CATHALAC

The United Nations University - International Network on Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) and CATHALAC share common principles, objectives and mutual interest in education and capacity development in relation to Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). Both have agreed to establish and operate together a United Nations Water Virtual Learning Centre (WVLC) at CATHALAC to service the needs of the Latin America and the Caribbean region.

The main purposes of the WVLC are to improve water resource management and water services of developing countries and to improve training and education through distance learning in the water sector. The Regional WVLC will focus on the Latin America and Caribbean region. It will offer a core curriculum in integrated water resources management, identify regional and national needs for a customized curriculum, establish regional electronic networks, train students, trainers and decision-makers.

CATHALAC will manage the Latin America and the Caribbean Regional WVLC in collaboration with UNUINWEH, and will also provide its physical operation facilities.

UNU-INWEH is a member of the United Nations University worldwide family of organizations, and performs two core functions: capacity development and policy-science bridging. The capacity development efforts help developing countries to implement Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) through:

• Cross-cutting, adult education programmes directed at water practitioners

• Ecosystem-specific “networks of best practice” for knowledge sharing and comparative research

• Fostering of water-related “centers of excellence”

Criteria for selection of students (and other trainees)

a) Candidates shall have an undergraduate degree from a recognised institution (or equivalent), and be employed in a water-related sector and have the agreement of their employer to participate

b) Candidates shall be selected based on: their academic qualifications; their willingness to participate in and fulfil the pilot-phase evaluation requirements, and their willingness to complete the programme in the specified time frame.