UNESCO-IHP ECOMED Academy Network Stakeholders Consultation Meeting on the Further Development of the ECOMED Academy Network Proposal

Purpose

Establishing a Stakeholders’ Consensus-based Strategic Program Development Framework & Evaluate Feasibility, Sustainability, Adaptability 

Core Objectives (Academia Master-planning)

• Promoting a Network of Capacity Building Centers hosted by Academic Research Institutions, or Stakeholders in the member-states concerned;
• Academy (ToR) including: goals, scope of programs, governance, host and co-host institutes, financing strategies, implementation, Impact assessment;
• Engaging experience and knowledge sharing among the Co-Host institutes to leverage Research Programs, Professional Education, Training & Planning;
• Transboundary IWRM, Ecosystems pollution monitoring and industry–academia partnerships for WEFE Security & Sustainable  Urban Planning;
• Upgrading Crisis Management Capabilities and Best Practice of Mitigation and Recovery tailored to the operational conditions of the water operator;
• Stakeholders Engagement in planning co-development of pilot programs.

Expected Outcome

Recommendations   for consensus-based  ECOMED Academy Network Proposal for the IHP Council.

Purpose of the Academy Network Stakeholders Consultation Meeting

The main purpose of the Academy Network Stakeholders Consultation meeting is to bring together the strategic partners of the Academy Network, including the host and co-host institutions of the capacity building centers, as well as delegates of IHP national delegations, NGOs, and other stakeholders for a discussion forum on the development of a consensus-based improved IHP ECOMED Academy Network proposal. The current proposal follows upon the IHP ECOMED Academy Concept Note attached as reference for your consideration, which was prepared by the W-SMART NGO, as the nominated Academy Secretariat, for UNESCO and reviewed by the UNESCO ECOMED Taskforce chaired by Prof. Fadi G. COMAIR, former IHP Chair. Based upon the concept of establishing a network of capacity building centers in the states concerned, it includes proposed terms of reference for the Academy goals, strategic program development, institutional governance, implementation planning and management, program financing strategies. feasibility and sustainability assessment, and the potential Academy impacts on the capacity building of the states concerned. The stakeholders’ planning meeting goal is to review and improve the current proposal through consultations with the member-states concerned, taking into account review comments and recommendations of the UNESCO ECOMED taskforce, and provide stakeholders’ recommendations for preparing the improved Academy proposal for submitting to UNESCO by February 2026.

For this purpose, the following meeting agenda and discussion issues are proposed for your consideration:

1. Proposed Academy Constitutional Terms of Reference including: mission goals, scope of programs, governance, role of the host and co-host institutes, financing strategies and program implementation;
2. Strategic Network Development and Planning Challenges of Capacity Building Programs for the network of states concerned to effectively support and leverage their experience, research programs, professional education and training, coastal eco-development, and resilience building to extreme climate events;
3. Network Development Planning of a 3yrs Pilot Program to address the priority capacity building needs of the states involved and demonstrate the multi-stakeholders’ network benefit for education and training, sponsored research programs, coastal ecosystems pollution monitoring, and WEFE nexus management;
4. Engaging Stakeholders’ Partnerships and exploring with potential sponsors program financing strategies for a feasible and sustainable program development, including scope of core programs, financing feasibility, and strategic partnerships for sponsored research, professional education and urbanization planning;
5. Feasibility and Sustainability Assessment of the proposed core programs, their strategic development framework, financing strategies and potential impacts on the capacity building programs of the states;
6. Stakeholders’ recommendations for a consensus-based flagship initiative proposal for the IHP Council;
7. Establishing the Way Forward – next implementation steps and timelines for addressing the Stakeholders recommendations for the proposed strategic program development and its implementation planning.

December 16th, 2025

Opening Session – Welcome – IHP Perspectives and Goals
9:45 – 10:15

• Dr. Abou AMANI, IHP Secretary, UNESCO Division of Water Science – Opening Comments – The ECOMED Academy Network Goals
• Prof. Fadi G. COMAIR, Former IHP Chair, Chair of the Lebanese IHP National Committee – The Planning Meeting Purpose, Agenda and Expected Outcome.
• Prof. Ilan JURAN, CEO, W-SMART NGO, Secretariat of the Academy – The Academy Professional Education and Training Challenges.
• Dr. Chrysanthia LEONTIOU, Head, Graduate School, Cyprus Institute.

Session 1 – proposed ECOMED Academy Network Goals, Core Programs & Strategic Development Planning
10:15 – 11:15

Chair: Prof. Ilan JURAN, CEO W-SMART NGO

Keynote Experts:

• The Academy Vision and Capacity Building Goals in the Context of Climate Adaptation and Resilience Building to Extreme Events – Prof. Fadi G. COMAIR – Proceedings
• Proposed Core Programs & Strategic Implementation Planning – Prof. Ilan JURAN – Proceedings
• The CyI Experience of Regional Capacity Building Programs – Dr. Chrysanthia LEONTIOU – Proceedings
• The IHP Perspectives, Guidance & Proposal Review Process – Dr. Sarantuyaa ZANDARYAA, UNESCO Division of Water Science

Opening Key Note  – Union for the Mediterranean – Mission, Goals and Experience in Capacity Building Programs facing Climate Adaptation Challenges
11:30 – 11:50

Speaker: Frederic de DINECHIN, Sr. Policy Adviser, UfM, IGO, Spain

Session 2 – The Academy Network of Capacity Building Centers in the Member-States – Role, Network Program Development Challenges, Experience Sharing of Host and Co-Host Institutes in Promoting Capacity Building Program
11:50- 13:00

