WAMU+NET is organizing a high-level official side event within the upcoming Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum at La Nuvola in Rome, taking place on 2 October 2026.
As climate change accelerates, safeguarding water resources requires a fundamental shift not only in how we manage water, but crucially in how we educate for its better management. To address this urgent need, our dedicated side event - titled "Water Education for Climate Adaptation: a Global Repository for Present & Future Generations" - will officially launch our new strategic initiative: WAMU+NET’s proposal for a global digital repository as a contribution to UNESCO-IHP (Phase 9).
Developed through ongoing collaboration across our network, this platform will serve as a free, open-access shared toolkit of educational resources, making ready-to-use materials available to educators, schools, museums, and policy-makers across every continent. This high-profile event is designed to give our global network international visibility, serving as a strategic platform to attract new partners, sponsors, and financial resources for the multi-year development of the project, while warmly inviting new water museums and institutions to join WAMU+NET.
Objectives of the Side Event:
Launch the Global Repository: Present the project for a free, open-access platform to share water educational tools provided by museums across all continents.
Share Educational Tools: Address the urgent need to provide practical, ready-to-use toolkits for educators and schools.
Engage Partners & potential Funders: Attract financial resources and new strategic partnerships for the multi-year development of the project.
Foster Institutional Dialogue at Euro-Mediterranean level: Engage with various institutions at national and regional level to integrate diverse approaches to education, resilience, and climate policies.
Expand the Network: Promote the membership of new museums and institutions to the WAMU+NET network to co-create shared contents for the educational platform.
Program (09:30 - 10:30):
09:30 - 09:40 | Welcome and Institutional Opening
Welcome by: Abou Amani (Secretary, UNESCO-IHP) & Miguel Doria (Director, WWAP)
09:40 - 09:45 | Introduction to Climate Adaptation & Water Challenges
Marco Merola (Journalist specialized in climate adaptation). The urgent value of educating on water management in an era of climate crisis.
09:45 - 10:00 | Strategic Vision and Project Presentation
Eriberto Eulisse (CEO, WAMU+NET). Presentation of the Global Repository project (an open-access educational platform), and launch of an Open Call.
10:00 - 10:20 | Institutional & Policy Roundtable
Discussion and interventions by representatives from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Agriculture Commission focusing on climate policies, resilience, and education.
10:20 - 10:25 | Open Discussion
Interactive exchange, questions, and answers with the audience and participants.
10:25 - 10:30 | Closing Remarks
Philippe Pypaert (President, WAMU+NET). Conclusions and wrap-up.
Event Details - Date: 2 October 2026. Time: 09:30 – 10:30.
Venue: Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum, La Nuvola, Rome