I. Executive summary:

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1 FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE DESIGNATION OF THE IHE INSTITUTE FOR WATER EDUCATION (IHE DELFT) IN DELFT, THE NETHERLANDS, AS A CATEGORY 2 INSTITUTE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF UNESCO This document outlines the background and nature of the proposal, feasibility and foreseeable implications of the designation of the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (IHE Delft) as a category 2 institute under the auspices of UNESCO. The document identifies the benefits to Member States, the relevance of the Institute s activities to UNESCO's programmes, and the impact of the designation on the ability of the secretariat of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) to coordinate the expanding network of category 2 water-related institutes and centres. 1

2 Content: I. Executive Summary. II. Introduction. III. The Feasibility Study. III.1 Objective. III.2 Study Team. III.3 Scope of the Study. III.4 Methods. IV. Brief Review of the Proposal. V Consideration of the feasibility of the proposed Institute. V.1 Relations between the activities of the Institute and Organization s purposes and the strategic programme priorities of IHP (IHP-VIII). V.2 Ability and capacity of the Institute to meet its objectives. V.3 Relevance and impact of the Institute and complementarities with existing institutes/centres. V.4 Potential contributions to strengthening the provision of policy advice capacity building in Member States and North/South Cooperation. V.5 Contribution of UNESCO and by UNESCO-IHP. V.6 Likely impact of the engagement with the proposed Institute on the capacity of the IHP Secretariat to undertake effective coordination of this and other category 2 institutes/centres. V.7 Financial Sustainability of the Institute. V.8 Governing structure and legal status of IHE. VI. Conclusion. Annex 1: Programme and list of participants to the meeting 2

3 I. Executive summary: On 20 April 2017, the Director-General of UNESCO authorized the Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences (ADG/SC) to undertake a feasibility study of the IHE Institute for Water Education (IHE Delft), in Delft, the Netherlands, proposed by the Government of the Netherlands for designation as a category 2 institute under the auspices of UNESCO. The ADG/SC dispatched a team of UNESCO experts on a fact-finding mission to Delft (22-23 May 2017). The mission was coordinated with the Netherlands National IHP-HWRP Committee and the Netherlands National Commission for UNESCO. The Government of the Netherlands fully covered the cost of the mission. The team conducted site visits, interviews, and reviewed a variety of documents including the original proposal, a sample of IHE s activities in the previous years, communication exchanges, and financial plans. Following are the key observations, pertinent to the guidelines for the establishment of new institutes and centres as included in document 37 C./18 Part 1 and Attachments, which was approved by the 37th Session of the General Conference of UNESCO (37C/ Resolution 93), in There are clear, strong, and demonstrable programmatic linkages between IHE Delft s objectives, activities, and the fourth medium term strategic objective of UNESCO (SO4): promoting international scientific cooperation on critical challenges to sustainable development. The large proposed geographic scope of the institute is also contributing to UNESCO s global priority Africa, and its practices are well in alignment with UNESCO s priority on Gender Equality. 2. The proposed Category 2 Institute s work will contribute to the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and, more specifically, of SDG 6 Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. In addition, the content of the proposed Category 2 Institute s research agenda will strongly focus on the nexus between water and a variety of other SDG s, including: SDG 2 on food security. Given that 70% of all fresh water use is by irrigation, that irrigated agriculture supports 40% of all food production and drought is the number 1 threat to food supply, the proposed Category 2 Institute will promote research and capacity development on water harvesting and other techniques to support this SDG SDG 3 on good health and well-being. The proposed Category 2 Institute s research will demonstrate that, thanks to the innovation brought about by its products allowing water purification to make reliable water sources more accessible, mortality rates dramatically decrease, especially among children and women SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth SDG 11 on combatting water-related disasters in human settlements, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations SDG 13 on climate action SDG 15 on freshwater systems and terrestrial ecosystems SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Institutions through graduate-level training on water diplomacy among others with Oregon State University, development and support in relation to trans-boundary dialogues and water projects SDG 17 where the proposed Category 2 Institute will strongly contribute to the capacity development agenda in developing countries. The Institute will also contribute to and establish links with the following: Science for Sustainable Future, in line with the Dutch Government priority UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction with appropriate hazards education Delta Alliance From Potential Conflict to Cooperation Potential (PCCP) including water diplomacy and 3

