In-Service ICT Training for Environmental Professionals

Decision-makers are faced with the constant challenge of maintaining access to and understanding new technologies and data, as information and communication technologies (ICTs) are constantly evolving and as more and more data is becoming available. Despite continually improving technologies, informed decision-making is being hindered by inadequate attention to enabling conditions, e.g. a lack of in-service education and professional training for decision-makers. Decision-makers are in a position to greatly benefit from this data revolution and to better shape management strategies and make more informed, data-driven decisions if they have a periodic overview of emerging technologies and their potential applications.

ISEPEI, the joint project of UNEP and Central European University (Budapest, Hungary), was launched in 2013 to bridge this gap between decision-makers and ICTs. Through a series of international capacity building events, ISEPEI has connected United Nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations, ICT experts, and environmental practitioners, bringing professionals up-to-date on the latest advances in ICTs and their potential use in a wide variety of applications.

The project began as a part of Eye on Earth (https://eye-on-earth.net), a global initiative comprised of a diverse set of stakeholders from around the world, striving to enable the generation, maintenance and application of environmental, societal and economic data and information to support informed decision-making for sustainable development.

ISEPEI has been conducting a series of environmental professional education events since 2014 and was recently highlighted for its achievements at the Eye on Earth Summit in Abu Dhabi. These events aim to improve data-driven decision-making by keeping professionals up-to-date on the latest advances in information and communication technologies (ICTs) and their potential use in a wide variety of public policy applications. ISEPEI specializes in the application of geospatial technologies in sustainable water management and disaster risk reduction. We are always open to new partnerships and would like to expand our thematic reach. Contact us for further details.

The ISEPEI Project developed a Toolkit “ICTs for Water Security: A Toolkit for Decision-Makers Based on the Use of ICTs in Water Security and Water Management” which was presented at the Eye on Earth Summit in Abu Dhabi in 2015. The Toolkit development was funded by UNEP.