Using ICT to strengthen local capacities: the experience of Cap-Net

The paper discusses how ICT is being used in Cap-Net and its affiliated networks to address capacity building initiatives for sustainable management of water resources. One of the core principles of capacity building in IWRM is that it should be locally executed if it is to be relevant, culturally and socially acceptable and sustainable. The Cap-Net programme is, therefore, geared at strengthening local resource centers with current knowledge and access to existing training materials. This can be illustrated in the following three areas: 1. Using ICT to improve accessibility. Cap-Net Web site is used as a content site where materials relevant to training and operational guidelines on water resources management are collected and publicly available: Sharing materials, which are downloadable, saves money time and effort in redesigning and allowing resources to be focused on local adaptation and translation. Poor communications still characterizing much of the developing world and the use of CD for distribution remain important challenges for fully benefiting from the ICT potential and promoting sustainable management of water resources in general and IWRM in particular. 2. Distance learning initiative. This involves existing partnerships with UNU, which have developed distance-learning programmes and are presently testing them in the various regional networks operating under Cap-Net. The benefits of such initiatives are that they can be regionally run and eventually regionally adapted, provided they conform to an international standard of core knowledge. 3. The tutorial on IWRM developed by Cap-Net, which uses modern technology in the most effective way. Keeping it simple, using standard tools (PowerPoint), the tutorial allows completely free local adaptation, translation etc. ESCWA, is proposing to sponsor the adaptation and translation into Arabic of the material as a short tutorial geared for high level policy-makers, in the context of its capacity building program on IWRM.