Members and Partners of the BWN

Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC)

Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC) deals with a wide range of global topics in the field of peace and conflict research centring on the challenges of organized violence.

These topics range from the (de-)mobilization of violent actors, arms exports and small arms control to the importance of organized violence in global migration flows and the use of natural resources, such as water. Given the increasing pressure on global freshwater resources, BICC analyses the relationship between water and conflict in different contexts and on different scales.

Based on applied and transdisciplinary research, BICC offers technical and policy advice and contributes to public debates. At the same time, its practical experience and the interaction with experts offer opportunities for further academic research, creating a unique ‘knowledge circle.’

Department of Geographie (GIUB)

At the Department of Geography at the University of Bonn a group of researchers focuses on water-related topics with research expertise in human-water system dynamics, global change impacts, hydrological extremes such as droughts and floods including paleohistorical analyses, water and health, water quality and ecohydrology, and water management and planning. Research and capacity development is conducted primarily in South and Southeast Asia, West and East Africa in collaboration with scientists and also with stakeholders and decision makers.

In addition, education is the primary focus of the department. The Master in geography can be studied with a focus on "Water in Global Change". Students and young scientists are supported by the supervision of BA-, MA- and PhD- theses and international Phd students and Post Docs are supervised in their project work.

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Environmental Law Centre of IUCN

The Environmental Law Centre (ELC) has been since 1970 a unit of IUCN in charge of the conceptual development of law to promote biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources. It provides technical legal assistance in drafting and implementing legislation and agreements, as well as strengthening the capacities for decision makers at all levels of governance.

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is established in 1994. It is the only legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found. The Convention’s 197 parties work together to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought.

United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)

UNUnited Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) conducts research on risks and adaptation related to environmental hazards and global change.

The institute’s research promotes policies and programmes to reduce these risks, while taking into account the interplay between environmental and societal factors. Research areas include climate change adaptation by incorporating insurance-related approaches, environmentally induced migration and social vulnerability, ecosystem-based solutions to adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and models and tools to analyse vulnerability and risks linked to natural hazards, with a focus on urban space and rural-urban interfaces.

International Center for Water and Resources and Global Change (ICWRGC)

The International Center for Water Resources and Global Change, founded by the German Federal Government under the auspices of UNESCO in Koblenz, commenced work in July 2014. Specialised UNESCO Water Centres pool competencies in single countries or regions, acting as international reference platforms for the exchange of knowledge and methods. The Centre is located at the Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG).

The ICWRGC supports the implementation of the “Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme” (IHP) of UNESCO and the “Hydrology and Water Resources Programme” (HWRP) of WMO. The Centre pursues the Secretariat’s tasks within the scope of these programmes.

The ICWRGC works in close cooperation with partners from the scientific community, operational hydrological services, data centres and water-related UN-organisations. It supplies these partners with customised products for information, as a basis for scientific investigations, to improve operational skills, for policy advice and capacity development in the water sector.