Lithuania , Macau , Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi , Malaysia , Maldives, Mali, Malta , Marshall Islands , Martinique , Mauritania , Mauritius , Mayotte , Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova , Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco , Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia , Nauru , Nepal , Netherlands Antilles , New Caledonia , Nicaragua, Niger , Nigeria , Niue , Norfolk Island , North Korea , Northern Mariana Islands, Oman , Pakistan, Palau , Panama , Papua New Guinea , Paraguay , Peru, Philippines , Pitcairn Island , Poland , Polynesia, Puerto Rico, Qatar , Reunion, Romania, Russia , Rwanda, S.Georgia & S. Sandwich Isls. , Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia , Saint Pierre And Miquelon , Saint Vincent & Grenadines , Samoa, San Marino , Sao Tome And Principe , Saudi Arabia , Senegal , Serbia, Seychelles , Sierra Leone, Slovakia , Slovenia , Solomon Islands , Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sudan , Suriname, Svalbard And Jan Mayen Islands , Swaziland , Syria , Taiwan, Tajikistan , Tanzania , Thailand, Togo , Tokelau, Tonga , Trinidad And Tobago , Tunisia , Turkey , Turkmenistan, Turks And Caicos Islands , Tuvalu , Uganda , Ukraine , United Arab Emirates, Uruguay , Uzbekistan , Vanuatu , Venezuela , Vietnam , Virgin Islands , Wallis And Futuna Islands , Yemen , Zambia , Zimbabwe , Montenegro.

 

Eligible candidates:

Junior Ph.D. researchers who conduct Ph.D. research within the scope of a cooperation between the University of Groningen and an institution in a developing country.

 

Value and purpose of grant:

The journeys to the Netherlands and back home are included in the scholarship grant. Travel costs, travel insurance, airport taxes, living allowance, settling allowance etc.

Grant award period: Maximum of six months each year within a four-year period.

Other details: Candidates from a university that has signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Groningen will be given preferential treatment.

 

Grant provider: University of Groningen

 

Application procedure: For information on how to apply, see

http://www.rug.nl/let/voorzieningen/internationalOffice/handleiding/beurzenEnFondsen/phd_fellowship_programme_rug

 

Applications must include:

Ø      A research proposal. This proposal should include:

Ø      A clear research question;

Ø      A short description of current developments in the chosen area of research;

Ø      A plan for the work;

Ø      A survey of relevant literature;

Ø      A list of the applicant's publications;

Ø      References.

 

For additional information see:http://www.rug.nl/let/voorzieningen/int ernationalOffice/handleiding/beurzenEnFondsen/phd_fellowship_programme_rug

 

 

Amsterdam Merit Scholarships

 

The Universiteit van Amsterdam aims to attract the world’s brightest students to its international classrooms. As from September 2007, outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area can apply for an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship.

 

The tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students will rise considerably in the academic year 2007-2008. The Amsterdam Merit Scholarships (AMS) however are specifically designed by the Universiteit van Amsterdam to offer talented and hard-working non-EU/EEA students the possibility to pursue a degree in one of the academic fields covered by the UvA. The AMS programme is highly selective: only applicants with excellent study results and motivation may receive a scholarship.

 

Target group:        Undergraduate, Bachelor's degree

Purpose:                         Study

Field of study:Arts and Humanities, Education and Teacher Training, Environmental Science, Fine and applied arts, Law, Communication, Mathematics and computer science, Medical and health sciences, Natural sciences, Social and behavioural sciences, Business administration and management.

 

Countries:Bouvet Island, Brazil, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua And Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan , Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Conch Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Fiji, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada , Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea , Guinea Bissau, Guyana , Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran , Iraq, Israel, Ivory Coast (Cote D'Ivoire), Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius , Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand , Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Island, Polynesia, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Russia , Rwanda, S.Georgia & S. Sandwich Isls. , Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre And Miquelon, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome And Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard And Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad And Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turks And Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna Islands, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Montenegro.

