January 2013: The UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) have developed the Water Learning Centre (WLC), an e-Learning programme to enhance national capacities to develop and implement sustainable natural resource management strategies at local, regional, sub-regional and basin scales.

The programme aims to build the capacity of developing country water sector personnel on topics such as climate change, drylands management, integrated water resources management (IWRM), mangrove ecosystems, water and health, and sustainable water management through the WLC’s training and capacity building programme.

The WLC holds courses held at its regional centres: the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain; the University of Nairobi in Kenya; the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC) in Panama; and the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand. After completing a course, participants receive a UNU Diploma. In addition, the WLC facilitates online learning through its website. The WLC replaces the former Water Virtual Learning Centre, which was created by UNU-INWEH and UNDESA in 2006. [WLC Website]