Advancing Water Resilience and Management in the NENA Region

water scarcity, climate change, and conflicts, amongst other factors, have exacerbated vulnerability of local communities in the Arab region. Difficulty to access water has deteriorated livelihoods leading to increased food insecurity. Water is used unsustainably in particular groundwater resources. According to the world Bank, in some countries, more than half of current withdrawals exceed water availability. Arab countries are facing the challenge of enhancing water resilience to ensure sustainable agricultural production. Water resource managers face the challenge of making complex planning and management decisions in a changing environment characterized by a high level of uncertainty. The growing gap between water demand and supply for food production requires new approaches of water management to ensure efficient use of water and equitable access to agricultural production. Water savings towards improving water allocation, access to irrigation facilities, community based early warning systems, groundwater recharge and reduction of abstraction, reduced water-related conflicts are all possible solutions to enhance vulnerable communities’ resilience. This session will explore how countries can strengthen water security through water management accessible and adapted techniques and approaches to avoid the inevitable disruptions of water crises.
  • 16:00 - 17:30 (ICELAND)

Conveners

  • FAO

  • The Regional Initiative on Water Scarcity (WSI)

Speakers

  • Dr. Ashraf Ghanem / Egypt

  • Dr. Fazal Khakwani / Yemen

  • Dr. Sara MarjaniZadeh / Turkey

  • Mr. Abdelhamid Mnajja / Tunisia

  • Mr. Hichem Charieg / Egypt

  • Mr. Salem Darwich / Lebanon

  • Mr. Thair Almomani / Jordan