Semi-Arid Water Transfer and Drought Storage Engineering in Porto

Programme Overview

Semi-arid regions face acute hydrological variability, where protracted dry spells alternate with brief, intense run-off events. This five-day course in Porto delivers advanced instruction on the structural design, hydraulic conveyance, and strategic sizing of raw water transfers and multi-purpose impoundments. Participants examine the technical interfaces between regional water balances, pipeline hydraulics, and reservoir yield analysis, establishing robust engineering foundations required to maintain water security across drought-prone basins.

The curriculum addresses the engineering complexities of moving bulk water across expansive, dry terrains. Engineers and planners assess raw water conveyance infrastructure, including high-head pumping systems, gravity transmission mains, surge suppression apparatus, and sediment management facilities. Through rigorous civil engineering principles and international design codes, the programme details practical techniques to minimise evaporative losses, prevent structural degradation, and secure hydraulic performance under highly fluctuating seasonal flows.

Hosted in Porto, the programme exposes participants to advanced Mediterranean and Iberian water engineering practices developed to counter structural water scarcity. Practical sessions focus on catchment-scale retention mechanisms, geotechnical stability for earthfill embankment dams, spillway capacity under erratic hydrology, and emergency preparedness frameworks. Civil works managers gain the requisite capabilities to oversee large-scale hydraulic infrastructure schemes funded through multilateral development banks and national investment programmes.

Southern African and Sudano-Sahelian basins are experiencing intensified drought regimes that destabilise rural livelihoods and municipal supplies. Large-scale resilience investments, such as the US$450m RECLIMA project in Angola, require public sector engineers and technical project units to execute complex conveyance networks, sand dams, and long-term storage assets. Delivering these capital works demands rigorous application of International Commission on Large Dams standards, modern hydraulic simulation methods, and proactive climate adaptation measures to secure structural longevity under severe hydrological stress.

Delivered by Risalat Consultants International in Porto, Portugal, it combines expert-led sessions, real cases and group work, so that participants can apply what they learn in their own institution.

The Programme Strengthens Institutional Capability

• Hydrological modelling fundamentals for ephemeral rivers and semi-arid basins
• Deterministic versus stochastic yield assessment under multi-year drought cycles
• Sediment yield estimation and catchment erosion control techniques
• Bathymetric analysis, dead storage allocation, and evaporative loss calculations
• Site selection criteria for multi-purpose reservoirs and sand storage dams
• Alignment optimisation for long-distance gravity and pumped transmission mains
• Hydraulic design of raw water intakes, screening, and grit chambers
• Pipeline material selection, external corrosion control, and lining systems
• Climate and environmental risk assessment
• Adaptation and mitigation planning
• Sector strategies for energy, water and land
• Project design for climate and environmental goals

It is designed for catchment engineers and river basin planners, water resources engineers from national water directorates, civil works project managers supervising donor-funded infrastructure and others who want practical, current skills in climate, environment and natural resources.

The Growing Importance of Semi-Arid Water Transfer and Drought Storage Engineering in Porto

Climate change, environmental pressure and resource management now shape national plans, budgets and investment decisions. Financiers increasingly expect climate and environmental considerations to be built into projects from the start.

Institutions that can plan for climate risks, manage natural resources well and prepare sound proposals are better placed to protect services and to access the funding available for this work.

Organisations increasingly require professionals capable of:

• Assess climate and environmental risks to their services and assets
• Design projects that meet climate and environmental goals
• Prepare proposals that financiers can approve
• Measure and report results credibly
• Work with communities and partners across sectors

Strong climate, environment and natural resources systems help organisations:

• Protect services and infrastructure from climate risks
• Access climate and environmental finance
• Meet national and international commitments
• Use natural resources sustainably

This Semi-Arid Water Transfer and Drought Storage Engineering in Porto programme brings these elements together in a practical format, so that participants understand not only what good practice looks like but also how to introduce it in their own setting, with the people and resources they have.

Who Should Attend This Semi-Arid Water Transfer and Drought Storage Engineering in Porto Training?

