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Innovations in Groundwater Management for the Middle East and North Africa Region
Wednesday 20 August
Afternoon Seminar
Convenors: Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), Federal Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany (BGR), Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany (BMZ), Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and International Hydrological Programme of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO-IHP)
Event Summary and Conclusions
A call to submit innovative approaches for managing shared groundwater in the MENA region resulted in over 70 ideas. Twenty were selected by a panel of experts and presented at the World Water Week. They covered technical topics related to groundwater assessment, data processing and mapping, as well as new ways of managing groundwater and discussions on cooperation across borders. It is evident that a lot of innovation is taking place in the region.
Many countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region rely to a large extent on groundwater as their main source of fresh water. Many of the aquifers are shared between several countries. With the current over-use of groundwater, an increase in individual consumption and an unmatched growth of population there is a need for rethinking on water management in the region.
During the week a conducive environment for exchange between people from the region was created. The seminar consisted of two workshops, oral presentations and interaction with WWW participants, and two poster-presentation sessions. An exhibition area functioned as a meeting point for the seminar participants and other interested people.
The discussions at the different events brought forward needs and examples of innovation in three different areas; 1) technical (resource)/knowledge; 2) implementation & management; and 3) policy & planning. Examples that were brought up included: using expertise from different countries in the region to learn from each other and introduce new technologies to improve data sharing and dissemination; the use of regional institutions to promote groundwater management; zone management of aquifers; use of economic instruments for water conservation and; ways of bridging the gap between technology and policy implementation. The results from the seminar and proposed next steps to promote innovation will be published later this fall by SIWI.
Seminar Programme 13:30-17:00, Room T5
Facilitator: Mr. Jakob Granit, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), Sweden
13:30 |
Welcome and Introductions
Mr. Jakob Granit, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), Sweden |
13:40 |
Presentations
• Incorporate MODFLOW in a Decision Support System for Water Resources Management
Dr. Ariane Borgstedt, Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Germany
• Climate change and human activities impact on the groundwater of the Eastern Morocco: case of Triffa plain and shallow coastal Mediterranean aquifer at Saïdia
Prof. Yassine Zarhloule, Laboratory of Hydrogeology-Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Morocco
• Joint Management of the North Western Sahara Aquifer System
Eng. Ousmane S.Diallo, Water Programme Coordinator, Tunisia
• West Bank Water Planning, Management and Analysis Tool under Uncertain Political Situation
Dr. Loay Froukh, Senior Water Consultant-Palestine, Jordan
• Coastal carbonate aquifers in the
Levantine countries require a great
care and specific management of
their groundwater resources
• A Hydro-Economic Decision Support Model for Sustainable Management of Scarce Groundwater Resources
Dr. Hamed Assaf, American University of Beirut, Lebanon |
14:20 |
Remarks by Panel and comments by audience |
15:00 |
Coffee Break |
15:30 |
• Uncertainty and Power Asymmetry: Impediments or Catalysts to Equitable Allocation of Transboundary Groundwater?
Dr. Mark Zeitoun, Grantham Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK
• EMPOWERS: Participatory water Governance in the MENA Region
on behalf of EMPOWERS Thematic Group
Dr. Charles Batchelor, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, co-author: Dr. Patrick Moriarty, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre
• Community Based Water Management Project
Dr. Taha Taher, Water & Environment Center - Sana'a University, Yemen
• Delineation and Implementation of Water Resources Protection Zones in Jordan Practical Experiences
Eng. Ali Subah, Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Jordan
• Pro-Aquifer: A Promising Example of Cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians to Protect Trans-boundary Groundwater Resources from Pollution Through Research, Training, and Guidelines for Israeli and Palestinian Municipalities
Ms. Ladeene Freimuth, EcoPeace/Friends of the Earth Middle East, Israel-Palestine-Jordan; in cooperation with the Palestinian House of Water and Environment, Israel |
16:20 |
Remarks by Panel and comments by audience |
16:50 |
Conclusions |
17:00 |
Close of Seminar |
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Presentation from the event
 Please scroll down and find the link from the programme
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