4 water cooperation (together with the Oregon State University), as well as water conflicts and law World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP). 3. IHE Delft s mission is to contribute to the education and training of professionals, to expand the knowledge base through research, and to build the capacity of sector organizations, knowledge centers and other institutions active in the field of water, the environment and infrastructure in developing countries, and countries in transition. IHE Delft s activities have the potential for significant contributions to the implementation of the strategic objectives of IHP- VIII, in particular to theme 6 and focal areas Enhancing tertiary water education and professional capabilities in the water sector Focal area and Addressing vocational education and training of water technicians. 4. IHE Delft is the largest international graduate education institute in the field of water. The Institute offers 4 MSc programmes, numerous short and online courses and a PhD programme, in collaboration with partner universities. Since 1957, the Institute has provided graduate education to more than 15,000 practicing water professionals, as well as thousands of shortcourse participants from 162 countries. 5. IHE Delft has demonstrated capacity to improve water education, research and capacity development as an essential part of the UNESCO Water Family (the Institute was a Category I Institute until 31 December 2016). 6. The designation of IHE Delft as a category 2 institute under the auspices of UNESCO will allow the institute to make major contributions to water education at a very global level: in 2016, a total of 649 MSc students were studying at the Institute, representing 102 different nationalities from all regions of the world. 7. IHE Delft and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands jointly launched the project Strengthening Small Island Developing States capacity in the water sector to cope with the effects of climate change. The project aims to strengthen the capacity of professionals and decision makers to improve water management in SIDs, to better address future challenges such as coping with the effects of climate change. 8. The impact of the designation of IHE Delft as a category 2 institute under the auspices of UNESCO on the ability of the secretariat of IHP to continue effective coordination of the network of category 2 water-related centres is minimal. There will be no additional financial burdens on regular programmes and budgets resulting from such designation. 9. There are ample evidences of the commitment of the Government of the Netherlands to continue providing all costs necessary for IHE Delft to perform its functions as a category 2 institute under the auspices of UNESCO. 10. There is commitment from the Government of the Netherlands to secure the legal status of the centre and to ensure that its governance complies with the requirement of the revised strategy for category 2 centres as included in document 37 C/18 Part 1 and attachment. Based on the above findings, the fact-finding mission team concludes that the designation of IHE Delft as a category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO is in line with the revised strategy for category 2 institutes and centres in terms of the centre s potential to contribute to UNESCO s strategic goals including those of the International Hydrological Programme. The risks associated with the designated are minimal and the centre is poised to be an excellent addition to the network of existing water related centres. 4

5 II. Introduction: Water will be one of the most important issues of the 21st century. How should water be managed 40 years from now in a world inhabited by more than 9 billion people? This and many other questions demand direct action. Water is critical to the world s prosperity and environmental sustainability. Safe drinking water and appropriate sanitation are vital factors in human health and quality of life. More than half the population already lives in cities, and this number will only increase. The proposed Category 2 Institute for Water Education, under the auspices of UNESCO (hereafter the proposed Category 2 Institute ) in its strategic plan recognizes that addressing global challenges such as poverty, climate change and public health requires a strong foundation of knowledge to improve water management practices. An additional challenge is to connect the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement through water, by showing the role of water as a connector in the implementation of SDGs and the Paris Agreement and by raising awareness of water s importance as a cross-cutting resource. The International Institute for Infrastructural, Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering (IHE) has been created in 1957 following the signing of a contract between the Nuffic and the Technische Hogeschool Delft (currently TU Delft) with its base in Delft, the Netherlands. Considering the unity of purpose between UNESCO and IHE, the Government of the Netherlands proposed (document 161 EX/10) to transform IHE into a UNESCO Category 1 Institute for Water Education (hereafter the former Category 1 Institute ), and thus an integral part of UNESCO. The establishment of the former Category 1 Institute was thought to enable UNESCO s International Hydrological Programme (IHP) to improve the implementation of its international policy on water science and education. The General Conference, at its 31st session in October 2001, approved the creation of the former Category 1 Institute. Consequently, IHE as an existing private foundation was also transformed into the current IHE-Delft Foundation so as to support the former Category 1 Institute. The creation of the former Category 1 Institute was further formalized inter alia through the conclusion of an Operational Agreement between UNESCO and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Government of the Netherlands and a Cooperation Agreement between UNESCO and the IHE-Delft Foundation. The former Category 1 Institute has been a leading institute in the field of postgraduate water education. It was a strong pillar in the UNESCO «water family», next to the Organization s International Hydrological Programme (IHP), the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), as well as other water-related UNESCO Centers and Chairs around the globe. It has been and remains highly valued by UNESCO Member States. Altogether, through IHE s, followed by the former Category 1 Institute s operation, the work of the IHE-Delft Foundation has enabled to train 15,000 water professionals from more than 160 countries. With this in mind, UNESCO and the Netherlands have assessed the Agreement regarding the former Category 1 Institute, which came to an end on 31 December Both parties concluded that in order to facilitate continuous funding beyond 2016 by the Dutch Government and allow the former Category 1 Institute s highly appreciated activities to grow and develop for the benefit of UNESCO Member States, a new cooperative framework would be best suited. On 21 November 2016, the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, through its Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, submitted a proposal to the Director-General and the Secretary of IHP for the establishment of a Category 2 "Institute for Water Education" under auspices of UNESCO hosted by the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, currently in partnership with UNESCO. 5

