High Level Regional Water Event - Webpage Meeting
17 November 2021
- Available in:
- English
- العربية
The water scarcity challenge in the Arab Region is more pressing now than ever before. Declining water quality and quantity, decreasing groundwater levels, increasing population and urbanization, and climate change pose serious threats for countries in the region to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and uphold the basic human rights of access to water and sanitation.
As water scarcity is a multi-dimensional challenge, it is necessary to respond to the threats with a coordinated and multi-sectoral response. Actions are required at all levels of society and governance, from the community level through the national level policy, and fiscal environment to the transboundary and regional level of coordination and cooperation.
As part of the regional Water Scarcity Initiative and aligned with the 2019 Cairo declaration from the First Joint Meeting of Arab Ministers of Agriculture and Water, FAO in collaboration with various partners is organizing a high-level Water event present current challenges and opportunities in addressing water scarcity in the region.
The meeting aims to provide an inclusive forum and dialogue environment for decision makers, development partners, donors, civil society organizations and scientists to discuss and debate advances and innovations in the field. The meeting will provide inclusive, multi-sectoral output messages that will feed into the intergovernmental high-level processes on Water Scarcity and Sustainable Development.
Objectives:
- Increase visibility of the water scarcity crisis for the region’s governments, civil society organizations and development partners.
- Promote more integrated and harmonized policies that connect Water Resources management, Drinking water and sanitation, Agriculture, and other sectors.
- Serve as an inclusive platform for providing coordinated input into the intergovernmental processes on water scarcity.
Event details:
Date: 17 November 2021
Venue: Hybrid (League of Arab States and Virtual)
The one-day meeting will be organized on 17 November within the 13th session of the Arab Ministerial Water Council, scheduled for 14-18 November 2021. Participation in the meeting is only by invitation from the League of Arab states and/or the partner agencies leading the technical sessions.
Programme :
Meeting Facilitators: Dr. Gamal Eldin Gaballah, Technical Secretariat of the Arab Ministerial Water Council
Dr. Hammou Laamrani, Technical Secretariat of the Arab Ministerial Water Council
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Wednesday, 17 November 2021 |
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Opening Session 9:00 – 09:20 |
- Mr. Ted Chaiban UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa (5 min.) - Dr. AbdulHakim Elwaer FAO Assistant Director General & Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa (5 min.) - H.E. Eng. Essa Bin Hilal Al-Kuwari Chair of the Current Session of the Arab Ministerial Water Council, President of Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation “KAHRAMAA” (5 min.) (TBC) - H.E. Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States To be delivered by Dr. Gamal Eldin Gaballah, Director of Housing, Water Resources and Disaster Reduction, League of Arab States (5 min.) |
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9:20 – 9:50 |
Coffee Break |
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9:50 – 10:15 |
Keynote Presentation on Water Scarcity and Sustainable Development H.E. Dr. Hazim El-Naser Founder of The Middle East Water Forum (MEWF) and Former Minister of Water and Irrigation – Jordan (25 min.) |
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Technical Session 1: Economic Impacts of Water Scarcity Lead Convener: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) Moderator: Ms. Carol Chouchani Cherfane, Director, Arab Centre for Climate Change Policies and Cluster Leader of Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability, UNESCWA |
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10:15 – 11:30 |
Introductory presentation – Mr. Ziad Khayat, Economic Affairs Officer, Climate Change and Natural Resources Sustainability Cluster, UNESCWA (10 min.) |
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Panel discussion (30 min.) ‐ Mr. Muteb Al-Qahtani Director, General Department of Water Resources - Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Saudi Arabia ‐ Dr. Ahmad Mouawad Vice Chairman, Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW), Egypt ‐ Mr. Dominick Revell de Waal (Virtual) Senior Economist, The World Bank ‐ Eng. Mohammad Shakkour Technical Assistant - WASH, World Health Organization (WHO) ‐ Ms. Lucinda O'Hanlon Senior Advisor on Policy and Strategy, Sanitation and Water for All Partnership (SWA) |
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Questions from the audience (25 min.) |
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Key messages from the session (10 min.) |
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Technical Session 2: Challenges and Opportunities for the Use of Non-Conventional Water Resources Lead Convener: FAO in collaboration with IWMI Moderator: Mr. Jean Marc Faurès, Regional Programme Leader, FAO-RNE |
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11:30 – 12:45 |
Introductory presentation – Dr. Redouane Choukr-Allah, FAO Senior Expert (10 min.) |
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Panel discussion (30 min.) ‐ H.E. Mr. Tawfik Al-Sharjabi Minister of Water and Environment, Yemen ‐ H.E. Eng. Essa Bin Hilal Al-Kuwari President of Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation “KAHRAMAA” (TBC) ‐ Dr. Ragab Abdel Azim Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Egypt ‐ Dr. Jehad Al-Mahamid Secretary General, Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Jordan ‐ Dr. Mark Smith, Director General, International Water Management Institute (IWMI) |
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Questions from the audience (25 min.) |
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Key messages from the session (10 min.) ‐ H. E. Dr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid President of the Arab Water Council and Former Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Egypt |
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12:45 – 14:15 |
Lunch Break |
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Technical Session 3: Management of Scarce Water Resources During Protracted Armed Conflict Lead Convener: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Session Chair: Ms. Haja Kamara, Head of the Regional Affairs in the Middle East, ICRC Moderator: Mr. Mufleh Al Alaween Abbadi, Regional Advisor and Liaison Officer on Water Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland in Jordan |
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14:15 – 15:30 |
Opening and introductory presentation - ICRC (10 min.) |
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Panel discussion (40 min.) ‐ H.E. Eng. Mazen Ghunaim Head of the Palestinian Water Authority ‐ H.E. Dr. Walid Fayad Minister of Energy and Water, Lebanon ‐ Mr. Igor Malgrati Regional Water and Habitat Advisor in the Middle East, ICRC ‐ Mr. Rebhy El Sheikh Senior Water and Sanitation Expert, French Development Agency (AFD) ‐ Ms. Mara Tignino Lead Legal Specialist, Platform for International Water Law, Geneva Water Hub |
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Questions from the audience (15 min.) |
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Key messages from the session (10 min.) |
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15:30 – 16:00 |
Coffee Break |
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Technical Session 4: Water Scarcity and WASH Services at Community Level Lead Convener: UNICEF in collaboration with Oxfam Moderator: Dr. Ali Al-Khateeb, Chief WASH UNICEF Iraq |
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16:00 – 17:15 |
Opening – Ms. Sally Abi Khalil, OXFAM Regional Director (5 min.) Introductory presentation – Dr Hadeel Qazzaz, OXFAM / Dr. Ali Al-Khateeb, UNICEF (10 min.) |
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Panel discussion (30 min.) ‐ H.E. Dr. Jasim Al Falahi Minister of Environment, Iraq ‐ Ms. Rewa Assi Program Coordinator, Waterlution / Climate Action Network ‐ Ms. Asmahan Al-Eryani Chairwoman, Enjaz ‐ Dr. Nizar Zaied Global Lead Water, Islamic Development Bank Group |
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Questions from the audience (20 min.) |
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Key messages from the session (10 min.) |
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Closing 17:15 – 17:30 |
Key messages of all technical sessions, H.E. Dr. Hazim El-Naser (10 min.) Closing Remarks, Chair of the ministerial session/League of Arab States (5 min.) |
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17:30 – 18:00 |
Cocktail Reception |
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