Capacity Development
A substantial component of IWAS is the development of adaptation strategies, tools and methods, which can be implemented effectively in the regional projects. Therefore, developing adequate concepts of knowledge transfer and Capacity Development (CD) is an essential component of the IWAS initiative.
In the first half year of 2009, general guidelines for the capacity development have been elaborated, which constitute the basis for individual CD strategies in the regional projects.
The concepts for the individual model regions are adapted to the respective goals and necessities and will be developed within the next months. For this purpose, one of the first steps in the regional projects will be, as far as possible, an evaluation of the social situation, including an analysis of relevant stakeholders. Thus, expected difficulties as well as already existing competencies towards an operational IWRM can be identified (capacity assessment). The ideal CD-process is shown in the following figure:
The international CD-research often distinguishes between different levels of Capacity Development measures, basically between the individual level and the institutional one. Both levels are considered within IWAS. However, the enabling environment as the third level will be not considered directly, but indirect through measures on the individual and institutional level (following the multi-level approach of van Hofwegen (2004), 5th World Water Forum (2009) and Alaerts (2009)).
Measures will be developed on the individual level that integrate all three aspects of learning (knowledge, skills and attitude), in order to expect sustainable success. The target groups for the proposed measures are the scientific community, as well as the public authorities and the economic sector. Additionally, with regard to its multiplying role, an integration of the media is considered.
Based on the regional-specific CD concepts, and in close collaboration with the respective partners in the regional projects, CD measures are suggested which are necessary for the improvement of the local capacity.
Such measures can be of very different kinds, such as the vocational training of people working in the field of water supply and water resources management, support of scientific education and curricula development, knowledge exchange, and the exchange of scientific staff. Crucial for the success of such measures is the elaboration of functioning networks in both the academic and the practical arena in order to ensure the mutual exchange of experiences.
The following figure illustrates the multi-level approach that has been modified and enhanced according to the purposes of IWAS:
Contact:
Dr.Steffen Niemann (UFZ) 
steffen.niemann@ufz.de
Marco Leidel (TU Dresden) marco.leidel@tu-dresden.de
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