About the Capacity Development Centre

The Capacity Development Centre was established in 2015 and is a Centre of the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Environmental Research Institute of UCC (pictured above). The functions of the Centre are to promote and support water quality monitoring and assessment on behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme and in co-operation with UN Water and its thematic priority area of Water Quality.

A primary objective of GEMS/Water is to ensure compatibility and comparability of data for use in national, regional and global assessments. The Centre encourages a standardized approach to water quality data generation through providing guidance and training on all aspects of water quality monitoring and assessment and quality assurance of monitoring activities. Centre staff liaise closely with the GPCU in Nairobi, the GEMS/Water Data Centre, UNEP Regional Offices and regional GEMS/Water partners to identify capacity needs at regional and national levels, to provide appropriate support, and to develop training for delivery in-situ and on-line in countries all over the world.

The key elements of the activities of the Centre over the next five years are:

1. Carrying out a detailed training needs assessment for water quality monitoring in sub-Saharan Africa and the development of a training strategy to meet those needs;
2. Working closely with UN Environment Regional Offices and GEMS/Water National Focal Points to prepare capacity development strategies for the other world regions;
3. Development of training materials for face to face and on-line delivery in partnership with GEMS/Water Regional Hubs, focusing initially on the Latin American and Caribbean Regions together with the National Water Agency (ANA) in Brazil;
4. Organisation and delivery of workshops and provision of expert advice on monitoring programme design and implementation in Africa and other world regions as required;
5. Development of a suite of technical training courses on water quality monitoring and assessment available in a variety of delivery modes, with a particular focus on initial implementation in Africa and then to all regions on-line;
6. Tailor-made training and assistance in the Centre;
7. Development of a “training the trainers” programme to be delivered globally in a blended learning format;
8. Updating and production of appropriate guidebooks and handbooks to accompany training courses.

Centre Location