Yarmouk Futures holds first training in Jordan

The Yarmouk Futures programme hosted its first training course for Jordanian and Syrian water experts at the Water Diplomacy Centre in Jordan from 8 to 10 February 2020.

The training, entitled Transboundary Hydro-Governance and SDC Certificate Programme, was the first of a number of certificate trainings to be held at the Water Diplomacy Centre, which was established as part of the Yarmouk Futures Programme at the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST). Over the course of the three-day training, a team of distinguished water experts hosted sessions on Integrated Water Resource Management and Sustainable Development Goals, modern technological and data-generating advances, International Water Law, and water negotiations among others.

“The trainers were very high calibre, offering us invaluable information in their fields and using statistical data, visual materials and studies to complement their claims and arguments,” one of the Syrian participants said.

The training also included a fieldtrip in the Jordanian part of the Yarmouk River basin, as part of which the 10 participants had a chance to observe the realities of shared water use first-hand. They also visited iconic landmarks in the basin, such as Um Qais, a town overlooking Lake Tiberias and the Wehdeh (Unity) Dam. “It deepened my understanding of many issues, such as shared water management and enhanced my knowledge on the state of the Yarmouk Basin,” another Syrian participant commented.

“Most importantly, the training offered a critical take on existing arrangements and introduced us to success stories from other regions where water has been shared amongst riparian states in a more equitable and sustainable manner,” he added.

The Yarmouk Futures Programme is part of the Blue Peace Middle East Initiative. It aims to promote sustainable transboundary water management, with an initial focus on the Yarmouk tributary of the Jordan River.

The centrepiece of the Yarmouk Futures Programme is the establishment of the Water Diplomacy Centre at JUST, which aims to become a research and training hub for transboundary water cooperation and diplomacy in the region.

The Yarmouk Futures Programme is planning further activities over the coming months, with the next training scheduled for June 2020. This training will coincide with the inauguration of the Water Diplomacy Centre.

Click here for more information on the Yarmouk Futures programme.