6 In accordance with the Integrated Comprehensive Strategy for Category 2 Institutes/Centres under the auspices of UNESCO {37 C/18 Part 1, Attachment 1, Article 3. {ii).(c)) approved by the 37th session of the UNESCO General Conference (37/C Resolution 93), the IHP Intergovernmental Council (IGC) was invited to examine whether the proposal fits within the relevant strategic programme framework. The Intergovernmental Council of the IHP considered and endorsed the proposal on 18 April 2017 following a special consultation process by correspondence, in line with the IGC Rules of Procedure, paragraph 28. At the same time, UNESCO and the IHE-Delft Foundation pursued a smooth transition process with the signature of a Partnership Agreement. This agreement aims to ensure -as far as possible- the continuation of the former Category 1 Institute s activities beyond 2016 until 30 June 2018, unless the current proposal is approved by the General Conference of UNESCO and ratified by the Dutch parliament before that date. On 20 April 2017, the Director-General of UNESCO authorized the Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences (ADG/SC) to undertake a feasibility study of the IHE Institute for Water Education, in Delft, the Netherlands, proposed by the Government of the Netherlands for designation as a category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO. The ADG/SC dispatched a team of UNESCO experts on a fact-finding mission to Delft (22-23 May, 2017). The mission was coordinated with the Netherlands National IHP-HWRP Committee, and the Netherlands National Commission for UNESCO. The Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands fully covered the cost of the mission. The team conducted site visits, interviews, and reviewed a variety of documents including the original proposal, a sample of IHE s activities in the previous years, communication exchanges, and financial plans. Following are the key observations, pertinent to the guidelines for the establishment of new centres as included in document 37 C./18 Part 1 and Attachments, which was approved by the 37th Session of the General Conference of UNESCO (37C/ Resolution 93). III. The Feasibility Study: III.1 Objective: The main objective of this study is to inform the Director-General on the feasibility of designating IHE Delft as a category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO. The results of the study will also form the basis upon which the Director-General may wish to recommend to the Executive Board of UNESCO whether or not such designation should be endorsed for presentation to the General Conference of UNESCO. The purpose of this review is also to inform the Member States of UNESCO and its cooperation partners on the potential contributions of the proposed Centre to the Strategic Programme Objectives of UNESCO and the value added of the centre as an additional member of the network of water-related centres. III.2 Study Team: The review team consisted of two UNESCO professional staff representing the Secretariat of IHP and from the field whose technical competences relate to the area of the centre s activities. Given the domain of expertise of the institute, Mr Giuseppe Arduino and Mr Youssef Filali- Meknassi from Headquarters, have been entrusted with such a task.the cost of the mission was fully covered by the Government of the Netherlands. 6

7 III.3 Scope of the Study: The principles framework for feasibility studies is set forth in attachment 1 of the document 37 C/18 Part I. These principles require that the study focus on: Clear programmatic linkage between the activities of the institute or centre and the Organization s purposes as set forth in its Constitution and the strategic programme objectives and priorities, including the two global priorities of UNESCO as well as sectoral programme priorities as defined in relevant sections of the C/5 and C/4 documents. The scope of the activities of the proposed institute/centre and the ability and capacity of the institute/centre to meet its objectives; The global, regional, sub-regional or interregional relevance and impact (actual or potential) of the institute or centre, in particular the complementarities between its activities and those of other existing institutes or centres with similar focus (i.e., waterrelated institutes and centres); The contribution that it is expected to make in improving water education, research and capacity development. The contribution and role to be provided by UNESCO in general (and to IHP); more particularly; the eventual complementarity and redundancy of a proposed institute/centre with other (water-related) category 2 entities or with other similar institutions created and operated by other United Nations system organizations; and The likely impact of the engagement with the proposed institute/centre on the capacity of the IHP Secretariat to undertake effective coordination of this and other category 2 institutes/centres; III.4 Methods: The fact finding mission included the following : One site visit to IHE Delft of two days, during which he following activities were undertaken : - Meeting with the IHE Delft Team, UNESCO experts, IHP National Committee, UNESCO National Commission, and OCW: Presentation on the process for the Institute / Q&A, presentation of the proposal and of the Institute s scope of activities. - Tour of the IHE Delft Facilities - Meeting with the IHE Delft Chair Groups, Academic Departments & Research Team. - Consultation on the Draft Agreement. - Debriefing Session. The programme and the list of meeting participants is available in Annex 1. IV. Brief Review of the Proposal: The proposal defines the mission of the proposed Category 2 Institute as to : contribute to the education and training of professionals, to expand the knowledge base through research and innovation and to build the capacity of sector organizations, knowledge centres and other 7

