Session FT 2.03

Strenghtening institutions and stakeholders capacity for IWRM implementation at local level

Conveners

• Capacity-building for Integrated Water Resources Management (Cap-Net)
• Latin America Water Education and Training Network
• Red Centroamericana de Instituciones de Ingeneria

The objective of Cap-net is enhancing human resources development for IWRM by means of establishing or strengthening regional capacity building networks. In the Cap-Net structure there are 23 regional, national and thematic networks. Their members are water capacity building institutions, knowledge centres and water managers.

Within this framework, the session shows how networks operate as effective instruments to facilitate capacity building at the local level, strengthening institutions and stakeholders which are ultimately responsible and determinant to enable better water resources management.

Lessons learned

1. Capacity building networks are proving to be an effective and efficient strategy to be used and adapted at different environments in consideration of the local stakeholders and specific needs. For IWRM to be implemented local actors must be strengthened and capacities anchored for their effective use.
   
2. The Training of Trainers strategy –beginning at the global level through Cap-Net meetings- is facilitating a notorious cascade effect with regional and national level follow up courses which are specifically designed in view of each target group. Contents not only include IWRM knowledge, but also leadership, facilitating and negotiating techniques to enable continuous capacity building.
   
3. As much as horizontal partnerships amongst capacity building institutions are key to enable the combination of knowledge needed for IWRM, networks also need to transfer knowledge to the stakeholders: from communities to the governmental level.
   
4. By working together in networks, different institutions are able to share costs and optimise knowledge and other resources (training materials, data bases, facilities), this results in a cost-efficient arrangement which is a key instrument to conduct continuous capacity building.
   
5. Measuring impact of the activities is required for a better understanding of the strengthening of local actors and IWRM implementation. Some initial action has been taken in this regard and needs to be continued. Finding adequate capacity building indicators is one the challenges which needs to be responded.

Key messages

1. Networks are working effectively and efficiently as instruments to build local capacities for IWRM implementation.
   
2. Capacity building needs to be urgently scaled up. Networks are well positioned to bring responses to such need.
   
3. Networks enable cost-efficient arrangements which are key opportunities to scale up capacity building within a context of limited funding.
   
4. More funding must be allocated for capacity building. By considering networks; such funds will be strongly leveraged at the different regions.
   
5. The Training of Trainers strategy facilitates sharing of knowledge, and strengthening of local institutions for long term impact. Results are showing an impressive cascade effect where knowledge is transferred to different groups.
   
6. There is a need to identify capacity building indicators and monitor the success factors, impact, lessons, and best practices.

Orientations for action

1. Partnerships and networking are showing to be efficient and cost effective strategies to scale up capacity building for IWRM and facilitate genuine local development for the long term.
   
2. Support for capacity building should be scaled up, especially considering approaches that build on local capacity building delivery.
   
3. Greater effort should be made to document, elaborate, and transfer knowledge on how IWRM can be successfully implemented.
   

Local Actions presented

Mechanisms for scaling up capacity building for IWRM.

Lilliana Arrieta, REDICA 

Promoting principles of IWRM in the countries of the Arab region.

Mohammad Abdulrazzak, AWARENET  

Experiences from the Nile IWRM Net.

Muna Mirghani, Nile IWRM Net 

Pangani Basin Water Office.

Hamza Sadiki