Training workshop on Earth observation and geospatial technologies for water resources management in Afghanistan

Date 28 Jul 2019 to 7 Aug 2019
Venue Faculty of Engineering, Nangarhar University, Afghanistan
Contact Persons servirhkh@icimod.org
Type Workshop
Programmes Mountain Environment Regional Information Systems (MENRIS), SERVIR-HKH

ICIMOD in partnership with the Faculty of Engineering, Nangarhar University, is conducting a training workshop on the use of Earth observation and geospatial technologies for water resources management in Afghanistan from 28 July to 7 August 2019. The training workshop is being organized as part of a series of capacity-building initiatives for professionals in Afghanistan under ICIMOD’s SERVIR Hindu Kush Himalaya (SERVIR-HKH) Initiative, a joint development initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). SERVIR works in partnership with leading regional organizations worldwide to help developing countries use information provided by Earth observation data and geospatial technologies for managing water, weather and climate risks, agriculture and food security, and land use.

The training will offer hands-on experience for lecturers of Nangarhar University (NU; as the core university), Laghman, and Kunar Universities in improving water resources management capabilities through the analysis and use of Earth observation data and geospatial technologies. The training will cover basic concepts of water resources management, and theoretical and practical understanding of remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) including watershed and drainage delineations, generation of meteorological data, and hydrological modelling. This training will be conducted as a Training of Trainers for the attending lecturers and will later be replicated by them for their graduating students from various relevant faculties.

Objectives

The training aims to build the capacity of lecturers of Nangarhar, Laghman, and Kunar Universities from the faculties of agriculture, engineering, computer science, geology, and geography.

Expected Outcomes

Participants attending the training would gain an understanding of the applications of RS/GIS tools for water resources management activities. They would be able to independently conduct such trainings.

In the long run, SERVIR-HKH will help the NU develop and update their curriculum on RS/GIS application in water and other related fields, and assist NU in establishing a RS/GIS training lab which can also be used by other regional universities such as Laghman and Kunar.