Master of Science in Integrated Catchment and Water Resources Management (ICWRM)

The MSc Programme in Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) and Integrated Water Resources Management (ICWRM) aims to integrate water resources management and catchment management. This integration is crucial because a catchment, also known as a drainage basin or watershed, is defined as an area where all water flowing into it converges at a common outlet. The interplay between people, livestock, and their activities within a watershed has significant impacts on the productive status of watersheds and vice versa. From a hydrological perspective, both natural features and human activities influence the various phases of the hydrological cycle in a watershed. The watershed is not only a hydrological unit but also a socio-political-ecological entity that plays a vital role in determining food, social, and economic security and provides life support services to rural communities. The key characteristics that underpin the programme include the need for integrated land and water resources management, the causal link between upstream land and water use and downstream impacts, the multiplicity of stakeholders, and the typical nexus in upland areas between resource depletion and poverty. The programme consists of 12 core courses in the first year. In the second year, there are two specializations with seven compulsory courses in the third semester and a dissertation in the fourth semester. The two specializations are Water Resources Management and Catchment Management. The ICWRM MSc Programme was developed and will be implemented in close collaboration with ReNOKA and with the financial support of the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).