Photo credit: Itaipu Binacional
Means of Implementation
The policy makers, technical experts, practitioners, academia and other stakeholders involved in integrated efforts on water and energy have recognized the many challenges that exist and that need to be overcome in order to accelerate a transformational path to sustainable water and energy solutions. Among these challenges there are important Means of Implementation which greatly affect developing countries and particularly the Least Developed Countries. They include financing requirements, capacity development and technology transfer.
Financing
Financing is essential for the development of new and innovative integrated water and energy systems. For developing countries, in particular, it is very important to have access to information related to potential institutions and international cooperation programmes that could support the design and development of these systems. This section of the Platform serves as a place where stakeholders searching for financing opportunities and innovative financial models could find information about potential financing arrangements and financial institutions interested in advancing integrated energy and water solutions. By providing this service and information, the Global Platform will be supporting one of the main objectives of the Network of helping to mobilise and scale up multi-stakeholder financing actions aimed at stimulating integrated water-energy responses.
The current global crisis that has unfolded as a result of COVID-19 presents an opportunity to overcome inertia and unlock private capital to the long-term benefit of the economy and the environment. Harnessing worldwide enthusiasm for more resilient water and energy systems could allow the development of transformative pathways to reduce inefficiencies and secure robust energy and water infrastructures. Although these systems may require significant up-front investment, in the long run and anticipating the possibility of other future world health crises these investments will clearly translate into savings not only of financial resources but also of human lives.
Capacity Building
Capacity Building is an important mechanism for the effective implementation of integrated water and energy solutions. Information about seminars, symposiums, training tools on this subject, as well as information about institutions offering capacity building opportunities, including academia and international organizations, will be available in this Knowledge Platform. This section of the Global Platform will support the Network objective of strengthen capacity building with a focus on the planning, designing, implementing and monitoring of policies, regulations, business models and investment to effectively manage the water-energy interlinkages and enhance integrated decision making. The Platform will also serve to disseminate information, not only on logistics, but also on outcomes, reports, proceedings, and recommendations.
Course on Management for Territorial Sustainability
ITAIPU Binacional and Parque Tecnológico Itaipu (PTI-BR) are hosting the “Management for Territorial Sustainability Course” for English speaking participants as part of the International School for Sustainability (EIS), an educational initiative developed by both institutions. This course is free of charge and as an e-learning course, participants can go through classes at own page creating their own learning experiences. Classes begins on 18 January 2021 and the registration deadline is 10 January 2021. For more information and registration, please go to ’s website or download the information flyer provided here.
Technology Transfer
Technology transfer is critical for many developing countries. More technologically driven solutions that follow an integrated approach are becoming available in different countries as policy makers and technical experts come to terms with limited water and energy resources while demand for these resources keep increasing and their availability may be compromised by climate change impacts. Nevertheless, COVID-19 has made evident the urgency in the development and implementation of practical, integrated and effective innovative technological systems that would support the reliability of these critical services during world health crises. This Network is facilitating the exchange of technical information among relevant stakeholders and the Global Knowledge Platform will serve as a dedicated space for dialogue on technology transfer and for enhancing knowledge sharing on science, technology and innovation. In the future, this Knowledge Platform could become an effective global technology facilitation mechanism on sustainable water and energy solutions.