The UNESCO Water Resilience Challenge – Ecuador 2025 offers a unique program for young people in Ecuador to develop their own original ideas and solutions towards the sustainable development of the UNESCO Amazon Biosphere Reserves.
The program will kick-off in April 2025, focusing on the critical role of water in the Podocarpus-El Cóndor Biosphere Reserve. The Podocarpus reserve is located in southern Ecuador and renowned for its exceptional biodiversity. Unfortunately, the reserve and its precious (water) ecosystems are facing significant threats from human activities such as deforestation, agricultural expansion, mining, and infrastructure development. Water pollution, water scarcity and flooding are severely impacting its precious flora and fauna, while also threatening the livelihoods of half a million people living in and around the reserve.
Biosphere Academy
During the program, 25 students and young professionals are selected as participants and invited to join the “Biosphere Academy”. After an intensive (online) training program, the participants will work in teams to develop innovative ideas and solutions to contribute to sustainable water management in the Podocarpus Biosphere Reserve. The best teams selected by an expert jury will be awarded ‘seed money’ to implement their ideas in the Podocarpus Biosphere Reserve and present the results at a prestigious (international) event.
Throughout the program, all teams are supported by professional experts from local and international organisations who act as their trainers and mentors.
Participants will be offered online and offline training sessions by invited experts. Topics will offer foundational knowledge on UNESCO designated sites and water, as well as practice-oriented knowledge and skills. The trainings are followed by a series of workshops in which the participants are tasked to apply the knowledge they learnt to practical application.
Participants will visit the Podocarpus-El Cóndor Biosphere Reserve to learn about its unique characteristics and challenges. They will be guided by local experts to learn about the natural and socio-economic environment and dynamics, challenges faced by local communities, threats to biodiversity and the critical role of water in these.
Teams will be supported throughout the program by a team of mentors, who are available to guide the teams developing and implementing their solutions. The mentors will also check the progress of the teams on a regular basis to ensure the program deliverables are met.
Applying the knowledge they gained through training and field work, the participants will be challenged to develop their own original ideas and solutions to promote water resilience in the Podocarpus-El Cóndor Biosphere Reserve. At various stages during the solution development process, teams will be pitching and validating their ideas to experts and local stakeholders.
Participants will be guided to implement their ideas/solutions as a proof-of-concept or pilot in the Podocarpus-El Cóndor Biosphere Reserve. Working together with local stakeholders and their mentors, they will develop and execute an implementation plan that is practical and feasible within the given timeframe. Seed money is available to fund materials, travel and other small expenses.
PROGRAM TIMELINE AND ACTIVITIES
The program schedule below shows the timeline of activities. The initial training program (online) will equip the participants with the foundational knowledge – such as water management, biodiversity and environmental economics – and skills – such as problem analysis, field work and implementation planning.
Applying this knowledge and skills in practice, all 25 participants will be invited to Loja for an intensive 4-day program (16-19 May) to analyse the water challenges in the Podocarpus Biosphere reserve in reality and work with their teams on the assignments. During these days, a team of experts will be joining to support the teams and share their experience and knowledge.
Program Schedule (Click the image to view in full screen)
If you are interested to participate in this exciting program, please register now!
