A working session was held on March 24, 2022, bringing together the Secretary General for Research and the management team of the Water School, led by Professor Raphaël Tshimanga. The aim was to take stock of the conditions for welcoming learners from the provinces of the DRC but also from other African countries, the current functioning of the school, and various ongoing projects.

The DRC's water challenges and the expertise of Unikin.

Despite its strategic position in water resources on a global scale, the DRC is currently facing multiple water-related challenges. The achievement of sustainable development and inclusive growth in the DRC would be largely compromised if water resources are not managed and used in an integrated and efficient manner. It is in this context that the University of Kinshasa created the Higher School of Water, whose mission is to ensure the training of human resources on water issues, equipped with modern tools and capable of responding to current challenges, to understand and manage water resources in an integrated and transversal manner, taking into account climate issues and sustainable development. The Higher School of Water will contribute to innovation and water technologies that advance socio-economic development in the DRC and the Congo Basin region.

Currently, the University of Kinshasa's Water School is implementing the International Master's Program in Water Resources, which is attended by students from African countries, including Algeria, Niger, Cameroon, and the DRC. Furthermore, the School's efforts are evident in the recent publication of two books on emerging issues in water resource management in the Congo Basin. These books provide useful and up-to-date knowledge on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of water resources, with a view to contributing to establishing a sustainable water resource management strategy in the Congo Basin countries.  
Directions have been taken to improve its daily operation and thus facilitate training conditions.

Kinshasa, March 26, 2022

The General Secretariat for Research.