USM Multi-Level Cooperation with Governments on Water Security

Universiti Sains Malaysia demonstrates strong leadership in advancing water security through strategic cooperation with governmental bodies and agencies at local, regional, national, and global levels. These partnerships ensure coordinated action in water resource management, stormwater control, and sustainable infrastructure development, reflecting USM’s commitment to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Local Cooperation

At the local level, USM collaborates with state and municipal authorities in Penang, as well as local environmental agencies, to promote sustainable water management.
Through partnerships involving the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) Penang, Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), and Water Watch Penang (WWP), USM supports initiatives that strengthen local water resilience.
These collaborations focus on stormwater management, public education, and climate adaptation, with USM experts providing scientific and technical input to improve water-related infrastructure and community awareness.
In 2024, USM participated in Penang’s state-level World Water Day Celebration at Bukit Dumbar Park, organized by PBAPP and endorsed by the Penang State Government, to promote responsible water consumption and resource conservation. This cooperation illustrates USM’s practical role in assisting local authorities with policy advocacy and water security awareness programmes.

Regional Cooperation

At the regional level, USM cooperates with UNESCO and its regional water governance networks across Asia and the Pacific through the UNESCO Chair on Ecohydraulics for Sustainable Water Infrastructures for SDG 6.
This initiative, supported by UNESCO’s Regional Steering Committee for Asia and the Pacific, facilitates collaboration among regional water authorities and ministries to advance sustainable water infrastructure and ecohydraulic technologies.
In 2024, USM, represented by Dato’ Dr. Nor Azazi Zakaria and Ir. Ts. Gs. Dr. Chang Chun Kiat, contributes technical expertise and data to regional policy dialogues coordinated by UNESCO, promoting government-to-government cooperation in developing climate-resilient water systems.
Through these engagements, USM helps strengthen policy alignment and research-based water governance strategies throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

National Cooperation

In 2024, Universiti Sains Malaysia actively partnered with multiple Malaysian government agencies to strengthen the country’s water security framework. Through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Malaysia, USM collaborated on the establishment of a National Ecohydrology Demonstration Site under UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP). DID serves as the national coordinating and advisory agency, while USM’s River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre (REDAC) provides scientific and technical leadership. This cooperation focuses on sustainable watershed management and ecohydrological innovation.

USM also worked closely with the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA) and the Malaysian Stormwater Organisation (MSO), a government-recognized non-profit body under KASA, to develop professional certification programmes and technical guidelines for stormwater and erosion control management. Furthermore, partnerships with the Humid Tropics Centre Kuala Lumpur (HTCKL) and Perbadanan Putrajaya (Putrajaya Corporation) enhanced national efforts on lake and wetland management based on ecohydrological principles. These multi-agency collaborations demonstrate USM’s commitment to integrated water governance and the protection of Malaysia’s freshwater ecosystems.

Global Cooperation

At the global level, USM cooperates directly with UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP) under the Division of Water Sciences, headquartered in Paris. REDAC’s Bio-Ecological Drainage System (BIOECODS) serves as a globally recognized UNESCO Ecohydrology Demonstration Site, representing Malaysia in the international network of sustainable water management projects.

This partnership enables continuous collaboration with UNESCO Member States, global research centres, and water-related ministries to develop and implement nature-based solutions for flood control, stormwater reuse, and ecosystem restoration. Under the supervision of Dr. Rahmah Elfithri, Chief of Section for Capacity Development and Water Family Coordination at UNESCO-IHP, USM contributes to global data sharing, training, and policy guidance that support evidence-based water security governance across nations.