This programme is designed for:

• Catchment engineers and river basin planners
• Water resources engineers from national water directorates
• Civil works project managers supervising donor-funded infrastructure
• Infrastructure specialists from the RECLIMA Project Implementation Unit
• Municipal bulk water supply engineers
• Technical advisors within ministries of public works and energy
• Dam safety and geotechnical monitoring engineers
• Hydrological modelling specialists working on arid basin allocations
• Project engineers managing rural retention and irrigation schemes
• Climate change and environment officers
• Energy, water and agriculture sector staff
• Planning and policy officers

The programme suits experienced professionals as well as those moving into new responsibilities. Groups that mix institutions and countries are encouraged, because participants learn a great deal from each other’s experience.

Semi-Arid Water Transfer and Drought Storage Engineering in Porto Training Objectives

Upon successful completion of this Semi-Arid Water Transfer and Drought Storage Engineering in Porto Training, participants will be able to:

• Formulate robust catchment yield models under protracted semi-arid drought scenarios
• Design long-distance raw water conveyance systems including pipeline alignments and pump stations
• Calculate hydraulic dimensions and surge mitigation requirements for bulk transmission mains
• Apply International Commission on Large Dams standards to embankment dam design and slope stability
• Size multi-purpose reservoirs and rural retention basins to minimise evaporative and seepage losses
• Incorporate sediment management and desilting structural features into intake works and reservoirs
• Establish operational dam safety surveillance protocols and emergency preparedness plans
• Explain the main climate and environmental challenges for their sector
• Assess climate and environmental risks to services and assets
• Plan adaptation and mitigation measures

Each objective is practised during the programme through exercises, cases or group work, so that participants leave able to do it, not only to describe it.

Programme Contents and Structure

Semi-Arid Water Transfer and Drought Storage Engineering in Porto Training Methodology

The training employs an applied civil engineering methodology centred on real-world project studies, computational exercises, and technical design reviews. Participants engage with real hydrological datasets from semi-arid catchments, applying hydraulic calculations and geotechnical stability formulas under instructor guidance. Group design modules simulate the challenges encountered within donor-funded project implementation units, requiring teams to size transfer components, draft surveillance frameworks, and resolve technical trade-offs between capital expenditure and structural resilience.

The programme combines:

• Expert-led sessions on current practice
• Regional and international case studies
• Group work and practical exercises
• Simulations and role plays where relevant
• Discussion of participants' own challenges
• Peer learning across institutions and countries
• Practical tools and templates to take back to work
• Daily reflection and action planning

Before the programme, a short pre-assessment helps the facilitators understand each participant’s role and priorities, so that examples and exercises can be adjusted to the group. Each day ends with a short reflection in which participants note what they will apply at work.

Expected Outcomes

Upon completion of this Semi-Arid Water Transfer and Drought Storage Engineering in Porto Training, participants will be able to:

• Capability to carry out catchment water balance and firm yield analyses for semi-arid river systems
• Proficiency in sizing long-distance raw water pipelines, pump systems, and anti-surge installations
• Competence in applying ICOLD technical standards to earthfill dam design and foundation seepage control
• Practical skill in designing spillways, intake works, and sediment bypass structures for variable flows
• Ability to establish compliant dam safety surveillance, instrumentation, and emergency action plans
• Readiness to supervise major water infrastructure contracts funded by multilateral development banks
• Assess climate and environmental risks
• Plan adaptation and mitigation measures

Participants leave with a personal action plan and practical tools they can use in their institution from the first week back. Institutions that send several participants can use the programme to agree shared methods and templates across teams, which makes improvements easier to sustain.

Institutional Application of Semi-Arid Water Transfer and Drought Storage Engineering in Porto Training

This programme supports organisations in strengthening:

• Climate and environmental planning
• Project design
• Access to finance
• Results measurement
• Stakeholder involvement

Participants return with practical tools to improve:

• Risk assessments
• Concept notes
• Results frameworks
• Monitoring systems
• Partnership arrangements

The programme is built so that learning moves from the classroom into the institution. Participants work on their own processes and documents where possible, and leave with an action plan that their managers can review and support.

Regional Relevance & Application

Europe

European institutions apply climate, environment and natural resources within detailed regulatory frameworks and reform agendas. Participants from Europe can compare their practice with colleagues from other regions and test how established methods work under different conditions.

Africa

Across Africa, ministries, agencies and project teams working in climate, environment and natural resources increasingly operate alongside donor-financed programmes that expect clear systems and evidence. The programme helps participants adapt good practice to the institutions and resources they work with.

