1.4.2 Boosting Proficiency in Water Professionals ADB, NARBO, UNESCO-IHE, IWC 29 May 2013 – 16:30

Purpose of 5th Symposium Kenneth Irvine, Chair of Aquatic Ecosystems, UNESCO-IHE Ian W Makin, Principal Water Resources Specialist, ADB Yasmin Siddiqi, Senior Water Resources Specialist, ADB IWRM proficiency certification Acknowledgements to Carel Keuls and Wim Douven, UNESCO-IHE

Content 1.Background to NARBO IWRM certification 2.Why certification? 3.Proposed Certification Program 4.Next steps

Network of Asian River Basin Organizations (NARBO) was established in 2004 following the 3 rd World Water Forum, Kyoto, Japan; NARBO’s objectives are: – strengthening the capacity and effectiveness of member organizations in promoting IWRM – improving water governance through training and the exchange of information and experience among RBOs and their associated water sector agencies. Since it foundation, NARBO has implemented seven training programs with over 140 participants Certification seen as logical development of training Background to NARBO IWRM certification

NARBO training events established with pass/fail criteria – More than attendance required to pass! IWRM is complex, requiring a range of skills It is appropriate to recognize and reward people with those skills Certification provides a mechanism for recognition and confidence in professionalism Why certification?

IWRM Proficiency Certification Service with 4 levels proficiency – Basic IWRM Advocate – Middle IWRM Facilitator – Senior IWRM Leader – Regional IWRM Counselor Based on accumulation of experience and training credits Proposed NARBO Certification Program

Professional proficiency can be defined as the resultant of competence development, based on – formal education (degree, etc), – work experience, and – informal education (training, workshops, seminars, conferences, etc.). Proposed Certification Program

Will require: – An IWRM proficiency competence framework (what competences are needed at each level); – Institutional accreditation, to quality assure training and education modalities offered in IWRM competences; – Certification of training programs of water professional organizations; – International accreditation of training and education institutes and their formal and informal IWRM learning programs. Establishing IWRM Certification

NARBO and ADB are supporting: Development of a framework for a proficiency certification programme for pilot implementation; Work to establish service providers for proficiency certification in specified IWRM competences, including defining a schema of IWRM competences, their levels and assessment; Exploring a variety of potential mechanism (e.g. training, workshops, on-line education, work experience and responsibilities) to “roll-out “a NARBO IWRM proficiency certification service across the region; Next steps

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