8 institutions active in the fields of water, the environment and infrastructure in developing countries and countries in transition. The proposed Category 2 Institute has three main Objectives: Develop innovation, provide new knowledge, and promote the uptake of technologies and policies that will address the issues of the global and regional water agenda, in particular those related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Seek, evaluate and facilitate responses for the sustainable management of water, to meet the needs of all water related sectors and all parts of society, particularly the poor; Strengthen and promote principles of good governance that drive institutional and management change to support the sustainable management of water. The proposed Category 2 Institute will operate in three strategic areas of intervention: (i) education and training; (ii) research and innovation: (iii) capacity development and institutional strengthening. (i) Education and training: Four Master s degree programmes (Water management, Urban water and sanitation, Water science and engineering and Environmental Science) with a total of 21 specializations, a Ph.D. programme, as well as online specialized courses and professional diploma online modules. In addition to that, it will be responsible for the delivery of joint programmes with a number of other partners, online offerings (Online courses, Graduate Professional Diploma Programmes, Open Course Ware), short courses, tailormade training, summer schools, refresher courses. (ii) Research and innovation: The proposed Category 2 Institute will be home to the Graduate School Water and Development. Its staff and students conduct research in six main areas: Safe drinking water and sanitation; Water-related hazards and climate change; Water and ecosystems quality; Water management and governance; Water, food and energy security; and Information and knowledge systems. The PhD degrees will be awarded in collaboration with Dutch universities, including Delft University of Technology and Wageningen University. (iii) Capacity Development and institutional strengthening: The proposed Category 2 Institute will be engaged in a number of activities, networks and cooperating with umbrella organizations that aim to enhance the institutional development of agencies and entities responsible for the management of water-related services and programmes (e.g. World Water Forums, IWA, Public-Private Partnerships forums). More specifically, its activities in capacity development will be wide ranging, from the provision of tailor-made training to building a critical mass of water authorities officials for policy advice to Ministries of Water, of Environment, and of other related ministries around the world. The proposal sets out the Legal status of IHE Delft as part of the IHE Delft Foundation, a foundation under Dutch Law. It also provides a governance model for the proposed Category 2 Institute, with a Governing Board and a Managing Board, and an Advisory group. The proposed Category 2 Institute s will be financed the Government of the Netherlands. V. Consideration of the Feasibility of the Proposed Centre: V.1 Relations between the activities of the centre and Organization s purposes and the strategic programme priorities of IHP (IHP-VIII): 8

9 The proposal from the Government of the Netherlands has endeavoured to address in detail the requirements for proposals specified in document 37 C/Resolution 93 (November 2013) and contained in document (37 C/18 Part 1 and attachments). UNESCO s Medium Term Strategy, which was adopted by the General Conference (37 C/Res.1) defined the overarching objectives of the organization during the period ( ) as :(1) Peace and (2) Equitable and Sustainable Development. Within these two overarching objectives, the General Conference has identified two strategic objectives focusing on the role of science in sustainable development, these are: SO4: Strengthening science, technology and innovation systems and policies nationally, regionally and globally; and SO5: Promoting international scientific cooperation on critical challenges to sustainable development. In addition, the Eighth phase of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP-VIII, ) Water Security, addressing local, regional and global challenges, includes 6 main thematic areas. Theme 6 in particular : Water Education, Key for Water Security has two focal areas related to water education at the technical level: Focal area Enhancing tertiary water education and professional capabilities in the water sector Focal area Addressing vocational education and training of water technicians; However, with four Master s degree programmes in Water management, Urban water and sanitation, Water science and engineering and Environmental Science, and with a total of 21 specializations, a Ph.D. programme, as well as online specialized courses and professional diploma online modules, IHE Delft is covering a very wide range of focal areas under IHP 6 different themes. In addition to that, it will be responsible for the delivery of joint programmes with a number of other partners, online offerings (Online courses, Graduate Professional Diploma Programmes, Open Course Ware), short courses, tailor-made training, summer schools, refresher courses. IHE Delft will be home to the Graduate School Water and Development. Its staff and students conduct research in six main areas: Safe drinking water and sanitation; Water-related hazards and climate change; Water and ecosystems quality; Water management and governance; Water, food and energy security; and Information and knowledge systems. The PhD degrees will be awarded in collaboration with Dutch universities, including Delft University of Technology and Wageningen University. IHE Delft will be engaged in a number of activities, networks and cooperating with umbrella organizations that aim to enhance the institutional development of agencies and entities responsible for the management of water-related services and programmes (e.g. World Water Forums, IWA, Public-Private Partnerships forums). More specifically, its activities in capacity development will be wide ranging, from the provision of tailor-made training to building a critical mass of water authorities officials for policy advice to Ministries of Water, of Environment, and of other related ministries around the world. The Strategic Plan of the proposed Category 2 Institute is as follows: Maintaining and improving quality 1. Maintain, or where needed, strengthen the quality of research, education and capacity development 9

