Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l 5 th World Water Forum Istanbul, March 2009 The Arab Region The Arab Region Bridging the Water Divides 19 March 2009

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l 22 Countries in the Center of the World

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l Demographic and Socio-economic Features  Total population about 350 million  Population growth is 2.6% per year  Share history, tradition, religions, culture, language, and interest  Average GDP US$1,915 billion  Average HDI in 2007/08  female to male adult literacy is  youth literacy rate of females aged (15-24) is

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l Climate, Land and Water  Severe aridity  Water plays a dominant role in the life of people more than in any other part of the world  Total area is about 14 million m 2, 87% is desert  Annual precipitation varies between 18 mm/yr and 827 mm/yr

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l Water Supply and Demand  Renewable water resources around 335 km3/yr  Around 60 % come across borders  Fossil groundwater about 143 km 3  annual share per capita expected to drop to 547 m 3 /cap/yr by year 2050  Demands exceed 220 km 3 /yr  Agriculture consumes 83% of total water available

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l Non Conventional Water Resources  About 30 km³ of non- conventional water produce annually  GCC countries produce 3.4 km³/yr of desalinated water  Treated wastewater are expected to increase to about 3 km³/yr by the year 2020  Egypt reuse about 5,000 km³ /yr of Agricultural drainage water

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l The State of WS&S Services  86% of the population have access to clean water.  71% of the total population have access to improved sanitation  Current domestic water supply about 16.7 km 3 and is expected to rise to 27.6 km 3 in 2025

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l The Regional Process: The way to Istanbul Kick off meeting, Dec st Coordination meeting, March 08 2 nd Coordination Meeting, June 08 1 st Senior Officials Meeting, July 08 1 st Ministerial Meeting, July 08 1 st Arab Water Forum, Nov. 08 Technical meeting, Sept nd Ministerial Meeting, Nov 08 Dec March nd Senior Officials Meeting, Jan 09

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l The Outcome of the Regional Process  Setting the regional priorities  Dialogue among Stakeholders  Contributions to the thematic process and input to the VMS  Political deliberations and consultation  The regional document  Sets of recommendations and messages to decision makers

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l The Regional Perspective for Bridging The Water Divides Within Each Arab State In the Water Governance Bridging the Divides between the Present and the Future Between the Present and the Future Between the Rich and the Poor Between Arab States and Their Neighboring Countries Between Knowledge and People

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l Divides within each Arab State ScarcityAllocationParticipationFinance

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l Divides between Present and Future Availability (water Security) ProductivityFood SecurityClimate change

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l Bridging the Governance gap Water Rights and Equity Financial Sustainability Achieving The MDGs

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l Divides between Arab States and Neighbors Cooperation within and beyond the river “No-harm” and “Win-Win” Legal and Institutional Framework Water in Occupied Territories

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l Divides between knowledge and People The knowledge Base Information and Communication Capacity Development

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l Regional Messages to Politicians and Decision Makers Theme 1. Global Changes and Risk Management The fragile water situation in the region is more sensitive to climate change. Adequate information is needed for attracting political attention. Urgency for more sustainable water policy and investment choices. Political focus offers new opportunities to improve overall results of water management. Develop a regional preparedness policy to adapt to extreme water events. Water should be kept out of political conflict dynamics. International community has responsibility to protect national water resources in territories under occupation. Theme 2. Advancing HD and the MDGs The fragile water situation in the region is more sensitive to climate change. Adequate information is needed for attracting political attention. Urgency for more sustainable water policy and investment choices. Political focus offers new opportunities to improve overall results of water management. Develop a regional preparedness policy to adapt to extreme water events. Water should be kept out of political conflict dynamics. International community has responsibility to protect national water resources in territories under occupation. Theme 3. Managing and Protecting Water Resources Cooperation leads to a “win-win” situation in managing shared water resources. Agreements based on customary international law offers “no harm” solutions. Set, implement and monitor National IWRM plans. Encourage water demand management at policy and practice levels. Update and enforce policies and laws related to pollution control. Theme 4. Governance and Management Improve water governance as a priority to improve water management. Promote decentralization of water management in urban and agricultural water uses. Sustain the political support to reforms in the water sector. Encourage involvement of all stakeholders in water planning and decision making. Institutionalize anticorruption and transparency mechanisms. Support the independence of regulatory bodies Theme 5: Finance Encourage economic incentives to promote efficient water use. Cost recovery is necessary for water use efficiency and financial sustainability. Scale up private-sector participation in water investments and management. Charging for water services should not impact the least-able and vulnerable groups. Engage International, regional and Arab funding agencies in water investments. Theme 6: Education, Knowledge and Capacity-Building Recognize the balance between knowledge, capacity development and infrastructure. Set strategic plans to respond to human resources and financial needs of water institutions. Encourage and support the Arab Water Academy as an innovative regional capacity-development facility. Encourage networking between research centers and universities in and outside the Arab region.

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l The Most Important Message “Save Water …… Save our Future …..”

Arab Water Council الـمـجـلـس الـعـربـى للـمـياه A r a b W a t e r C o u n c i l