 

Requirements for Eligibility:

Candidates wishing to take part in the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship programme must meet the following requirements:

Ø      Hold a non-EU/EEA passport and not be eligible for support under the Dutch system of study grants and loans ("Studiefinanciering"; for more information please refer to: www.ib-groep.nl). The scholarship office should be notified as soon as possible of any change in nationality, type of residence permit, and/or possible “Studiefinanciering” support, throughout the academic year.

Ø      Be fully admitted to a degree programme at the Universiteit van Amsterdam which is registered at the Central Register of Higher Education Programmes (CROHO; for more information refer to: www.ib-groep.nl).
For more information about general application requirements, please consult the individual programme descriptions at www.uva.nl/isp for study programmes taught in English, or www.uva.nl/application for study programmes taught in Dutch. Scholarship continuation is not guaranteed when a candidate changes his or her degree programme.

Ø      Be admitted to a bachelor's or master's programme at the Universiteit van Amsterdam for the first time. AMS will not be awarded to candidates who are admitted for a second bachelor's or master's programme at the Universiteit van Amsterdam.

Ø      Be able to comply with Dutch visa regulations (follow the link to the IND website below).

Ø      Be enrolled at the UvA as full-time student for the academic year and the programme for which the scholarship is awarded.

Ø      The candidate should not receive a full coverage scholarship for the same period of study as the AMS scholarship. Notify the scholarships office when another full scholarship such as HSP, Alban, NFP, etc. has been awarded and which scholarship has been chosen to accept.

Ø      Scholarship continuation for subsequent year(s) of study depends upon satisfactory study progress. The programme you will be enrolled in, as it depends on the curriculum and rules and regulations of the department, sets the standard for satisfactory progress, the time and manner in which progress will be measured. Please be advised that you are expected to gain approximately 80% of credits in any one year.

 

Value and Purpose of Grant: Depends on Faculty 
Grant Award Period: Depends on Faculty
Closing Date: Depends on Faculty

 

Grant Provider: Universiteit van Amsterdam

Application Procedure: The faculties and international schools award scholarships themselves; as such regulations may vary. Students interested in an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship may contact the faculty or international school offering the study program of their choice for more information: www.uva.nl/ams

 

Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program

 

The Erasmus Mundus program is a co-operation and mobility program in the field of higher education which promotes the European Union as a centre of excellence in learning around the world. It supports European top-quality Masters Courses and enhances the visibility and attractiveness of European higher education in third countries. It also provides EU-funded scholarships for third country nationals participating in these Masters Courses, as well as scholarships for EU-nationals studying at Partner universities throughout the world.

 

Selection Criteria

Target group:        Master's degree, Bachelor's degree

Purpose:                Study, Research

Field of study:       All

 

Countries:    Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre And Miquelon, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome And Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard And Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Switzerland, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua And Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil , Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China , Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Conch Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Fiji, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Ivory Coast (Cote D'Ivoire), Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi , Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Island, Polynesia, Puerto Rico, Qatar , Reunion, Russia, Rwanda, S.Georgia & S. Sandwich Isls. , Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna Islands, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Montenegro.

 

Eligible Candidates: The selection criteria are set by the consortium which offers the masters. Each consortium may appoint a small number of scholars for a scholarship. Candidates should apply directly to the Erasmus Mundus program.

 

Grant Information

Value and purpose of grant: The contribution from the European Union for an Erasmus Mundus scholar is 13.000 euro for a period of three months.

 

Closing date: Annual calls for the submission of applications state deadlines and other requirements or priorities, where and if relevant.

 

Grant provider: European Union

 

Application Procedure: Applications can only be submitted online at the participating consortium.

 

See for additional information: 

http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/mundus/index_en.html

Should further assistance be needed, you may contact the National Structure through the email: erasmusmundus@nuffic.nl  or EAC-Erasmus-Mundus@cec.eu.int

 

The financial contribution of the European Union to the Erasmus Mundus scholarships for the academic year 2007-2008 will be 62.6 million Euros.

