WANA Water summit
West Asia & North Africa Region
Dead Sea 19 October 2015 Water professionals’ cross-border cooperation for sustainable economic development King Hussein bin Talal Convention Centre, Dead Sea, Jordan
The Opportunity
The Challenge
What is the water future we want to see by 2030? How can water become a catalyst for further regional cooperation, stability and economic growth? How can a broad range of professionals focused on water set in motion the innovations needed and realise practical solutions to achieve this 2030 water vision for the region?
The WANA region has one of the largest reserves of fossil fuels but its per capita water availability is amongst the lowest in the world. The region’s heavy dependence on groundwater results in the world’s highest per capita rates of freshwater extraction, exploiting over 75% of its renewable water resources.
The West Asia and North Africa region (WANA) is one of the most arid in the world with major water scarcity issues. It is also a region currently undergoing significant socio-political and economic transitions. To thrive, the region’s major water challenges have to be addressed through a wide range of local, national and regional initiatives. This represents a significant opportunity. How can we enable, develop and implement such initiatives so these can work at scale and have lasting impact?
Population and economic growth are expected to lead to a decrease in the per capita water availability to alarmingly low levels in coming decades. Substantial income disparities, within and between countries, challenge regional efforts to improve the utilisation of water for socio-economic development. Sixty percent of the region’s water resources are transboundary and shared by two or more countries. Egypt, Jordan and Syria, largely depend upon water resources outside their borders. Unsustainable management of shared water resources, including surface and ground water systems, affect millions of people who are dependent on them for their livelihoods and wellbeing.
The Summit The urgency of regional water challenges has set the stage for a debate on how best to manage water resources and services, on the basis of innovative water solutions to be applied at scale. The WANA Water Summit is a high-level meeting bringing together a carefully selected group of over 100 key stakeholders – politicians, water professionals, business leaders, academics, economists – to focus on cooperation around innovations that work. This requires different actors to work together, including local government working with NGOs and private companies
providing cutting-edge technical solutions; international NGOs working with national governments and policy advisors to propose updates in water policy and regulation. Roundtables of peers from different sectors and disciplines will brainstorm opportunities for transformative water solutions and to strengthen cross-border cooperation that recognises the need for innovation that connects water science, technology and practice.
The People
An exciting and diverse mix of leading professionals interested in water challenges and solutions, not only from the WANA region but from around the world, include: HRH Prince Hassan bin Talal
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and former Chairman the United Nations SecretaryGeneral’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation
Dr. Ger Bergkamp
Executive Director, International Water Association
H.E Dr Charafat Afailal
Ms. Carol Chouchani Cherfane
Chief, Water Resources Section, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
H.E Abdullah Lahlouh
Professor Tushar Shah
Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Palestine
Vice-Minister for Water, Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and the Environment, Rabat, Morocco
H.E Dr. Hazim El-Naser
Professor David Grey
Advisor to HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal on Water and Sanitation
H.E Pamela Tshwete
Ambassador Shiv Mukherjee
Minister of Water and Irrigation, Jordan Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Republic of South Africa
Mr. Isam Akel
Executive Director, Association of Palestinian Local Authorities
Dr.Mahmoud Solh
Director General, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas
University of Oxford, UK India
Mr. Nitin Desai
Former Under - Secretary General of the United Nations
Dr. Claudia Sadoff
Lead Economist, Water, World Bank
Dr. Leon Awerbuch
International Water Management Institute
Dr. Hakam M. Al Alami
Dr. Mark Smith
Global Head, Water Program, IUCN
Dr. Anders Jägerskog
Counsellor, Regional Development Cooperation, Water Resources, Embassy of Sweden
Khaldon Khashman
Secretary-General, Arab Countries Water Utilities Association, Jordan
Dean IDA, Desalination Academy
The Outcome Strengthening existing and catalyzing new initiatives, the WANA Water Summit will create opportunities for further collaboration between water professionals across borders. It will do so through the development of new, or enhancement of existing, regional sharing of water expertise, knowledge and know-how. The Summit outcomes will additionally focus on setting up knowledge and experience exchange mechanisms in the region. It will promote evidence-based public and professional discussions to build understanding of the issues and opportunities for cooperation. The Summit will be a catalyst for further action in the future.
For further information contact: Ganesh Pangare ganesh.pangare@iwahq.org Al Alwaween Mufleh Mufleh.abbadi@iucn.org Mustafa Nasereddin Mustafa_Nasereddin@acwua.org