10 2. Focus activities, find synergies, e.g. in better linking education, research and capacity development Expanding global presence and achieving stronger societal impact 3. Create more value from and strengthen, where needed, our partnerships for impact on the ground 4. More effectively translate new technologies, developments and insights to address local needs 5. Better monitor and communicate our impact in education, research and capacity development Enhancing institutional resilience 6. Become financially resilient in a changing economic and political climate 7. Develop a transparent, open corporate culture, increased compliance with internal policies, laws and regulations 8: Improve staff satisfaction and cohesion within the Institute In summary, There are clear, strong, and demonstrable programmatic linkages between IHE Delft s objectives, activities, and the fourth medium term strategic objective of UNESCO (SO4): promoting international scientific cooperation on critical challenges to sustainable development. In addition, the wide geographic scope of the Institute (Since 1957 the Institute has provided graduate education to more than 15,000 water professionals from over 162 countries) is contributing to UNESCO s global priority Africa. The practices within IHE Delft are well in alignment with UNESCO s priority on Gender Equality. The proposed Category 2 Institute s activities fit well to the implementation framework of UNESCO s International Hydrological Programme (IHP), as IHP facilitates an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to watershed and aquifer management, which incorporates the social dimension of water resources, and promotes and develops international research in hydrological and freshwater sciences. IHE Delft s activities have the potential for significant contributions to the implementation of the strategic objectives of IHP-VIII, in particular to Theme 6 and focal areas 6.1 and 6.2, with many activities related to all IHP 6 themes. V.2 Ability and capacity of the institute to meet its objectives: The Government of the Netherlands, through various programmes of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment will support in the establishment of the proposed Category 2 Institute. More in particular these concern: Ministry of Education, Culture and Science: a base subsidy for the proposed Category 2 Institute. It will furthermore facilitate by granting the proposed Category 2 Institute the 10

11 rights to award a Master of Science degree and, together with Dutch universities, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Ministry of Foreign Affairs: programmatic and other contributions to the IHE Delft Foundation through the DGIS-UNESCO-IHE Programmatic Cooperation (contract conclude with IHE Delft Foundation), various projects on research, education and capacity development financed by the Royal Netherlands embassies in the partner countries, and access to MSc and PhD fellowships for the Institute s students under the Netherlands Fellowship Programme. Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment: programmatic cooperation is financed with projects in the framework of their International Agenda and Innovation Agenda (contract conclude with IHE Delft Foundation). The proposed Category 2 Institute will be registered in the ministry s Central Register of Higher Education Programmes (CROHO), and its educational offerings are accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO). The proposed Category 2 Institute s financial and legal liabilities will be vested in the IHE Delft Foundation, which is established under and governed by Dutch Law. The Institute beneficiates from a very enabling environment, located in the centre of Delft. The premises, comprising three interconnected buildings, cover an area of 14,000 square metres, extending from the main entrance of the new building on Westvest 7, to the historic buildings of Oude Delft 95 and 93 along one of Delft s main canals. It offers a wide range of facilities: Four modern teaching and research laboratories: aquatic ecology, microbiology process and analytical laboratories; A library with online connections to a worldwide network of libraries, and a reading room containing many international journals and magazines; Multifunctional lecture theaters and a fully equipped auditorium that seats 300; Extensive ICT facilities, including a studio with videoconferencing facilities; Innovative learning tools, including smart boards, WiFi and remote access to all digital resources A restaurant offering a wide variety of meals and snacks; An in-house prayer and meditation room; Residential accommodation equipped with computers, internet connections and other facilities. IHE Delft employs a total of 194 staff members, of which 51 percent are academic staff. It counts 3 academic departments, and 13 chair groups. The Institute also has at its disposal a pool of more than 350 national and international guest lecturers from government agencies, partner universities and research institutes. In summary, Enjoying a modern and fully-equipped premises managed and operated by a large team of competent highly qualified professionals, IHE Delft has proven capacity to implement its activities as an experienced Institute on water education. V.3 Relevance and impact of the Institute and complementarities with existing centres: 11

