The International Centre for Water Security and Sustainable Management (i-WSSM) under the auspices of UNESCO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the K-water Academy on 22 July 2026 to strengthen cooperation in global water sector human resource development and capacity building for developing countries.
The MoU aims to combine the expertise, training capacity, and global networks of both institutions to enhance water management capacity in developing countries and expand international cooperation in human resource development (HRD) for the water sector.
Under the MoU, i-WSSM and K-water Academy will cooperate in the following areas: ▲ identifying and implementing joint projects for water management capacity building and global HRD in developing countries; ▲ sharing water-related knowledge, technologies, and training resources, as well as promoting expert exchanges; ▲ developing joint projects through expanded partnerships with international organizations and funding institutions; and ▲ conducting joint research, education, and networking activities based on the expertise of both institutions.
As a follow-up to the MoU, the two institutions also plan to jointly implement a pilot project to establish a foundation for water sector HRD coope
ration in the Philippines. The project will include an assessment of the country’s water sector HRD landscape and cooperation needs, the development of a partnership directory involving government agencies, academia, and international organizations, an international symposium on Korea–Philippines water management cooperation, an invitational training programme for relevant stakeholders, and a preliminary study for the establishment of a Water Academy in the Philippines.
Through this partnership, i-WSSM and K-water Academy plan to further develop demand-driven HRD cooperation models for the water sector and continue identifying follow-up cooperation projects with partner countries.
