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

02059 A significant increase in the number of adequately trained water professionals is needed in many
Member States to meet the MDG 7 target on water, especially in Africa. As most decisions affecting
water resources are made by people without sound water knowledge, skills and values, education on
water issues needs to be carried out at all levels. IHP, in close collaboration with UNESCO-IHE Institute
for water education, the network of water-related centres under the auspices of UNESCO, UNITWIN/
UNESCO Chairs Programme, the DESD coordination unit, UNESCO’s ASPnet, and other parts of
UNESCO and external partners, will focus on reinforcing capacities for water education at all levels
and for a range of target groups, with particular attention given to Africa and gender mainstreaming.
Expected result 18: Water-related education capacities reinforced at all levels,
with an emphasis on Africa and gender
Performance indicators
▪ Freshwater education at the tertiary and
vocational education levels developed and
implemented
Benchmarks
– international education review task force
on undergraduate and post-graduate water
education for IWRM at the country level
made operational; and policy documents
produced in at least five least developed
countries
▪ Enhanced capacities for water education for
schools, children and youth
– one set of water education curricula tools,
incorporating gender issues; at least two
support materials for teaching of water issues
▪ Enhanced water education for communities,
stakeholders and mass media professionals
– at least 100 decision-makers trained on
global changes, impacts and adaptation
strategies for sustainable management of
water resources and conflict management in
Sub-Saharan Africa
Main line of action 6: Enabling the application of ecological and earth
sciences for sustainability, including through the Man and the
Biosphere (MAB) Programme and the International Geoscience
Programme (IGCP)
02060 Ecological and earth sciences in UNESCO develop theoretical and practical knowledge to support the
sustainable use of natural resources, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, maintenance
of ecosystem services and climate change mitigation and adaptation for the enhancement of human
well-being. Following the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) and as a contribution to
the UN Decade on Biodiversity (2011-2020), MP II will lead the development of a UNESCO-wide
coherent Biodiversity Initiative (BI), encompassing natural and social sciences aspects. Within MAB,
BR are important sites for testing green economy initiatives for sustainable development through
payments for ecosystem services, avoided deforestation and forest degradation and public-private
partnerships for the sustainable use of biodiversity and natural resources. In the context of the UN
Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification (2010-2020) and in collaboration with
partners, MAB will consolidate its S-S cooperation activities. Scientifics studies will focus on the
sustainable use of the natural resource base of BRs in specific ecosystems. Member States will be
assisted in integrating BR and natural World Heritage sites as field observatories and pilot sites in
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