 

CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING

 

Applied Groundwater Modelling

16June-4 July 2008

DELFT, The Netherlands

 

The short course is designed to provide participants with principles and procedures of groundwater modelling and the use of computer models for groundwater resources management and protection. The experiences of modelling will be obtained through a series of hands-on training in computer workshops. On completion of this course the participants are able to construct a groundwater model and use the model to simulate groundwater flow, contaminant transport and saltwater intrusion.

 

Learning objectives

On the conclusion of this course, the participant should:

Ø      Know how to create a groundwater model following the procedures of building a groundwater model: definition of model objectives, construction of hydrogeological conceptual models, design of numerical models, preparation of model inputs, model calibration and model application.

Ø      Be familiar with the most popular groundwater model codes: MODFLOW, PMPATH, MT3D and a graphical user interface PMWIN.

Ø      Be able to apply groundwater models for evaluation of groundwater development scenarios, determination of capture zone of well fields and prediction of pollutant plume development.

 

Target Group

Postgraduates and professionals in hydrogeology and water resources management, civil engineers, environmental engineers, geologists and hydrologists who are engaged in investigation, management, and protection of groundwater resources.

 

Additional information

The course consists of the following topics:

Ø      Groundwater flow modelling

Ø      Contaminant transport modelling

Ø      Saline groundwater modelling

 

Duration of course is 3 weeks. Course fee is €2040 Euro. Deadline for receiving applications is 9 May 2008.

 

For further details please contact: y.zhou@unesco-ihe.org

 

Managing Organizations and Change

16June-4 July 2008

DELFT, The Netherlands

 

Brief description

This short courses prepares participants for positions of leadership in water sector and utility management, providing the essential elements within the field of organisational and change management. It considers managerial and change management aspects of organisations in transition and will give a practical insight into concepts, tools and systems.

 

Learning objectives

On completion of this course participants will be able to:

Ø      Compare and contrast between the characteristics of bureaucratic and organic organizations;

Ø      Describe the study of management and organisational behaviour; Undertake institutional analysis;

Ø      Explain the concepts of change and why the study of organisations and change is important for managers;

Ø      Distinguish between models and types of change and describe why change is often resisted;

Ø      Delineate the steps in managing the change process;

Ø      Identify factors that influence human resources management in an organisation and how these factors impact on change within the organization; and

Ø      Describe and apply a range of tools and systems that can be used for the guidance, implementation, and management of change.

 

Additional information

The syllabus covers topics such as: Organisational perspectives; organisations and institutions, institutional analysis; organisational behaviour, organisational structure, the behaviour of people in organisations and the behaviour of organisation. Understanding change; concepts of change, models of change, drivers for change, categories of change (including tactical and strategic), barriers / resistance, managing the process of change. Human resources management, organisational culture, leadership and management style, teamwork, influencing, change and stress. Systems for change, total quality management, management information systems.

 

Duration of course is 3 weeks. Course fee is €2040 Euro. Deadline for receiving applications is 16 May 2008.

 

For details, please visit; http://www.unesco-ihe.org/iu/staffmember/jjb

 

Public Private Partnerships in the Water Sector

07-25 July 2008

DELFT, The Netherlands

 

This short course familiarises water sector managers and development professionals with key issues in strategic management.

 

Learning objectives:

Upon completion of this course participants will know how to analyse the institutional capacity of water organisations within their country and sector environments.

 

Additional information:

Participants will be exposed to the taxonomy of models of water organisation (municipal, regional, parastatal, and various private modes), their strengths and weaknesses, and their adaptability to particular needs and circumstances. They will have gained deeper knowledge on the critical preconditions (legal change, economic regulation, benchmarking and facilitation) for successful private sector participation in the water sector.

 

Participants will also have a deeper understanding of the fundamental differences between community oriented and customer oriented approaches to utility management.

Duration of course is 3 weeks. Course fee is €2040 Euro. Deadline for receiving applications is 07 June 2008.

 

For more information:

E-mail: m.schouten@unesco-ihe.org  

 

"2008 Integrated Water Resources Management Advanced International Training Programme"

11 August-2 September 2008 (Sweden)
17-28 November 2008 (Lao PDR)

 

The objective of the training programme is to support and stimulate the development of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the participants’ home countries, and to encourage the participants to involve in and contribute to networking on IWRM.