Chair: Dr. Chrysanthia LEONTIOU, CyI

Keynote Experts:

• Prof. David BLANCHON, UNESCO Chair, Univ. of Paris Nanterre – Proceedings
• Prof. Elena RIDOLFI, Sapienza Univ. of Rome, Italy, and/or 
  Prof. Federica ROSSO, Sapienza Univ. of Rome, Italy – Proceedings
• Prof. Hosam El NAZER, National Research Center, Egypt – Proceedings
• Prof. Uri SHAVIT, Technion, Israel.
• Prof. Anan JAYOUSI, UNESCO Chair, An-Najah National Un. Palestine

Session 3 – Government – Industry – Academia Cooperation for Capacity building programs of Member States to effectively address sustainable urban eco-development and ecosystem pollution prevention challenges
14:30 – 15:45

Chair: Prof. Fadi G. COMAIR

Panel of Experts of Local Governments and Water Utilities:

• Prof. Fadi G. COMAIR, Univ. of Balamand, Lebanon
• Prof. Youssef DIAB, Research Director, EIVP, Gustave Eiffel Univ
• MEd. Miguel COSTA, Lead Professional Training, Acaemia das Águas Livres, EPAL, Portugal – Proceedings
• Dr. Laurent MOULIN, Director, R&D, Eau de Paris, France
• H.E. Charafat AFAILAL, Former Minister of Water, Morocco
• H.E. Tamar Zandberg, Former Minister of Env., Ben Gurion Univ. Israel

Session 4 – Engaging the Network Planning of Capacity Building Support Programs and their Implementation practice
16:00 – 17:30

Chair: Gerard LUYET, President, W-SMART

Panel of Experts of Industry and Academia:

• Prof. Leonor Amaral, Nova Univ. of Lisbon, FST., Portugal – Proceedings
• Dr. Capt. Kazem AGAMY, Arab Academy of Science, Technology, Maritime Transportation, Egypt.
• Prof. Chiara BISCARINI, University of Perugia, Italy
• H.E. Dr. Benny VAKNIN, Former Mayor of Ashkelon, Israel
• Dr Georges GHARIOUS, Associate National Program Officer, Natural Sciences, UNESCO
• Prof. Munqez Jy. SHTAYA, An-Najah National Univ., Palestine
• Dr. Marcello SERRAO, Research Associate, W-SMART Association – Proceedings

Concluding Remarks
17:30 – 18:00

December 17th, 2025

Introduction – Summary – The Way Forward – Planning the Academy Proposal
Prof. Fadi G. COMAIR
09:45 – 10:00

Session 5 – Review of the Concept Note ToR & Planning the improved Academy Flagship Proposal for the IHP Council
10:00 – 11:15

Chair: Prof. Ilan JURAN, NYU; Executive Director, W-SMART Association

Keynote Experts:

• Summary of The Concept Note Proposal – Professor Ilan JURAN – Proceedings
• Summary of the UNESCO Taskforce Review and Recommendations – Prof. Fadi G. COMAIR
• The Role and Experience of CyI as the Academy Host Institute – Dr. Chrysanthia LEONTIOU, CyI – Proceedings

Session 6 – Roadmap for a 3yrs Network Pilot Capacity Building Program Planning – Needs Assessment, Goals & Scope for a Sustainable Program Co-Development
11:30 – 13:00

Chair: Dr. Chrysanthia LEONTIOU, CyI

Panel of Experts of Industry and Academia:

• The Stakeholders Network of Co-Host Institutes

Session 7 – Feasibility and Sustainability Assessment of the proposed Academy Network Strategic Program Development
14:30 – 16:00
Chair: H.E. Charafat AFAILAL, Former Minister of Water, Morocco

Keynote Experts:

• H.E. Tamar Zandberg, Former Minister of Env., Ben Gurion Univ. Israel
• Annick GNANOU MAURY, Directeur Général – Fondation UPN, France
• Dr. Laurent MOULIN, Director, R&D, Eau de Paris, France
• H.E. Prof. Elias WARAK, President, Univ. of Balamand, Lebanon
• Prof. Hussein ELAFTY, Secretary General, Arab Water Council, (TBC), Egypt
• Eng. Ahmed TOWFIK ABED, International Cooperation, Egypt
• H.E. Dr. Shaddad Al ATTILI, Former. Minister of Water and Head, PWA, Palestine
• Dr. Sarantuyaa ZANDARYAA, Specialist, Water Science Division

Session 8 – The Way Forward – Summary of Experts Planning Recommendations and next steps for the preparation of a consensus-based Academy Flagship Initiative Proposal for the IHP Council.
16:15 – 17:15

Chair: Prof. Fadi G. COMAIR

Keynote Experts/Chairs of the Meeting Sessions

• Prof. Fadi G. COMAIR, Univ. of Balamand, Lebanon
• Dr. Chrysanthia LEONTIOU, CyI
• Prof. Ilan JURAN, W-SMART, Paris
• Gerard LUYET, W-SMART, Paris
• H.E. Charafat AFAILAL
• Dr. Sarantuyaa ZANDARYAA, Specialist, Water Science Division

Concluding Remarks

17:15 – 17:30
Chair: Prof. Ilan JURAN

Keynote Experts:

• Dr. Abou AMANI, IHP Secretary
• Prof. Fadi G. COMAIR, Chair, Academy Strategic Development Council