Enhancing Transboundary Groundwater Resources Cooperation
Anyone interested in engaging in constructive dialogue, but especially water managers, mediators, government officials, workshop facilitators, students, and professionals alike who are preparing to either guide or participate in groundwater management discussions at a regional or local level.
Course Start
Nov 01, 2025
Course End
Oct 31, 2026
Duration
Undefined
Certificate
Yes
About This Course
A prominent goal of this course is to level the asymmetries in capacities of aquifer states and to further enhance the knowledge of all those involved in managing groundwater. Developed by global experts in transboundary waters, this course will increase managerial capacities by providing information on how to strengthen intercultural alliances and empower through education. It may be followed independently as a standalone course or be assigned as preparatory material in advance of a complementary workshop.
Participants will be able to:
- Explain challenges and benefits of water cooperation.
- Understand how use and governance of transboundary aquifers can lead to either conflict or cooperation.
- Dispel some common myths about groundwater conflicts.
- Describe collaborative frameworks for negotiations.
- Apply strategies to improve communication skills.
- Understand the nuances of groundwater law.
- Draw upon valuable tools for water conflict transformation.
- Practice skills that can enhance groundwater negotiations.
Requirements Specific knowledge and skills gained
- Comprehensive understanding of groundwater cooperation and conflict and factors that may lead to each.
- Frameworks and communication skills to draw upon in any negotiation setting, although groundwater is the focus here.
- Knowledge of groundwater law and specific examples of groundwater conflict and cooperation.
Target audience
Anyone interested in engaging in constructive dialogue, but especially water managers, mediators, government officials, workshop facilitators, students, and professionals alike who are preparing to either guide or participate in groundwater management discussions at a regional or local level.
Course Development Team
This course was developed through the collaborative efforts of international researchers and institutions. Below are the main team members and their roles.
- Compiled by: Melissa Skye Steritz
- Edited by: Zoe Rosenblum
- Support: Mackenzie Reinwald, Saira Erfan (UNU-INWEH)
- Academic collaboration: Dr. Todd Jarvis (Institute for Water and Watersheds, OSU), Prof. Aaron T. Wolf (Program in Water Conflict Transformation, OSU)
- Institutional support: UNESCO, UNU-INWEH, IHE-Delft, Oregon State University
- Direction & production of webinars: Sarah Sheldrick
- Capacity Development Specialist: Narges Safar (UNU/INWEH) narges.saffar@unu.edu