Water resources and ecosystems

We do this through the Institute’s three core activities: education, research and capacity development. Research enhances the understanding of the processes within and amongst components of freshwater ecosystems, and the interaction between them and society. We share this understanding by developing and sharing new knowledge through our education and training programmes.

In this way, education, research and capacity development are integrated. In the WRE department, we believe that to be sustainable and to remain relevant, our focal areas should have depth in all of these fields. Such depth is attained through student numbers in education, capacity development projects and research efforts that reinforce each other, in collaboration with both internal and external partners. With a focus on country’s needs, our aim is to use this approach to make a significant impact by enhancing the capacity to support existing and implement new policies and practices that sustain freshwater resources and ecosystems. This is aligned with the 2020 Delft Agenda for Action, in particular the recognition that successful capacity development has to become more systemic.