Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has concluded the 46th regional training course on “Environmental Hydrology in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions,” with the participation of 23 trainees from Nile Basin and Horn of Africa countries, including Egypt, Uganda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Djibouti, and Sudan.
The course was held from March 25 to May 20 and was organised by the Regional Training Centre of the Hydraulic Research Institute at the National Water Research Centre, with support from the Egyptian Initiative for Development in the Nile Basin Countries and the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry also concluded the regional training programme “Integrated Diploma in Fisheries and Aquaculture,” held under the supervision of the Regional Training Center for Water Resources and Irrigation (RCTWS/PACWA) and the Nile Water Sector, with the participation of six trainees from Uganda.
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam said the ministry is committed to organising such training programmes for African countries, as they help build capacities and strengthen skills in water resources management, supporting sustainable development across the continent.
He added that water remains a key bridge for co-operation and development, reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to fostering a better future for Africa and strengthening partnerships in the water sector.
He noted that, in line with Egypt’s commitment to supporting African countries and sharing expertise, particularly in water management, climate change, and sustainable development, the ministry, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regularly offers training programs to enhance the capabilities of African youth and professionals in the water sector.
The 46th course covered a range of specialised topics, including Nile River and wadi hydrology, integrated water resources management, water ethics, flood protection design, rainwater harvesting, groundwater exploration and well drilling, climate change impacts and adaptation, GIS and remote sensing applications, groundwater quality monitoring, geophysical techniques, and estimating crop water requirements.
It also included field visits to the Bahr El-Baqar Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Wadi El-Natrun research station, and flood protection projects in Ain Sokhna.
The Integrated Diploma in Fisheries and Aquaculture comprised eight modules covering technical and managerial aspects of aquaculture systems, including aquaculture technologies, feed management, farm design, fish farming systems, integrated aquaculture, daily farm operations, nutritional requirements, and feed formulation. Participants also conducted field visits to scientific and research sites to enhance practical learning.