12 The Institute offers a unique combination of applied, scientific and participatory research in water engineering combined with natural sciences, social sciences and management and governance. Since its establishment, the Institute has played an instrumental role in developing the capacities of water sector organizations in the Global South, not least by strengthening the efforts of other universities and research centres to increase the knowledge and skills of professionals working in the water sector. IHE Delft carries out educational, research and capacity development activities that complement and reinforce each other in the broad fields of water engineering, water management, environment, sanitation, and governance. In summary, The designation of IHE Delft as a category 2 Institute under the auspices of UNESCO will allow the Institute to continue its major contributions to water education at the global level, by offering a unique combination of applied, scientific and participatory research in water engineering combined with natural sciences, social sciences and management and governance. The Institute has the potential and desire to continue its significant contributions to the UNESCO Water Family. The centre will complement the existing network of water-related centres without posing any risk of duplication. V.4 Potential contributions to strengthening the provision of policy advice capacity building in Member States and North/South Cooperation: Between 2010 and 2015, IHE s work was aligned with the mission assigned to the Institute at the time its Statute was approved by the UNESCO General Conference in Over the years, IHE staff engaged with hundreds of water professionals and institutions in all of UNESCO s regions so as to provide them with the necessary knowledge, technical competencies and policy advice to enhance their respective integrated water management practices. The noticeable fact that over 95% of the 14,500 UNESCO-IHE alumni returned to their home country after graduation and that, once they had been back, over 87% of them remained active in the water sector generally in leadership positions for many years (Alumni Tracer Study, 2011), attested to both the Institute s sound targeting and the usefulness of its academic curriculum. Further on the Institute has provided in the past direct policy advice and capacity development to national decision-makers within governments and international agencies, as for example on the world s largest estuaries, such as Yangtze and Mekong, as well as the supply of policy advice to Ministries of Environment in many different countries around the world. In summary, The Institute has the strong potentiality to continue pursuing what provided in the past, particularly strengthening the provision of policy advice capacity building in Member States and North/South and South/South cooperation. V.5 Contribution of UNESCO and by UNESCO-IHP: The proposed Category 2 Institute s activities fit well to the implementation framework of UNESCO s International Hydrological Programme (IHP), as IHP facilitates an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to watershed and aquifer management, which incorporates the social dimension of water resources, and promotes and develops international research in hydrological and freshwater sciences. 12

13 UNESCO may provide technical assistance for the programme activities of the proposed Category 2 Institute, in accordance with the strategic goals and objectives of UNESCO. UNESCO will have no financial obligations or accountability for the operations, management and accounting by the proposed Category 2 Institute and will not provide financial support for administrative or institutional purposes. The former Category 1 Institute, legally represented by the IHE-Delft Foundation, currently maintains cordial relations and collaborates with the following Category 2 Centres: International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC), Delft, the Netherlands International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM), Japan Regional Centre on Urban Water Management (RCUWM), Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Regional Centre on Urban Water Management for Latin America and the Caribbean (RCUWM-LAC), Cali, Colombia International Centre on Coastal Ecohydrology (ICCE), Faro, Portugal Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, University of Dundee, U.K. International Center for Integrated Water Resources Management (ICIWaRM), U.S.A. International Centre for Water Cooperation (ICWC), Sweden International Centre on Water Resources and Global Change (ICWRGC), Germany. In summary, There is a demonstrated wish, as expressed in the proposal, and during the fact-finding mission, from IHE Delft to continue the existing collaborations within the UNESCO Water Family, and to strive to develop new ones in the future. V.6 Likely impact of the engagement with the proposed Institute on the capacity of the IHP Secretariat to undertake effective coordination of this and other category 2 institutes/centres: Category 2 water-related Institutes and Centres extend the reach of IHP activities and provide support for the implementation of the programme s activities. A network of 36 centres now exists, and the continued interest from Member States in proposing new water-related institutes and centres also indicates likelihood of further growth of the network in the future. The secretariat of IHP will be engaged in coordinating the technical and administrative aspects of engagement with IHE Delft, as it has been the case for the past 14 years of its existence as a Category 1 Institute. The impact of the designating IHE Delft on the secretariat s ability to coordinate the network is therefore minimal and the benefits of its establishment outweighs the minimal risk associated with its establishment. In terms of financial impacts on the secretariat, there will be no additional cost to regular programmes and budget of UNESCO as a result of the establishment of the Institute. 13

