UNESCO-IHP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at University of Dundee
- The Centre and UNESCO IHP HELP
- The Centre and UNESCO IHP PCCP Programme
- The Centre and UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education Collaboration
- News and Events
The Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science is building a new generation of water leaders through excellence in research and teaching.
The Centre, which was created in 2006, is located within the Postgraduate School of Management and Policy at the University of Dundee. It is the first UNESCO ‘category II’ centre to be established in the UK and operates under the auspices of UNESCO. The Centre works with stakeholders both within Scotland and throughout the world.
UNESCO Category II centres exchange information, perform research, advanced training, contribute to the execution of UNESCO's programmes, and increase the participation of national and regional institutions in UNESCO's work. These centres are independent of UNESCO and are associated with the Organization through individual arrangements as approved by the UNESCO General Conference. Category II centres have UNESCO representation on their governing board. There is currently a global network of over 40 category II centres operating under the auspices of UNESCO, around half of which are in the field of freshwater.
The Centre provides water law inputs for IHP programmes, such as HELP and PCCP. It is a world leader in its field and works to find new ways of effectively integrating law, policy and science to address water challenges of the 21st century. It undertakes a wide breadth of research and consultancy, recognising that if water law is to effectively implement integrated water resource management and help the international community reach international development targets three essential elements must be considered: water rights, frameworks for allocation, and institutional mechanisms.
For further information about the UNESCO Centre in for Water Law, Policy and Science and its work visit its website.
The Centre and the UNESCO IHP HELP (Hydrology for the Environment, Life and Policy) Programme
The Centre is part of the UNESCO IHP HELP (Hydrology for the Environment, Life and Policy) Programme, which adopts a new approach to integrated catchment management. The HELP Programme provides a framework within catchments (which include not only aquatic but also related terrestrial ecosystems) for water law and policy experts, water resource managers and water scientists to work together on locally defined water-related problems. The programme has established a global network of basins for this purpose and and the UNESCO Centre in Dundee acts as the Regional Coordinating Unit for the 20+ HELP basins in Europe.
The Centre and the UNESCO IHP PCCP (from Potential Conflict to Cooperation Potential) Programme
Members of the Centre have authored a comprehensive study of the role of international water law in helping transform potential conflict into cooperation potential. These materials are an important resource for UNESCO's PCCP Programme. They focus on actual case studies and, through examination of contemporary state practice and detailed analysis of the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention, demonstrate how water resource experts from a range of backgrounds can make transformative impacts for river valleys globally where issues of international water law have not previously been addressed.
The Centre is also collaborating with UNESCO and the UNESCO-IHE Institute to create a new Masters Programme in Water Management, specializing in water conflict management.
The Centre and the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education Collaboration, Delft, Netherlands
The Centre has a longstanding and productive collaboration with the UNESCO-IHE Institute in Delft, the Netherlands. The two institutions co-deliver an LLM in Water Governance and Conflict Resolution and students study in both countries. The programme provides a unique opportunity for students from a law, policy or social science background to study the technical aspects of water resource management as well as conflict management and water law.
News and Events
International Water Law Scholarship Programme
The Global Water Partnership together with IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, under the auspices of UNESCO, at the University of Dundee, is looking to build on their successful 2011 International Water Law Programme (www.dundee.ac.uk/water/workshop), and offer scholarships for 30 participants to undertake a module in International Water Law, in Dundee 11-29 June 2012.
Scholarship recipients are responsible for all travel (t/from Dundee) and subsistence (food/accommodation) costs. GWP is aiming at providing funding for travel and subsistence for a limited number of successful Scholarship applicants. Even though final funding is pending, GWP and the University of Dundee now invite applications from suitable candidates.
Applications will be accepted from 24 November 2011 to 3 February 2012. Successful candidates will be notified at the beginning of March 2012 to allow as much time as possible to obtain visas, additional funding, etc.
The module is aimed at persons working in water resources who wish to acquire specialist knowledge of international water law, especially as it relates to transboundary water challenges in the GWP regions.
Applicants to the joint GWP-University of Dundee IWL Programme should be from GWP Partner organisations and are required to be proficient in English, either as native speakers, or to a standard of an IELTS score of 6.5. A university degree is required in Hydrology, Environmental Science, Law, Agriculture, or related field.
Read more and apply here: www.gwp.org/GWP-Dundee-2012
Call for Papers: UNWC Global Initiative Symposium
Co-organised by IHP-HELP Centre for Water, Law, Policy & Science (under the auspices of UNESCO), University of Dundee and WWF
The 1997 UN Watercourses Convention - What Relevance in the 21st Century? 5th-86h June 2012, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK
The convenors of the Symposium are inviting experts to submit papers on a range of topics related to the UNWC. For furhter information, click here.
Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, University of Dundee 