Middle East

In the Middle East, national development strategies and diversification plans place growing demands on climate, environment and natural resources. Participants explore how to build the capability these plans need inside public bodies and companies.

Asia

Institutions across Asia combine rapid growth with ambitious modernisation programmes. Participants from Asia can share their experience of scaling systems quickly and learn from approaches used elsewhere.

Pacific

Small island and Pacific states face particular constraints of size, distance and capacity. The programme highlights practical, proportionate approaches to climate, environment and natural resources that suit smaller institutions.

Holding the programme in Porto, Portugal brings participants together away from their daily pressures, so they can compare how climate, environment and natural resources is handled in different settings. The same programme can also be delivered in-house for one institution, in its own country or online, with cases taken from its current work.

Host Country Profile – Portugal

Training programmes in Porto suit professionals seeking exposure to European public administration, municipal infrastructure, sustainable urban redevelopment, and logistics.

Studying away from their own country gives participants time to focus, a fresh view of their own institution and the chance to build a network with colleagues from other countries.

Semi-Arid Water Transfer and Drought Storage Engineering in Porto Training Deliverables

Participants receive support before, during and after the programme, so that preparation, learning and follow-up form one continuous experience.

Before the Programme

• Participant Pre-Assessment
• Semi-Arid Water Transfer and Drought Storage Engineering in Porto Readiness Assessment
• Semi-Arid Water Transfer and Drought Storage Engineering in Porto Resource Pack
• Preparatory Reading Materials
• Complimentary Visa Support & Advisory

During the Programme

• Airport Pickup & Welcome Assistance
• Accommodation with Breakfast
• Welcome Networking Dinner
• Risalat Training Kit (Bag, Bottle, Mug, T-Shirt, Cap, Passport Cover, Pens, Notebook, Magnet & Keychain)
• Comprehensive Semi-Arid Water Transfer and Drought Storage Engineering in Porto Training Manual
• Climate Risk Screening Checklist
• Options Appraisal Template
• Concept Note Template
• Results Measurement Template
• Practical Workshops & Simulations
• Group Discussions & Peer Learning
• Daily Lunch and Refreshments
• Full Access to Training Venue Facilities
• Mini Pad / Tablet with Digital Learning Materials
• Field Visit (where applicable)
• Entertaining City Tour

After the Programme

• Certificate of Completion
• Risalat Programme Participation Recognition Award
• Post-Training Reference Materials
• Funding Readiness Checklist
• Monitoring and Reporting Template
• Post-Training Support & Follow-Up Guidance
• Programme Report

Institutions can also request a tailored in-house version of this programme, delivered at their premises or online. Request a proposal.

Common Challenges in Semi-Arid Water Transfer and Drought Storage Engineering in Porto, And How This Training Helps

How can institutions assess climate and environmental risks to their services and assets?

The programme addresses this directly on the first day (Arid Hydrology, Basin Yield, and Storage Sizing), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions design projects that meet climate and environmental goals?

The programme addresses this directly on the second day (Long-Distance Bulk Water Conveyance Engineering), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions prepare proposals that financiers can approve?

The programme addresses this directly on the third day (Embankment Dams and Retention Basin Structural Design), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions measure and report results credibly?

The programme addresses this directly on the fourth day (Dam Safety, Instrumentation, and Surveillance Protocols), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions work with communities and partners across sectors?

The programme addresses this directly on the fifth day (Procurement, Construction Quality, and Operational Management), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where does the Semi-Arid Water Transfer and Drought Storage Engineering in Porto programme take place?

It runs from 1 Feb 2027 to 5 Feb 2027, in Porto, Portugal. The registration deadline is shown at the top of this page.

Who should attend?

The programme is designed for catchment engineers and river basin planners, water resources engineers from national water directorates, civil works project managers supervising donor-funded infrastructure, infrastructure specialists from the RECLIMA Project Implementation Unit, and others who want practical skills in climate, environment and natural resources.

Will I receive a certificate?

Yes. Participants who complete the programme receive a Certificate of Completion from Risalat Consultants International.

Can this programme be delivered for our institution only?

Yes. We can deliver a tailored in-house version at your premises, in another city or online, built around your own cases. Use the proposal request on this page.

Do I need prior experience in climate, environment and natural resources?

No specialist background is required beyond experience in a related role. A short pre-assessment helps the facilitators adapt the sessions to the group.

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