UNESCO. General Conference; 36th; 36 C/5: volume 1: Draft ...

The Regional Committees (IOCEA and IOCWIO) will be strengthened to serve as platforms for the
implementation of IOC programmes and may possibly be transformed towards the establishment
of an IOC Sub-Commission for Africa building on the lessons learnt from the existing IOC Sub-
Commissions covering the marine regions of the African continent. Through these mechanisms,
IOC will also facilitate the involvement of African scientists in large-scale global programmes and
networks, including IOC Chairs. IOC will initiate consultations with African regional economic
groupings and institutions to foster the appropriation of its programmes by African governments
and stakeholders. The aim is to establis a regular consultation mechanism at a high-level between
IOC Secretariat and the African regional institutions to ensure the appropriation of the IOC
programmes by the latter.
02023 Emphasis will be placed on advancing scientific research, capacity building and education for
freshwater in Africa through IHP, UNESCO-IHE, WWAP and the expanding network of waterrelated
category 2 centres. Training opportunities for decision makers on global changes, impacts
and adaptation strategies for sustainable management of water resources and conflict management
in Sub-Saharan Africa will be provided.
02024 In 2012-2014 UNESCO-IHE, in cooperation with potential host countries, intends to create a replica
institute in Sub-Saharan Africa as part of its global campus strategy. Support will be provided to two
important knowledge networks in Africa: WaterNet, a network of over 30 universities and research
centres in Southern Africa cooperating on the theme of integrated water resources management
(IWRM), and the Nile Basin Capacity-Building Network for River Engineering. Through bilateral
partnerships, UNESCO-IHE will also develop and assist in the implementation of masters’
programmes in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda. In the Lake Victoria region, UNESCO-IHE
will implement the capacity development component of the Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation
Initiative lead by UN-HABITAT. In addition to these actions on the ground, in Delft an estimated
200 African water professionals will matriculate at the Masters and 15 at Ph.D. level.
02025 Modern training in earth resource mapping, networking of geoscience educational centres and the
preparation of earth system science curricula for secondary schools will be instrumental to give
priority to earth sciences education in Africa. In partnership with the Geological Society of Africa,
earth science education will be modernized, starting with the development of curricula for teaching
African geology at secondary level. A doubling of the participation of African scientists is expected
in the projects and the organisation of the first three IGCP-MAB joint workshops and initiatives on
resource extraction in BR. Capacity building on modern data management and field mapping will
be strengthened through national and regional training courses and at least two geoparks in Africa
will be created.
02026 The energy sector is vital for development in African countries, which suffer from a deficit in both
energy and access to electricity. The use of alternative and renewable energy sources will be promoted
in Africa. UNESCO’s action will focus on promoting energy policies, enhancing national capacities
and sharing scientific knowledge and best practices.
02027 Lastly, concerning disaster resilience, action will focus on enhancing national capacities and
providing authorities with technical assistance in reconstruction and risk mitigation efforts in
African countries affected by natural disasters.
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