UNESCO Chair on Transboundary Water Management and Governance

Towards Sustainable Water Security in Africa through Water Diplomacy and Science

About the UNESCO Chair

The UNESCO Chair on Transboundary Water Management and Governance at the المركز القومى لبحوث المياه (NWRC) promotes sustainable and cooperative management of shared water resources, with a focus on regional challenges such as the Nile Basin.

It advances research, capacity building, and policy dialogue to support effective water governance, strengthen water security, and foster international collaboration.

Strategic Vision

African Leadership in Water Governance

This Chair is an unprecedented strategic achievement as the first UNESCO Chair awarded to the NWRC, and a pioneering global initiative critically focused on the challenges of major African river basins (including the Nile, Zambezi, and Senegal basins). It stems from a comprehensive vision adopting a multidisciplinary approach that integrates hydrology, environmental science, political science, and climate change, with an innovative focus on the management of Blue and Green Water Resources to enhance climate adaptation and the resilience of water systems against global challenges.

Strategic Objectives and Regional Impact

The Chair directly aligns with UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy and Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), aiming to achieve a paradigm shift in water diplomacy

Evidence-Based Policy Development

Providing accurate scientific consultations to support decision-makers in managing shared resources and mitigating water conflicts.

The African Community Platform

Establishing an innovative communication platform that integrates stakeholders in all communities into the heart of the policymaking process

Regional Intellectual Solidarity

Connecting African universities and research centers to exchange knowledge and technology, focusing on regional and international cooperation to enhance water security.

Tangible Action Outputs and Capacity Building

(2026 - 2030)

The Chair’s action plan is designed to deliver measurable and impactful outcomes, including

Leadership Qualification

Training and empowering 120 policymakers and water diplomats by the fourth year through postgraduate programs (Master's and PhD) and intensive courses.

Sustainable and Inclusive Education

Providing fully funded scholarships for African researchers, with a strict commitment to allocating 60% of these scholarships to women and youth, believing in their role as leaders of change.

Applied Scientific Research

Leading joint research utilizing the latest Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and hydrological modeling technologies to predict climate impacts and develop proactive strategies.

Decision Support

Publishing 5 Policy Briefs and disseminating them through UNESCO networks to guide institutional reforms across the continent.

Our Projects & Partners

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Corporis suscipit gravida quisquam ultrices omnis et dolorem.