Online training on Water Resources Modeling and Drought Assessment for Data-Scarce Regions (WDA2026)

Registration for the course:

  1. Check the requirements for the registration in “Target Audience”
  2. Fill in the registration in the link below, and submit it
  3. After confirming your participation, details and course material will be shared with you within a few days after the registration deadline

Deadline : 13/02/2026

Training dates:

  • 23/02/2026
  • 26/02/2026
  • 03/03/2026

Time: 13:00 UTC + 1

  • Sudan: 14:00 UTC + 2

Duration: 2h for each session of theoretical input + 1h of recorded practical session.

Within the framework of the ENRUC project, the Faculty of Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems at TH Köln, the University of Applied Sciences Cologne – Germany in collaboration with the University of Khartoum in Sudan organized an online training program on Water Resources Modeling and Drought Assessment for Data-Scarce Regions (WDA2026).

Trainers:

  • Awad Mohammed Ali:  PhD Candidate at Wageningen University- Hydrological Modeler and Civil Engineer
  • Mohammed Osman:  PhD Candidate at Wageningen University- Civil and water infrastructure engineer
  • Chahinaz Ziani:Research associate at the University of Applied Sciences- Cologne, Germany

Training description:

The course is organized into three sessions Each begins with trainer-led presentations delivering the theoretical foundation and key concepts. Practical sessions will be recorded and handed over to participants after each session.

In three online sessions, this training offers practical skills for water resources management in data-scarce regions (particularly Sudan). Such regions often lack detailed and accurate hydrometeorological and geophysical in situ measurements. In this case, robust hydrological quantification highly depends on open-source datasets. However, data availability and study aim guide the selection of the modeling framework.

The first session deals with long-term water availability assessment and change overtime. It introduced participants to large-scale spatially variable water budget analysis, focusing on understanding climate variables, hydrological processes, and the use of Google Earth Engine (GEE) to access and analyze open-source datasets. Additionally, the contribution of the natural (climate) and anthropogenic (land use) changes to water availability will be investigated. Through a combination of a lecture and an explanation of the use of GEE with the necessary codes, participants will learn how to estimate actual evapotranspiration and water availability using the Budyko framework

The second session focuses on temporal data acquisition and streamflow estimation at the catchment scale. Participants will deal with hydrological modeling techniques for simulating and managing water resources. We will focuse on rainfall-runoff processes and the application of the HBV-light model for daily discharge prediction. Through a combination of a lecture and two practical sessions, participants will learn how to acquire and prepare temporal datasets from Climate Engine and calibrate and validate a hydrological model.

The third session The third session introduces participants to drought characteristics and practical tools for assessment in data-scarce regions (Sudan). The session covers drought definitions, types (meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socioeconomic), and standardized indices like Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Standardized Runoff Index (SRI), and Vegetation Condition Index (VCI). Participants will gain hands-on skills to compute drought characteristics using open-source data in Google Earth Engine and Climate Engine, including steps for index calculation, drought mapping, duration analysis, and early warning integration.

A certification will be handed out after the training.

Activities:

  • Attending online lectures with active participation. 
  • Computer practical sessions. 
  • Studying course material (lecture notes and scientific articles).
  • Submitting

Instruction materials and ready-to-use scripts will be provided to the participants.

Requirements:

  • This training is designed to support the professional development of Sudanese Master’s and PhD students, early-career scientists, and young professionals.
  • You have received your BSc degree in civil engineering, water and environmental engineering, earth sciences, or a related discipline. 
  • You have a good theoretical background in hydrology and water resources management.
  • You have at least a basic understanding of programming languages and hydrological modeling.
  • You have a stable internet connection.

Diversity in gender will be actively considered in the selection process