International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM)

Japan’s International Center for Water Hazards and Risk Management (ICHARM) of the Public Works Research Institute (under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO])and IWR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) forming a partnership that will focus on promoting research, capacity-building and enhancing the use of effective water resources management policies for water hazard and risk reduction though twelve areas of potential collaboration.

About the Memorandum of Understanding

Signed: July 3, 2006

Signing Parties:

• Kuniyoshi Takeuchi, Director (ICHARM)
• Robert A. Pietrowsky, Director (IWR)

Purpose: ICHARM and IWR will use their best efforts to establish a long-term cooperation and partnership in the field of flood and storm damage reduction and water resources development and management for developing countries and countries in transition.

Terms: The partnership will focus on promoting research, capacity-building and enhancing the use of effective water resources management policies for water hazard and risk reduction though twelve areas of potential collaboration:

• Flood control, flood plain management and integrated water resources management (IWRM)
• Infrastructure development and related engineering design standards
• Hydrologic analysis, risk analysis, flood mapping and systems analysis modeling
• Flood disaster prevention, forecasting, evacuation planning, recovery and reconstruction
• Landslides, debris flows, storm surges and tsunami modeling and characterization
• Water quality, hazards remediation, health and safety
• Environmental restoration and flood-related eco-hydrology
• Consensus building and conflict resolution
• Water policy, governance and institutional aspects
• Sustainable development, land use planning and management
• Capacity building and training
• Educational methods and systems

About International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM)

ICHARM was launched at a signing ceremony held during the 17th Intergovernmental Council Meeting of UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP) in Paris, France.

Memorandum of Understanding (pdf, 109 KB)

ICHARM

UNESCO IHP

UNESCO

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