21 March 2023, Geneva, Switzerland - UNITAR’s network of affiliated training centres CIFAL Global Network (CGN) serve as hubs for the exchange of knowledge on development-related topics including water-related issues. The impact and scope of the CGN capture a wide range of stakeholders, with special emphasis on local authorities and civil society leaders, offering cutting-edge learning and training to close to 90,000 beneficiaries per year.

In the framework of the UN 2023 Water Conference and World Water Day, the CGN is committed to contributing to accelerating change and promoting water action through a variety of learning tools and training activities. With a global outreach, the CGN seeks to support SDGs #6 clean water and sanitation, #11 sustainable cities and communities, #14 life below water, #13 climate action, and #17 Partnership for the Goals, amongst other related interlinkages. 

For instance, CIFAL Philippines has developed the Professional Course on Water Governance, which addresses issues surrounding water sustainability and its relations to integrated water resource use. This course is relevant in a context where nearly five million people in the Philippines rely on unsafe and unsustainable water sources and nine million lack access to improved sanitation. Tangible learning solutions to challenging complex issues are needed more than ever and CIFAL training centres contribute to this global effort.

Reflecting on the need for sustainable solutions for those in precarious settings, CIFAL York offers the Humanitarian Water Engineering Intensive Course, which provides learning tools and develops skills in supplying safe water to populations in humanitarian settings. UNHCR estimates 103 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide and this figure is increasing[1]. Being the location of most refugees countries with limited resources, including water and sanitation assets, knowledge sharing on how to supply safe water to this increasing population becomes crucial. 

More information about the CGN training and learning opportunities on water related topics, please visit: https://unitar.org/sustainable-development-goals/people/our-portfolio/water-initiative

[1] Refer to UHNCR 2023 statistics. Available at: UNHCR - Refugee Statistics