The First School of Water and Food Security
Online course
«Water and Food in Ukraine: Practical Solutions for Communities, Agribusiness and Science»
The First School of Water and Food Security
Online course
«Water and Food in Ukraine: Practical Solutions for Communities, Agribusiness and Science»
This project is supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine and financed by the Private sector development program of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl); under the International development Policy of the Government of the Netherlands.
The Professional Association of Environmentalists of the World (PAEW) welcomes participation in the online course ‘Water and Food in Ukraine: Practical Solutions for Communities, Agribusiness and Science’ within ‘Training on the Water and Food Nexus in Ukraine: Integrated Solutions for Communities, Agribusiness and Science’ programme.
Today, water determines not only the quality of life in communities, but also the sustainability of agricultural production, food processing safety, and the pace of Ukraine’s recovery. In the context of war, these challenges have become more pressing, and the value of practical solutions is undeniable.
Today, water determines not only the quality of life in communities, but also the sustainability of agricultural production, food processing safety, and the pace of Ukraine’s recovery. In the context of war, these challenges have become more pressing, and the value of practical solutions is undeniable.
The course is designed for representatives of regional and local authority bodies, the agricultural and food industries, as well as specialists and researchers working with water resources and food security.
We focus on real problems and working tools: reducing losses and pollution, increasing water use efficiency, planning the modernization of water systems in communities, introducing water-saving technologies in production, and preparing projects for financing.
During the course, participants receive a structured programme consisting of 10 modules, including examples of Ukrainian and international solutions, as well as practical approaches that can be applied immediately after completion.
The course is designed for 90 hours and includes participation in online modules, independent study of materials, and a final test.
All participants will be eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion upon successfully passing the final test.
If you are responsible for community water systems, manage or develop an agricultural or food business, research water-related risks, or support engineering and legal solutions — this course will help you move from challenges and losses to clear actions and well-grounded investment decisions.
Each participant’s experience and needs will contribute to our joint efforts to achieve water and food security in Ukraine.
Participation is free of charge, but prior registration is mandatory.
Please note: only ONE registration is required for ALL modules (a single submission; no need to register separately for each module).
Registration remains open throughout the course.
However, to receive a certificate of completion, which is awarded based on the results of the final testing, it is necessary to register by 11 May at the latest.
Who is the training for?
For representatives of regional and local authorities and water sector managers, the outcome will be the ability to assess water risks in relation to food security and plan recovery priorities based on data rather than intuition. Participants will be able to develop roadmaps for modernising community water systems, identify short- and medium-term measures, and prepare projects for government programmes and international assistance. They will receive tools for dialogue with businesses and financial institutions in the language of economic feasibility and security.
For agribusiness and the food industry, the key outcome will be an understanding of how to reduce water losses and pollution without compromising productivity and how to implement water-saving technologies at the production process level. Participants will be able to conduct a preliminary assessment of their own water risks, describe them in internal development plans, and formulate technical tasks for modernisation. They will also have practical guidelines on European requirements that affect market access and financing.
For scientists, ecologists, lawyers, engineers and other specialists, the result will be a joint applied framework for work at the intersection of water, agricultural production and food security, taking into account military and climate factors. Participants will be able to offer communities and businesses solutions that combine engineering, nature-based and management approaches, as well as assist in the preparation of projects and evidence bases. This will strengthen their role as technical and methodological partners for the development of territories and sectors.
«We designed this project not only as an educational initiative, but also as a platform for bringing together the efforts of communities, agribusiness, the food industry, the scientific community and experts.
Water and food security are not achieved in individual offices: it emerges from partnerships, trust, shared data and coordinated decisions. I invite you to join the School and work together to transform water challenges into collaborative projects that deliver real results for Ukraine.»
Liudmyla Tsyganok, Project Lead, President of PAEW, Founder of ESG Liga.
Training programme
Module 1.
Held on 16 March
Participants will learn what impact water risks have on the resilience of communities, industries and critical infrastructure. The module will help to prioritise interventions and assess why investments in water are often cheaper than the consequences of downtime and accidents.
Module 2.
Held on 24 March
The module explains which EU requirements and approaches are fundamentally important for water, discharge and pollution management. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the logic behind preparing for inspections, support programmes and investment decisions.
Module 3.
Held on 31 March
Focus on real water supply and sanitation problems in communities, especially in conditions of network deterioration and war damage. Participants will learn how to develop a simple roadmap for change, from quick fixes to medium-term projects.
Module 4.
Held on 7 April
Sources of agricultural pollution and practices that reduce pressure on water without losing productivity are discussed. Special attention is paid to irrigation, soil-water balance and adaptation of production to climate and military risks.
14 April
The module provides practical understanding of how food processing companies can reduce water consumption and the load on treatment systems. Participants will explore typical technological solutions and requirements for water quality and discharges in European practice.
21 April
This module shows how to transform water from a constant expense into a manageable resource. Participants will learn about examples of water reuse and technological solutions that reduce discharge volumes and increase production efficiency.
28 April
Module 7.
Practical tools for measuring, controlling and forecasting water risks at the community and enterprise levels are examined. The module will help participants understand how data is transformed into decisions about repairs, savings and infrastructure protection.
5 May
Module 8.
Participants will learn how natural systems support water quality and availability and reduce the risks of floods and droughts. The module provides examples of approaches that can be combined with engineering solutions in communities.
12 May
Module 9.
This module focuses on how to define the problem, justify economic feasibility, and prepare a documentation package. Participants will receive a water project structure suitable for submitting to government and donor funding and for negotiations with banks.
19 May
The module brings together practical solutions from Ukraine and other countries and shows how to adapt them to different types of communities and businesses. Particular attention is paid to models of partnership between government, business and science.
Participation is free of charge, but prior registration is mandatory.
Please note: only ONE registration is required for ALL modules (a single submission; no need to register separately for each module).
Registration remains open throughout the course.
However, to receive a certificate of completion, which is awarded based on the results of the final testing, it is necessary to register by 11 May at the latest.
We are developing this practical training course on water and food security in times of war — featuring tools, methodologies and case studies. To ensure the programme meets the real needs of communities and businesses, please complete a short survey (8–12 mins). We do not collect sensitive data; results will be analysed in a generalised form. Your answers will directly influence the topics and format of the training sessions.
Organiser
Professional Association of Environmentalists of the World (PAEW)
Partners
Informational partners
Regarding partnership and experience exchange:
Victoria – +380686024233, v.skrypnyk@ukraine-oss.com
Regarding partnership:
Anna – +380993704227, +380967403028, a.prystupa@ukraine-oss.com