CAS Water Governance: Frameworks and Negotiations 2025
Information
Period
23 June 2025 - 4 July 2025Language
EnglishFormat
Blended learningRegistration
Registration deadline
28 February 2025Fees:
CHF 3,500.– for all modules taken as a package. Fractioned payment is also possible by arrangement
CHF 1,250.– per module taken individually
Contribution to the SDGs
Objectives
- Identify and analyse the new challenges of water resource management on a global scale, taking into consideration the whole water cycle.
- Analyse hydropolitics and actors’ strategies and gain an understanding of trends and functioning of water governance at a global level.
- Provide tools to water professionals to analyse water policy issues and manage the resource in the face of risk and uncertainty.
- Develop work-related skills such as the ability to analyse international legal and institutional frameworks, the related negotiations, and the ability to prevent and regulate water conflicts.
- Develop a community of practitioners in the field of water governance.
Audience
Learning outcomes
- Implement strategies that take into consideration both political and practical issues of water management.
- Use tools to analyse and manage water policy issues in a changing environment (political, economic, environmental).
- Analyse legal frameworks (and their development) for the management of water resources.
- Manage complex situations and implement innovative solutions.
- Communicate effectively on policy and strategic issues regarding water resources.
- Anticipate inter and intra-sectoral water conflicts and resolve these conflicts with water management tools.
Programme
5 modules:
- Module 1: MOOC Water Resources Management and Policy (Online Course)
- Module 2: Hydropolitics
- Module 3: International Water Law at the Intersection of Different Fields of International Law
- Module 4: Conflict Management Processes
- Module 5: Data, Water and Cooperation
Director(s)
Prof. Christian BRÉTHAUT and Dr. Imane Messaoudi-Mattei, Institute for Environmental Sciences (ISE), University of Geneva
Coordinator(s)
Partnership
The Institute for Environmental Sciences of the University of Geneva launches another edition of the certifying Summer School in “Water Governance: Framework and Negotiations”. This two-week training aims to deliver skills and knowledge based on the latest scientific research applicable in professional contexts. Participants will learn how to use water governance tools to address complex political situations, be resilient when a crisis strikes, and innovate in the face of risk and uncertainty.
The Summer School, as a blended programme, integrates the MOOC in Water Management and Policy, which is equivalent to one module of the training. This MOOC, delivered to participants via the Coursera platform, provides a general introduction to the course. It must be followed before the start of the Summer School in Geneva. Regarding the completion of the MOOC, participants are required to obtain the certificate of achievement delivered by Coursera. Costs of this certificate are paid directly to Coursera by participants themselves as they are not covered by the registration fees. Financial aid can be applied for, and information on this is available on the Coursera Platform.
To obtain the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS), participants are required (1) to complete the MOOC, (2) to attend the Summer School and submit the four final evaluations, and (3) to submit a final thesis.
Speakers
Description
- Water as a common pool resource
- Rules of the resource: uses and circumvention
- Integrated resource management and the nexus
- Integrated watershed management
- Water as a source of conflict and cooperation
Location
Speakers
Description
- Frameworks for understanding and analysing hydropolitics
- Different perspectives on hydropolitics
- Hydropolitical dynamics around transboundary waters
Location
Speakers
Description
- Sources and principles of international water law
- Linkages between international water law and other areas of international law
- Legal tools to solve water-related disputes
Location
Speakers
Description
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) techniques
- Focus on the negotiation process
- Skills for a successful negotiation
Location
Speakers
Description
- Role of data and models in water cooperation
- Different actors involved in data collection and sharing
- Interplay between information and (emerging) technologies, knowledge, and power
Assessment
Pedagogical method
Our learning philosophy encourages interaction between theory and practice, inviting trainers and participants alike to share their knowledge and expertise.
To accomplish this, an important aspect is the reduced number of participants that allows each one individually to maximise their involvement. Example-rich debates among water professionals coming from different backgrounds and countries stimulate the acquisition of knowledge and capability on water management.
Thus, the learning methodology involves:
- An effective involvement of participants through open discussions, and work in groups.
- A multidisciplinary perspective of international water governance.
- A combination of academic knowledge and field expertise, based on the most recent research and concrete examples in the water and policy domain.
- The development of skills transferable to a variety of professional environments.
Diploma awarded
Admission criteria
- Hold a university master's degree, a university bachelor's degree, a bachelor's or master's degree from a university of applied sciences or a degree deemed equivalent;
- Have at least 2 years of professional experience related to the Certificate program subject of the programme;
- Demonstrate their motivation to follow the Certificate programme by describing how it links to their professional practice; and
- Have a good command of oral and written English, enabling them to follow the CAS courses, read scientific documents, and communicate within the framework of the training activities.
Steering committee
- Prof. Christian BRÉTHAUT (director), University of Geneva, Institute of Environmental Sciences (ISE)
- Dr. Imane MESSAOUDI-MATTEI (co-director), University of Geneva, Institute for Environmental Sciences (ISE)
Scientific committee
- Prof. Géraldine PFIELGER, University of Geneva, Institute of Environmental Sciences (ISE)
- Prof. Laurence BOISSON DE CHAZOURNES, University of Geneva, Faculty of Law
- Ms. Dimka STANTCHEV SKEIE, Project Manager, Global Programme Water of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
- Dr. James DALTON, Director, Global Water Programme of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Number of participants
Detailed fees
- CHF 3'500.- for all modules taken as a package. Fractioned payment is possible by arrangement
- CHF 1'250.- per module taken individually
Cancellation Policy
- Hold a university master's degree, a university bachelor's degree, a bachelor's or master's degree from a university of applied sciences or a degree deemed equivalent;
- Have at least 2 years of professional experience related to the Certificate program subject of the programme;
- Demonstrate their motivation to follow the Certificate program programme by describing how it links to their professional practice; and
- Have a good command of oral and written English, enabling them to follow the CAS courses, read scientific documents, and communicate within the framework of the training activities.
Schedule
Monday - Friday: 8:15 am - 12:00 pm / 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Saturday: 8:15 am - 12:15 pm
Collaboration
Remarks
Priority will be given to participants who wish to follow the programme as a whole. Application for one or several specific modules is possible.
University faculty members, researchers, water experts at the international level
The summer school was a very fruitful experience, a unique opportunity to meet water specialists and to get theoretical knowledge and practical training. I had the chance to meet practitioners in water management and hydro-diplomacy from different places and cultures. Ziad Tak, PhD., Lebanon
I appreciated a lot to attend the course in international water governance. It gave me the opportunity to develop new skills and knowledge taught through innovative teaching methods. Moreover, it was a wonderful opportunity to exchange with professionals from different countries and to get immerged for two weeks in an international environment. Virginie Entringer, administrative officer, CNRS, France
The summer school in water governance covers a broad range of topics (…). All the modules had high-quality content and were taught by top-level experts. Now I feel much more equipped to reflect on the global challenges water faces, both locally and globally. Ms. Solenn Le Goff, Department of Economics, University of Zurich
After the summer school, I wrote a proposal to my government that Zimbabwe accede to the global water conventions. The proposal was approved by the Minister. I was appointed the national focal point to the Water Convention and tasked to lead the accession process. Mr Norest NDAWANA, Legal Advisor and National Focal Point for Zimbabwe under the UNECE Water Convention
Contribution to the SDGs