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HidroEX International Centre – an example

of water cooperation

Tânia Brito, Director of Research, Richard Meganck, Romes Lopes, HidroEX International Centre

lthough considered a common heritage of mankind, an

essential element for life, water resources have been

under increasing pressure as a result of both misuse

and mismanagement. This reality is the underlying reason for

the establishment of the International Centre for Education,

Capacity-Building and Applied Research in Water (HidroEX).

Its mission is to contribute to resolving the burgeoning water

crises that threaten the world as a whole, with a special focus

on Latin America and Portuguese-speaking Africa. By helping

to train the next generation of water leaders, the foundation

looks towards a time when water resources will be shared in an

equitable fashion and managed in a sustainable context.

HidroEX International Centre is a public law foundation created by

the Government of Minas Gerais, in partnership with The Federal

Government of Brazil, and it is subordinate to the Secretary for

Science, Technology and Higher Education. Established under the

auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization (UNESCO), the HidroEX International Centre has the

responsibility for implementing sustainable development programmes

focusing on water preservation and management of water

resources through educational, research and capac-

ity building initiatives. HidroEX is one of UNESCO’s

Category II centres which understands that encouraging

the operation of water education centres in a network

is as important as establishing the centres. Networked

operation will enable the centres to avoid the overlap of

efforts, leading to greater economy of scale and technical

and economic efficiency in implementing water-related

projects. Defending this position, HidroEX has initiated

a number of national and international partnerships

committed to networking in a great effort towards water

education, in accordance with the guidelines established

in the International Hydrological Programme (IHP).

Following UNESCO’s recommendation, a key

responsibility of HidroEX is to foster interna-

tional water cooperation with Latin American and

Portuguese-speaking African countries, working in

close relationship with the Community of Portuguese

Speaking Countries (CPLP).

ater

ducation

and

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Everyone is responsible for sustainable water use and the learning process starts in schools, homes, communities and basins

Images: Tânia Brito (left); Maria Carolina Hazin (right)