On 15 November 2023, in the framework of the UNESCO General Conference, WFEO Secretariat participated in the NGOs Hub showcasing joint NGOs initiatives. The “Access to Water for All in Africa” NGOs’ Coalition presented its hydrology training projects to UNESCO Member States and Secretariat. Théo Bélaud, WFEO Operations Officer, presented one of those projects.
Since 2014, WFEO is one of the 8 NGOs involved in this coalition coordinating the selection and supervision of internees to benefit from a 3-week training program in hydrology basic technical skills at 2IE Engineering School in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. NGOs select students within local NGOs based on calls for projects, and apply for funding by the UNESCO Participation Program.
This program has allowed funding for training sessions (enrollment fee, travel and accommodation costs included) that has benefited to 69 students over three sessions (some 30 more will be trained in 2024) from 14 countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Democratic Republic, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal,Togo.
Théo Bélaud, WFEO Operations Officer, addressing at the “Access to Water for All in Africa” presentation
In parallel to this program, the NGOs involved have progressed a a second project (called ACIF’O) since 2022, again in cooperation with 2IE School, as well as ENGEES Strasbourg (French Hydro Engineering faculty) and UNIT Foundation (French public institution providing online engineering courses, and a WFEO associate) The project aims to train superior technicians in hydrology, at a BA level, capable of serving as local projects managers in water access and sanitation. This is a critical objective to achieve capacity building in this field that will help progress the UN SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation For All). This program is scheduled for implementation from 2024, and is to be funded by the French network of water agencies (a preliminary agreement was already given in 2023) as well as other stakeholders.
Both programs were presented to UNESCO staff and Member States representatives. Théo Bélaud, WFEO Operations Officer, gave a presentation on the ACIF’O project.
For more information:
Access to Water for All in Africa webpage in UNESCO website
JAN
2024