Netherlands: Wetlands, integrated water resources management and food security course 2016 with fellowship opportunity

"The pressure on wetlands is likely to intensify in the coming decades due to increased global demand for land and water, as well as climate change."(Wetlands International, 2015).

Wetlands play an essential role in supporting food security, in making water resources management sustainable and in adapting to climate change impacts. How do we prevent that wetlands continue to disappear in the same rate as in the past and that these valuable ecosystem services are lost? We believe we need stewards who can advocate the value of wetlands.

Promoting the value of wetlands for conservation, food security and climate resilience

Promoting the value of wetlands for conservation, food security and climate change resilience

Food security, water management and climate change call for a cross cutting and inclusive approach involving all relevant stakeholders and sectors. This requires persons who, next to technical knowledge, possess other skills such as facilitation, conflict management and negotiation skills, as well as the ability to advocate the important role of wetlands in integrated water resources management.

The course is based on the premise that stewards understand what integrated water resources management is, what wetlands are, the different types of wetlands, what services they provide and the role of the RAMSAR Convention. To be able to act as a water steward and to advocate for wetlands, you will also need to know how to facilitate multi-stakeholder processes, how to communicate wetlands to different sectors and to use your negotiation skills.

Course objectives

Upon completion of the course you:

have a greater understanding of the essence of integrated water resources management and water stewardship;

have a better understanding of the interactions between agriculture and wetlands;

have improved your skills to facilitate multi-stakeholder processes and be familiar with supportive tools;

have improved your communication, negotiation, lobby and advocacy skills;

know better how to deal with conflict.

Target Audience

This course has been designed for wetland managers; for river basin and land-use planners; for policymakers, consultants, researchers, NGO and company staff involved with IWRM, wetlands and food security; and for those who wish to become a (better) water steward. Proficiency in English is required.

For more information and online registration:**http://www.wageningenur.nl/en/Expertise-Services/Research-Institutes/centre-for-development-innovation/short-courses/Shortcourses2016/cdicourse_IWRM_2016.htm**

For more information about MENA and NFP fellowships: http://www.wageningenur.nl/en/Expertise-Services/Research-Institutes/centre-for-development-innovation/short-courses/scholarships.htm