14 In summary, There is no measurable impact of the designation of IHE Delft as a category 2 institute under the auspices of UNESCO on the ability of the secretariat of IHP to continue effective coordination of the network of category 2 water-related centres. There are also no additional financial burdens on regular programmes and budgets of resulting from such designation. V.7 Financial Sustainability of the Centre: The proposed Category 2 Institute s financial resources include contributions from the Government of the Netherlands, more in particular from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and from other sources, including tuitions fees and project-generated revenues. Additional programmatic and other contributions are made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the second phase of the DGIS-UNESCO-IHE Programmatic Cooperation (DUPC2) through various projects on research, education and capacity development financed by the Royal Netherlands Embassies in the partner countries, and by providing access to MSc and PhD fellowships for the proposed Category 2 Institute s students under the Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NWP). The contract of the DUPC2 programme has been concluded between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IHE Delft Foundation. Finally, a programmatic cooperation has been concluded with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment to develop and implement a range of projects and services that meet the ministry s water-sector related International Agenda and Innovation Agenda. The contract of this programmatic cooperation has been concluded between the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment and IHE Delft Foundation. In summary, There are ample evidences of the commitment of the Government of the Netherlands to continue providing all costs necessary for IHE Delft to perform its functions as a category 2 institute under the auspices of UNESCO. The Institute has a great potential to supplement these resources, and to be a strong partner for IHP in mobilizing additional resources for water education activities that are aligned with the strategic objectives of IHP. V.8 Governing structure and legal status of IHE Delft IHE Delft proposes the following governing structure: a Governing Board, a Managing Board, and an Advisory group: - Governing Board The Governing Board is the highest authority within the proposed Category 2 Institute. It will meet at least twice per year. Additional meetings may be convened on the initiative of its Chair, upon request of at least two of its members, or upon request of the Director-General of UNESCO. The Governing Board will adopt its own rules and regulations. At its first meeting, the procedure will be established by the Government of the Netherlands and UNESCO. The Governing Board holds statutory tasks, such as approval of proposed Category 2 Institute s policies, governing and management regulations, including for selection of participation systems relevant to its daily operations, such as accreditation and auditing. The Governing 14

15 Board approves the proposed Category 2 Institute s annual budget, planning and reporting. The Governing Board will make the proposed Category 2 Institute s funds available to the Managing Board upon the submission and approval of annual work plans and budgets. In order to secure that the proposed Category 2 Institute can meet its objectives as described in the above section, the Chair of the Governing Board will have a veto power over matters for which the IHE Delft Foundation is responsible and liable under the Dutch higher education, labour and fiscal laws. The Governing Board will be composed by the following members: a representative of the Government of the Netherlands, or his/her appointed representative (Chair), a maximum of 2 representatives of Member States, 1 representative of the Director-General of UNESCO, 1 representing the international water sector and a maximum of 2 representatives from Dutch Universities. The Director of the proposed Category 2 Institute will act as Secretary to the Governing Board. - Managing Board The Director is accountable to the Governing Board. Together with the other members of the Managing Board, the Director will be responsible for the daily governance and management of the proposed Category 2 Institute, including for the preparation of the Governing Board s meetings and implementation of the Governing Board s decisions. The Managing Board will consist of three members: in addition to the Director (Chair and with the title of Rector), there will be a Vice Rector and a Business Director, who are all appointed by the Governing Board. The Director (Rector) is responsible for the portfolio of strategy, leadership, high-level liaison with stakeholders, and for one of the core activities research or education or capacity development (remainder being in the portfolio of Vice Rector) The Vice Rector is responsible for innovation, value creation (valorisatie), accreditation processes and core activities other than will feature in the Rector s portfolio The Business Director is responsible for business strategy, development and implementation, donor and stakeholder relations, institute organization and quality control. The Director, as Chair of the Managing Board, and/or other of its members, will attend (parts of) the meetings of the Governing Board. The Director of the proposed Category 2 Institute will, as Chair of the Managing Board, act as Secretary to the Governing Board. - Advisory Group At a later moment, the proposed Category 2 Institute will establish an Advisory Group. This group will provide non-binding, strategic, advice to the Managing Board. It will comprise of representatives from the broad field of stakeholders of the proposed Category 2 Institute, thereby strengthening the interface between the UN System, science, policy and society. The number of Advisory Group members will not exceed 10. More in particular, the Advisory Group will contribute to: Review the quality and relevance of the proposed Category 2 Institute s core activities Signal trends in the demand for the proposed Category 2 Institute s services among public and private sector and non-governmental agencies Encourage and support the exploration of new business ideas and innovation Advise on approaches to maximize the impact of the proposed Category 2 Institute s activities Provide wise counsel. The proposed Category 2 Institute will be part of the IHE Delft Foundation, which is a foundation under Dutch Law, and is formally registered as Stichting IHE Delft under number 15

