The training has been organized as part of the “2026 Capacity-Building Program for Water Industry Professionals,” overseen by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. The program is a professional development initiative delivered by a consortium of five specialized water sector institutions: the UNESCO International Centre for Water Security and Sustainable Management (i-WSSM), the Korea Environment Corporation, K-water, the Korea Institute for Water Technology Certification, and the Korea Water Partnership. It aims to provide training for a total of 2,000 water industry professionals and public sector personnel.
Drawing on their respective expertise, the participating institutions support the development of job-specific competencies in practical skills, emerging technologies and research (Korea Environment Corporation); digital technologies (K-water); certification and standards (Korea Institute for Water Technology Certification); overseas market expansion (Korea Water Partnership); and environmentally sustainable policies and international cooperation (i-WSSM).
Within this framework, i-WSSM offers training focused on global water sector trends, international development cooperation, and goal-oriented strategic consulting.
On October 28, the program will cover trends in voluntary carbon markets and emissions trading systems, alongside opportunities for water companies to use carbon credits. Sessions on quantifying greenhouse gas emission reductions in the water sector and utilizing carbon credits will introduce key concepts and methodologies, including baseline scenarios, emission factors, and calculation procedures. Participants will calculate emission reductions using project examples and assess opportunities for carbon credit utilization. The program will also share strategies and case studies on how water companies can access international development cooperation opportunities through climate finance, including examples involving the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the World Bank’s Korea Green Growth Trust Fund.
On October 29, participants will receive practical guidance on preparing GCF Funding Proposals, including an analysis of proposal structures and relevant drafting guidelines. They will also take part in hands-on proposal-writing exercises, present their work, and receive feedback.
Through this training, i-WSSM aims to help participants understand climate finance structures, with a particular focus on the GCF, and learn from actual water sector projects. Through PCP drafting exercises and real-world project development cases, the Centre will support water companies in strengthening their capacity to plan and implement international development cooperation projects.
“To participate in international development cooperation projects in the water sector using climate finance, professionals need to understand how funding is structured and accessed, and develop the practical skills to translate that understanding into project planning and proposal writing,” an i-WSSM representative said. “Through this training, we will help Korean water companies explore opportunities to access climate finance and strengthen their capacity to plan and implement international development cooperation projects through case studies and hands-on proposal-writing exercises.”
i-WSSM will continue to provide training for water industry professionals that reflects changes in the global operating environment and practical industry needs, covering climate crisis response, carbon neutrality, environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, international development cooperation, and goal-oriented strategic consulting.
Attachments:
Overview of the Practical Training Program on Climate Finance–Based International Development Cooperation in the Water Sector
Event Poster