Since uncontrolled consumption of natural resources causes several development problems, ensuring environmental sustainability was adopted in the list of Millennium Development Goals, or MDG 7. The Center for Natural Resources and Development (CNRD) is concentrating on water management, land use, biodiversity, renewable energy sources, and regional management to help achieve this goal. CNRD is coo
rdinated by Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Germany and supported by funds from the Exceed program of the German Academic Exchange Service and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Cologne’s cooperation partners are Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Brazil, Chile, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Mexico, Kenya, Bangladesh, Sudan, Ethiopia, Nepal, and Vietnam as well as international organizations and further institutions involved in development cooperation. In order to promote knowledge transfer, the exchange of scientists, lecturers as well as PhD and Master students is forstered, Master's programs in 13 partner countries are networking, postgraduate programs are being set up, and the dialogue between HEIs and stakeholders in situ is supported. All research results and teaching material of the center will be made available to the public.The online communication platform "Virtual Center" has been set to support the management of the project and to facilitate the connection among the involved partners.
