Project profile — UNU - Institute for Water, Environment and Health - Institutional Support 2014

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) institutionalized adaptation strategies for coastal ecosystems of tropical waters, particularly mangroves and coral reefs; (2) better managed land resources and sustainable use of water and biodiversity resources in developing countries; (3) advanced education, capacity and information management, leading to improved implementation of Integrated Water Resource Management; and, (4) improved human well-being through sustainable, healthy ecosystems.

Results achieved as of December 2014 include: (1) launch of a free Massive, Open, Online Course (MOOC) on the economics of land degradation, which was successfully completed by about 100 people worldwide; (2) continued engagement in the deliberations around the post-2015 development agenda, particularly those pertaining to water by undertaking a country-level analysis of 11 countries representing different geographies and economies in Africa, Latin America, North America and Southeast Asia; (3) developed a partnership with the Government of Uganda to develop robust and scalable technologies, combined with a business model to tap private sector resources for sustainable wastewater management; (4) worked with the Governments of Kenya and Tanzania to develop a curriculum on environment and health training for water professionals; (5) developed an international online course on mangrove biodiversity to build the capacity of professionals and institutions in developing countries to undertake monitoring, research, and conservation of critical coastal ecosystems in mangrove forests; and, (6) organized seminars, workshops and events in Canada and internationally to engage development communities and promote research results on food security, science-policy integration, water, maternal health, and the management of coastal ecosystems. These have contributed to: institutionalized adaptation strategies for coastal ecosystems of tropical waters, particularly mangroves and coral reefs; better managed land resources and sustainable use of water and biodiversity resources in developing countries; advanced education, capacity and information management; and, improved human well-being through sustainable, healthy ecosystems.