Egypt officially launched the UNESCO Chair on Transboundary Water Management and Governance at the National Water Research Centre (NWRC), in the presence of Hani Sweilem, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation.
Badr Abdel-Aati, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Abdel Aziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, along with ambassadors from African and European countries, as well as representatives of international organisations and development partners, attended the event on Friday.
During the ceremony, an agreement establishing the Chair was signed by Roberto Borra, Regional Director of the UNESCO Office in Cairo, and Sherif Mohammadi, Chairman of the NWRC.
Sweilem said the UNESCO Chair would serve as a platform for innovation, dialogue, and confidence-building in Africa and beyond.
He noted that the NWRC is a leading regional institution in hydrology, water resources management, and climate change adaptation.
He also stressed the importance of treating international rivers as bridges for co-operation and peace, adding that effective management of trans-boundary waters is essential for regional stability, economic growth, and food security.
He added that Egypt has invested heavily in strengthening the resilience of its water sector, including expanding the treatment and reuse of agricultural drainage water and developing the water system.
The UNESCO Chair will also prepare studies on river basins, develop tools to support decision-making in Africa, and help build the capacity of specialists through master’s and doctoral programmes, as well as train more than 120 policymakers.
For his part, Mohammadi said the Chair marks a key step in strengthening scientific research and international co-operation to address water challenges in Africa.
