University of Tehran, which hosts RIWE has been ranked 15th in the “Water Resources” subject in the 2017 Shanghi Raking of Academic Subjects. University of Tehran, therefore, as the only university in the Middle East region with such a high raking in “water resources” and as the biggest and oldest university in Iran is the best possible host for RIWE in the region.

RIWE activities are in line with UNESCO’s mission to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education and scientific development. RIWE seeks intellectual solidarity in the field of water among countries in the region and elsewhere reflecting upon the main three functions declared under Article I of UNESCO’s constitution:

• Advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples
• Giving fresh impulse to education and to the spread of culture
• Helping to maintain, increase, and disseminate knowledge

RIWE benefits from IHE-Delft capacities involved in its mission to strengthen knowledge of people and institutional capacities in developing countries for the sustainable development of their water and environmental resources. UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office has a strong convening power in the four countries covered by the office (Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan) and it is expected to actively involve water engineers and scientists from these countries in RIWE academic and scientific international exchanges. Iran Ministry of Energy (MOE) has had a strong commitment to promote sustainable management of water and energy resources across the region and has fostered regional collaboration and capacity building in the area of water resources management. RIWE collaboration with MOE can help students and academic staff of RIWE to focus on real case studies and advancing research and education on nexus issues.

• Facilitating access to recent advancements and global knowledge in sustainable management of water resources
• Promoting best practices and know-how in water resources management across the region
• Fostering joint research to find innovative solutions to the water challenges of the region
• Promoting peace and regional stability by educating experts who believe in collaboration over shared water resources
• Providing a platform for sharing experiences and knowledge available at the regional level
• Building resilience to water scarcity and climate impact on water resources in the region
• Addressing the complexity of water issues through development of systematic NEXUS knowledge, science, technology and capability with regard to direct and indirect bonds between/among water, energy, food, health, and environmental security.
• Fostering joint research to find innovative solutions to the water challenges of the region