The International Centre for Water Security and Sustainable Management under the auspices of UNESCO (i-WSSM) announced that it will hold the “Regional Training Program on International Development Cooperation in the Water Sector” from 27 to 28 August at the Songsan Global Education and Research Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. The program is designed for professionals working in water-related companies, organizations, and public institutions.
The program is being offered as part of the “2026 Capacity-Building Program for Water Industry Professionals,” led by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. Under this initiative, five specialized water-sector institutions—UNESCO i-WSSM, the Korea Environment Corporation, K-water, the Korea Water and Wastewater Works Association, and the Korea Water Partnership—have formed a consortium to provide professional training for a total of 2,000 water industry professionals and public-sector personnel.
Drawing on their respective areas of expertise, the participating institutions support job-specific capacity building in practical skills, emerging technologies and research (Korea Environment Corporation); digitalization (K-water); certification and standardization (Korea Water and Wastewater Works Association); overseas market expansion (Korea Water Partnership); and green policies and international cooperation (UNESCO i-WSSM).
As part of this initiative, UNESCO i-WSSM operates training programs focusing on global trends in the water sector, international development cooperation, and results-oriented strategic consulting.
On 27 August, participants will first examine global trends in the water sector amid the climate crisis and the transition to carbon neutrality. The sessions will then explore country-specific water management needs and market characteristics, major contracting authorities and partner institutions, financing structures and business opportunities, and potential market-entry pathways for Korean water companies, with a particular focus on ASEAN and Central Asia. Korean water companies with experience participating in Official Development Assistance (ODA), Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), and Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) projects in these regions will also share practical insights into project identification, proposal development, contract acquisition, and implementation, as well as key considerations at each stage.
On 28 August, the program will begin with examples of project development using climate technologies, international cooperation, and carbon markets, followed by an analysis of major water challenges and project needs in Latin America and Africa. Participants will examine key regional development financing institutions—including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), and the African Development Bank (AfDB)—as well as approaches to building local partnership networks. Case studies of international development cooperation projects will also be presented.
Through this program, UNESCO i-WSSM aims to help Korean water companies develop region-specific market-entry strategies based on Country Partnership Strategies (CPS) and the water management needs of partner countries. The program will also strengthen the practical capabilities required throughout the international development cooperation project cycle, from project identification and proposal development to contract acquisition and implementation.
“An effective overseas expansion strategy begins with understanding not only the policy and market environment of each country and region, but also the financing, procurement, and partnership structures that drive projects,” an i-WSSM representative said. “Through field-based case studies and practice-oriented training, we aim to broaden opportunities for Korean water companies to participate in international development cooperation projects and enhance their global competitiveness.”
UNESCO i-WSSM will continue to provide professional training that reflects changes in the global water industry and practical field needs, covering areas such as climate crisis response, carbon neutrality, environmental, social and governance (ESG), international development cooperation, and results-oriented strategic consulting.
Attachments:
1. Overview of the Regional Training Program on International Development Cooperation in the Water Sector
2. Press Release