Welcome to the ninth edition of the UN Environment Programme GEMS/Water Capacity
Development Centre (CDC) newsletter.

We hope that you are safe and well. The last six months have been busy for the Centre despite
the postponement of some training, travel and field activities. We are still mostly working from
home as we have been since the Covid-19 pandemic reached Ireland in February. Our team and
colleagues internationally have adapted to working fully on-line which has enabled us to meet
people virtually and to continue much of our capacity development work, including delivering our
on-line training courses. As this year draws to a close, the first phase of GEMS/Water capacity
development ends and plans are being finalised for new activities for the next phase, starting in
January 2021. All the Centre staff are taking a much-needed break over the Christmas period and
will be off-line from 18th December to 4th January.

I hope you enjoy reading about our activities over the last six months. Please keep in contact and
let us know how we can contribute to improving the water quality monitoring capacity of your
country or region

Stay safe, and we wish you all a Very Happy New Year.

Dr Debbie Chapman
Director, UNEP GEMS/Water Capacity Development Centre