16 with Westvest Netwerk Notarissen in the commercial register, Chamber of Commerce, Delft, the Netherlands. The Institute will enjoy, in the territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the status and legal capacity necessary to exercise its functions: to contract to institute legal proceedings and to acquire and dispose of movable and immovable property. In summary, The governance structure of IHE Delft is set out and well organized. There is commitment from the Government of the Netherlands to secure the legal status of the Institute and to ensure that its governance complies with the requirement of the revised strategy for category 2 centres and institutes as included in document 37 C/18 Part 1 and attachment. VI. Conclusion Based on the above findings, the fact-finding mission team concludes that the designation of IHE Delft as a category 2 institute under the auspices of UNESCO is in line with the revised strategy for category 2 institutes and centres in terms of the centre s potential to contribute to UNESCO s strategic goals including those of the International Hydrological Programmes. The risks associated with such designation are minimal and the Institute is poised to be an excellent addition to the network of existing water related centres, as well as to the UNESCO Water Family in general. 16

17 ANNEX 1 Monday, 22 May 2017 Program and list of participants UNESCO Category 2 Feasibility Study Delft, the Netherlands, (22-23 May 2017) Time Venue Content Participants Responsi ble 12h00 IHE Delft Arrival at IHE IHE Delft Delft, meet and greet Westvest 7, 2611 AX Delft IHP: Giuseppe Arduino (Chief of Section Eco-hydrology, Water Quality and Water Education Section) and Youssef Filali- Meknassi (Programme Specialist) IHE Delft: Fritz Holzwarth (Rector ad interim), Johan van Dijk (Business Director), Vanessa de Oliveira (Liaison Officer) 13h00 IHE Delft Lunch IHP: Giuseppe Arduino and Youssef Filali-Meknassi IHE IHE Delft: Fritz Holzwarth, Johan van Dijk, Vanessa de Oliveira IHP National Committee: Siep Groen (Senior policy officer at the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands) and Sandra de Vries (Committee Secretary) UNESCO National Commission: Dr. Marike Bontenbal (Policy Officer Science) Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands (OCW): Daan Stipdonk (Senior Policy Officer) and Ron van der Meer 17

18 14h00 IHE Delft UNESCO: Presentation on the process for the C2C / Q&A IHP WINS (C2C) (Deputy Director Higher Education department) IHP: Giuseppe Arduino and Youssef Filali-Meknassi IHE Delft: Fritz Holzwarth, Johan van Dijk, Vanessa de Oliveira IHP National Committee: Siep Groen and Sandra de Vries UNESCO National Commission: Dr. Marike Bontenbal (Policy Officer Science) UNESCO 15h00 IHE Delft IHE: Presentation of the proposal / Q&A OCW: Daan Stipdonk and Ron van der Meer IHP: Giuseppe Arduino and Youssef Filali-Meknassi IHE Delft: Fritz Holzwarth, Johan van Dijk, Vanessa de Oliveira IHP National Committee: Siep Groen and Sandra de Vries UNESCO National Commission: Dr. Marike Bontenbal (Policy Officer Science) OCW: Daan Stipdonk and Ron van der Meer IHE Delft 18

19 Tuesday, 23 May 2017 Time Venue Content Participants Responsible 09h00 IHE Delft Tour of the IHE Delft Facilities IHP: Giuseppe Arduino and Youssef Filali- Meknassi IHE Delft IHE Delft: Maria Laura Sorrentino (alumni officer) 10h00 IHE Delft Meeting with the IHE Delft Chair Groups and Academic Departments IHP: Giuseppe Arduino and Youssef Filali- Meknassi IHE Delft: Fritz Holzwarth, Johan van Dijk, Michael McClain (Professor of Ecohydrology), Wim Douven (Associate Professor of Integrated River Basin Management and DUPC coordinator), Dimitri Solomatine (Professor of Hydroinformatics and Head of Integrated Water Systems and Governance Department), Eric van Hullebusch (Professor in Environmental Science and Technology) IHE Delft 19

20 12h00 IHE Delft Consultation on the Draft Agreement IHP: Giuseppe Arduino and Youssef Filali- Meknassi IHE Delft: Fritz Holzwarth, Johan van Dijk and Vanessa de Oliveira IHE Delft 13h00 IHE Delft Lunch IHP: Giuseppe Arduino and Youssef Filali- Meknassi IHE Delft 14h00 IHE Delft Consultation on the Draft Agreement IHE Delft: Fritz Holzwarth, Johan van Dijk, Michael McClain, Gaetano Casale IGRAC: Neno Kukuric IHP: Giuseppe Arduino and Youssef Filali- Meknassi UNESCO & IHE Delft 16h00 IHE Delft Debriefing Session IHP: Giuseppe Arduino and Youssef Filali- Meknassi UNESCO & IHE Delft 18h00 Delft railway station IHE Delft: Fritz Holzwarth and Johan van Dijk Travel to Paris UNESCO IHE Delft 20