The countries in Asia and the Pacific region, with different climate characteristics are vulnerable to hydrological extremes and the global changes increase the uncertainty associated with extremen events. Some of these countries are vulnerable to floods and annual flood losses are too high for any government to bear. In the framework of the International Hydrological Programme focusing on the impacts of climatic variability and changes, the activity intends to strengthen, in the ASPAC Region, scientific approaches for improved water resources management policies and governance with reference to hydrological hazards and extreme events via specific efforts such as enhancing water related technical capacity-building and education at all levels, and supporting national and regional efforts to develop, integrate and complement capacities to reduce and address risks arising from land-based and freshwater natural disasters.

As a continuation of comprehensive study on Flood Forecasting and Warning System (FFWS) conducted in ten countries (Australia, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao P.D.R, Malaysia, Philippines, Rep. of Korea, Thailand and Vietnam), the  activity together with  The UNESCO Category II Water Centre  ICHARM (International Centre for Water Hazards Risk Management), will focus on the organization of country training courses on the Integrated Flood Analysis System (IFAS). The activity is intended to focus on sharing knowledge/experience and improve capacity building by enhancing UNESCO-ICHARM collaboration through the training courses on Integrated Flood Analysis System.

The first country training course was held in Hanoi, Vietnam in June 2012.

The second country training course will be held in jakarta, indonesia in january 2013.

The Nestlé Prize in Creating Shared Value is open to individuals, private businesses, not-for-profit organisations, governmental and inter-governmental organisations as well as academic institutions having implemented an initiative related to nutrition, water or rural development.

Specific fields of activity include, but are not limited to:

§ Improving access to nutrition and increasing nutrition knowledge.

§ Improving access to water and protecting water resources.

§ Developing local agricultural value chain and integrating smallholder farmers in the supply chain.

The Prize is awarded every two years and helps innovative, commercially viable, and high impact initiatives achieve social scale and financial sustainability. The Laureate receives an investment of up to CHF 500 000 (approx. USD 530 000) to scale up or replicate his initiative.

The winner is selected by the Nestlé Creating Shared Value Advisory Board and is presented with the award at our Creating Shared Value Forum.

The call for entries for the 2014 Nestlé Prize in Creating Shared Value is now open. Nominate innovative projects until 31st March 2013.

Source and More Information:

http://www.nestle.com/csv/nestle/nestleprize#.ULb56uTZZGY