Program Overview

United Nations University

Institute for Water, Environment and Health

The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health offers a program focused on unconventional water resources. This program is designed to enhance understanding of the importance of unconventional water resources worldwide, particularly in arid regions.

Program Description

The traditional methods of water supply, which rely on snowfall, rainfall, river runoff, and groundwater, have been over-exploited and are insufficient to meet the growing demand for freshwater in water-scarce regions. Water-scarce countries must rethink their water resource planning and management, which requires the creative utilization of the growing array of unconventional water resources suitable for food production, livelihood, ecosystem, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development. Globally, there is limited information and scattered examples on the use of unconventional water resources to augment water supplies in arid regions.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the program, participants will be able to:

• Understand the importance of unconventional water resources in bridging the water demand-supply gap in water-scarce regions.
• Learn about different types of unconventional water resources and their potential applications in specific contexts.
• Identify the relevance of certain unconventional water resources in their region or country.

Specific Knowledge and Skills Acquired

• Key concepts related to unconventional water resources and their applications
• Prioritization of specific types of unconventional water resources in particular conditions and environments

Target Audience

The program is designed for water professionals and graduate students interested in finding solutions to water scarcity.

Program Developers

The program was developed by:

• Manzur Qadir
• Guillaume Bagieu
• Kelsey Anderson from the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health.

Program Details

• Course Number: INWEH-21
• Classes Start: Available Now
• Classes End: December 31, 2028
• Certificate: Yes
• Language: Persian (originally), translated for global accessibility.