About this Course

The course will use different learning tools, focusing on participants sharing their own experiences, and guided by the introduction of new conceptual approaches and tools supported by case studies. There will be a combination of short video lectures, online material, assignments and exercises, group assignments, discussions and practical exercises for the face to face part of the course. The course will be supported by training materials developed by IHE-Delft, ITC, SIZU and the case studies developer’s partner institutes. The online part of the course will be composed on modules each module will covered in one week.

Course Objectives

This component of the course aims to achieve the following objectives

• To introduce and highlight the general importance of wetlands ecosystems services with a focus on the Nile basin.
• To introduce the different methods of wetlands ecosystems assessment
  • Be more familiar with using EO as tools for wetland ecosystem management.
  • How to Map and monitor the wetlands ecosystem,
  • How can EO tools support valuation of wetland ecosystem
• To give an Introduction to economic valuation tools and methods of ecosystems services
• To practice the Application of selected economic valuation tools on the project case studies
• To provide guidelines on valuation procedures and steps with applications and case studies form different regions
• To better understand the role of gender groups in wetlands services valuation for wise use.
• To give better understanding of integrating the value of water and wetlands into decision-making.

ORGANISATION AND PARTNERS

The Training course will be organized by NBCBN-SEC in coordination with the Capnet-UNDP, the CapNet “Virtual Campus Team” and the Nile Eco-VWU project partners. The online course is planned to be implemented in direct collaboration with CapNet-UNDP virtual campus team, Implementation partners: The Nile Basin Capacity Building Network (NBCBN), Cap-Net UNDP, Makerere University Egerton University, Ain Shams University, UNESCO Chair in Water Resources (UNESCO-CWR)  WaterCap, IHE- Delft , The Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of the University of Twente, Szent István University (SZIU).

Participants

WHO SHOULD APPLY:

The course will in particular target participants from the Nile basin countries with basic experience and background on wetlands and ecosystems management, participants from other regions of the world are also encouraged to join this course. A background in economics or socio-economics will be an added value. In this context, participants are expected to come from multidisciplinary backgrounds with a common focus on wetlands and ecosystems management. NBCBN network members and partners from other networks, who are working in the field of research or management of wetlands, are welcomed to join this course. The maximum expected number of participants for the online part is expected to be: 30 respecting gender and geographic balance

REGISTRATION:
There is no course fee, open to a maximum of 30 participants representing various stakeholder groups from the entire water sector:
• Stakeholders and professionals forming part of water management, civil society, river basin or international organizations; development programmes and members of UN organizations; and representatives of the private sector;
• decision makers, policy makers, and high-level professionals and managers active in governmental bodies;
• capacity developers active in the fields of sustainable water management, Ecosystems Management, Wetlands management and economic valuation of wetlands services

Interested participants must complete the online registration form, including the presentation of the following documentation before 31sth of August, 2017.

1. Required. A short profile, describing: educational and professional background; experience in water resources management, water capacity development, or decision making; participation in networks and/or alliances; any other relevant information related to the course subject.
2. Required.A motivation and commitment letter: explaining your interest in participating in the course; availability to dedicate at least 6 hours per week during the course duration and participate in the course activities; and your expectations in terms how will you apply and share the acquired contents in your field of work and with your colleagues.
3. Optional.A 1-page letter of institutional support: through which the institution where you work expresses interest in your participation in the course; explains why this will be an important training for you and the institution.