Education on water for sustainable local development

Introduction

This Initiative was a Triangular Cooperation effort, developed with the support of the ADELANTE Window, sought to maximise the knowledge and expertise in water resources management and climate adaptation, as well as educational approaches with a gender-sensitive, youth and a socio-economic vulnerability perspective in Argentina by integrating good practices and lessons learned from Mexico and the experience and specialised knowledge from Italy.

Objectives

This Triangular Cooperation Initiative sought to promote capacity building among the Partnership to create a water education model for youth and women from Indigenous communities in rural areas, characterised by improved water management and focused on local development and sustainability.

Knowledge exchange and expertise in sustainable local development

The providers entities were:

• Secretariat for Environment, Energy and Sustainable Development of Oaxaca (Mexico)
• Fondazione AVSI, (Italy)
• University of Bologna (Italy)

This Triangular Cooperation Partnership aimed at strengthening the Fundación León, the Secretariat of International Relations of the Government of the Province of Tucumán (SERI) Argentina and the Partnership as a whole, through the exchange, adaptation and comparative systematisation of the experiences of the Partnership member entities, with the objective of acquiring knowledge products and adaptable solutions that can be implemented through educational and cooperation projects and strategies in water resource management.

Expanding impact and collaboration

Building on the work that began in the Quinoa Initiative, co-financed in the 2021 edition of the ADELANTE Window, further contributions have been made to the 'The Future is in the Valleys' strategy, but this time, responding to the challenge of climate adaptation by encouraging the commitment and participation of young people and women as future producers and participants in sustainable development, particularly about water resource management. To that end, he Partnership also sought to:

• To exchange knowledge of public policies for the protection and conservation of natural resources, the reduction of environmental impact, the promotion of biodiversity, and mitigation and adaptation to climate change, 
• To apply an environmental culture based on education, social participation, inclusion, equity and equality. In addition, they aim to tap into the knowledge of gender.
• To promote the dissemination and replication of the 'Model for integrated and equitable water management in rural and indigenous contexts.' in other contexts, countries, and regions.

Empowering young people to participate in the ecological transition, while women can play a key role in community water management, food security and biodiversity conservation, is essential to achieving sustainable development in rural contexts.

Project activities

This initiative was structured around seven activities, designed to facilitate knowledge transfer among Partnership entities while developing tools to strengthen the Beneficiary entities and the final Beneficiaries  based on the expertise of the entities from Mexico and Italy. 

Key activities included:

• Capacity building: training for representatives of Fundación León and SERI in:
  • Gender-sensitive approaches for project and policy development.
  • Environmental education models for socio-economically vulnerable communities.
  • Sustainable agricultural systems and bio-irrigation to counteract climate change effects.
• Model implementation:
  • Systematisation of best practices and knowledge exchange within the Partnership.
  • Development of the ‘Environmental Education Model for Sustainable Development: Integrated and Equitable Water Management’ as a practical tool for future initiatives.
  • Organisation of a congress on ‘Environmental Education and Integrated Water Management’, providing a platform to share findings and results.
• Community engagement
  • Hybrid seminars open to local communities in Argentina and Mexico, fostering knowledge exchange among Indigenous and rural populations.
  • Creation of technical and methodological tools for integrated water resource management in socio-economically vulnerable rural contexts.

Cross-cutting themes

Throughout the initiative, a cross-cutting approach was applied, integrating:

• Gender equality
• Environmental sustainability
• Climate change considerations

These themes were highlighted in experience-sharing, embedded in joint work sessions, and incorporated into the final finance product, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive approach to sustainable water management development.

Results

Through this Triangular Cooperation Initiative, the knowledge and expertise of the Partnership's member entities and the collaborating entities in the field of sustainable water management development was used to design a ‘Environmental Education Model for Sustainable Development: integrated and equitable water management’.

The results of this Initiative have contributed and aligned with the SDG 4 Quality Education, particularly targets:

• Target 4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development

Implementing partner

León Foundation, Argentina