The UNESCO-IHE Fellowship Fund was created to raise funds from private or public organisations, companies and other (individual) benefactors for the partial or full sponsorship of an individual's study at UNESCO-IHE.
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A world in which every nation and community can manage its own water and environmental resources in a sustainable manner. In which all sectors of society, particularly the poor, can enjoy the benefits of basic water services.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a commitment of the international community, and state to halve the number of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015. Capable professionals are needed to reach these objectives, and to maintain the investments made in the water sector.
This daunting challenge is one that UNESCO-IHE is willing to take up, by training water professionals that can improve the quality, services and management of water resources in the areas where it is most needed.
One of the primary ways that UNESCO-IHE helps to achieve this is through the Master of Science programmes. Every year, some 1,400 mid-career professionals – most of them from developing countries and countries in transition – apply for these accredited programmes.
They see it as their gateway to gaining the knowledge they require to improve water and environmental conditions in their home country.
Most of the professionals who want to join one of UNESCO-IHE’s Programmes do not have the necessary resources to cover the costs of their studies. The Fellowship Trust Fund collects funds to support their educational ambitions.
Nabiul Islam (40) is a Civil Engineer, and worked as a Roads and Drainage Engineer in Bangladesh before joining the Institute.
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this knowledge equips me for doing better things for my country.
Nabiul Islam (Bangladesh)
After his studies, he joined the Urban Development Unit in the local Government of Dhaka, and intends to set up an NGO to improve the infrastructure in Dhaka slums.
“At UNESCO-IHE I learned what an integrated approach to urban development is, how to design projects, make a financial planning, and develop scenarios for optimisation. I have been exposed to experiences from many developing countries. This knowledge equips me for doing better things for my country.”
Sherwan Qurtas, a 29 year-old Iraqi engineer, describes the Institute as “a great opportunity to gain experience, to get expertise in water from an international perspective and to build a professional network of people from all around the world”.
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many qualified specialists will be needed
Sherwan Qurtas (Iraq)
He left behind his parents and eight brothers and sisters in the Kurdistan region in order to follow an 18-month MSc programme.
Upon his return to his family, he has put into practice what he has learnt. “We have incredible water resources but still people lack basic services.
Many projects are going to be implemented and many qualified specialists will be needed. I will be one of them and will make sure that the investments deliver tangible results.”
Sherwan and Nabiul, and others like them, depend on the generosity of donors to finance the Fellowship Trust Fund. Contributions will directly help to finance the expertise needed to meet the vitally important MDGs. The Fund is independently administered and annually accounts for its operations.
Every contribution is directed towards its equivalent value in terms of output.
I hereby authorise the IHE Foundation to receive a one-off amount of € ____ for the Fellowship Trust Fund (account number 51.68.20.923).
Please send this bank transfer in a sealed envelope to:
UNESCO-IHE
Antwoordnummer 11025
2600 VC Delft
Thank you for your donation!