The programme consists of 5 and a half weeks of scheduled training distributed in two different phases, 3 and a half weeks training in Stockholm, Sweden, from August 11 - September 2, 2008, and 2 weeks training in Lao PDR, from November 17-28, 2008. Deadline for applications is 18 March 2008.

In addition to the scheduled training, participants will undertake an Individual Project, on a part time basis in their home organizations, starting 6 weeks before the training in Sweden and to be completed within 8 weeks after the regional training.

For more information please visit the website: www.siwi.org or www.rambollnatura.se.

This training program is being organized by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency in collaboration with International Water Management Institute, and SIWI.

 

Contact
David Trouba
Communications Director
Stockholm International Water Institute
Drottninggatan 33
11151 Stockholm SWEDEN
Tel: +46 8 522 139 89
Fax: +46 73 914 39 89

 

 

Spate Irrigation and Water Management under Drought and Water Scarcity

10-21 September 2008

UNESCO-IHE

 

Spate irrigation is an ancient form of water harvesting and managing unpredictable and sometimes destructive flash floods for crop and livestock production. The system is unique to semi arid and arid areas where it has existed for over 70 centuries.

 

Today spate irrigation is still the major source of livelihood for many poor communities in South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, whereas the area under spate irrigation is on the increase in the Horn of Africa and other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Learning objectives

Upon competition of the course, the participants will be able to:

 

Ø       Comprehend best global and regional practices in spate irrigation, taking a broad integrated water resource management view;

Ø       Draw spate irrigation development and management plans covering technical designs, institutional arrangements, socio-economic, environmental and legislative attributes;

Ø       Understand alternative approaches for diverting spate flows – looking at where to divert flows, how to handle high floods and manage floods with high or detrimental sediment loads;

Ø       Design and manage, operate and maintain alternative on farm structures the likes of controlled field intakes, overflow structures, in-field ditches and bunds and assess their effects on field water management and soil moisture conservation;

Ø       Systematically analyze the impact of alternative field management, soil moisture conservation, and agronomic practices such as pre-season and post-irrigation ploughing, repair of field bunds, mulching, intercropping, alternate cropping, on crop yields;

Ø       Grasp various experiences of groundwater recharge in spate irrigation - in particular, the effect - positive or negative - of different water distribution and spreading hydraulic structures and strategies on groundwater levels;

Ø       Conceptualize and apply some moisture storage and irrigation water requirement and scheduling models;

Ø       Link engineering and management improvements with changes in water governance and local organization.

Target group

Participants are invited from government and non-government institutions and universities directly or indirectly engaged in the broader field of land and water development with particular emphasis in spate irrigation development and water resources management.

 

Participants should at least have a BSc degree in any land and water development field and a good basic knowledge of spate irrigation practices and principles. Computer literacy is highly preferred.

 

Additional information

The course consists of lectures, case studies and group work assignments. It is organized into six modules:

1. Introduction: overview of spate irrigation system development and management concepts and practices;
2. Spate hydrology and engineering;
3. Soil and water conservation and management;
4. Organization and water governance;
5. Spate irrigation agronomy;
6. Case studies and group assignments.

 

Duration of course is 2 weeks. Course fee is €1360 Euro.

 

For further information and registration please contact:

Ms. Claudia Brakel,

Registration Officer (c.brakel@unesco-ihe.org)

Tel: +31 (0)15-2151720, or

Abraham Mehari Haile, PhD,MSc,

Coordinator (a.meharihaile@unesco-ihe.org)

Tel: +31 (0)15 2151824.

 

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For more information on INPIM please visit http://www.inpim.org.

 

The International Network on Participatory Irrigation Management

House No. 45-A, Block-A, Bharowal Colony

Faisalabad, Pakistan

Tel: +92-41-2656333 Fax: +92-41-2656444

Email: ibaig@inpim.org or wiqbal@inpim.org