Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is the most water-scarce region in the world, with only about 1% of global freshwater resources. Increasing demand for water from cities, industries and agriculture has pushed the already hot and dry countries of the region into extreme stress. More than 60% of the region’s population has little or no access to potable water.
In the MENA region, it is expected that the occurrence of extreme weather events (such as floods and droughts) will increase as a result of climate change. Increased flooding contaminates water sources and destroys sanitation facilities, while droughts amplify water scarcity with serious impacts on health and agricultural productivity. Smallholder farmers are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
IWMI supports the MENA countries in resolving the aggravating water security challenges by providing innovative water solutions that respond to regional challenges and national priorities.
Through multidisciplinary team across the region and the larger team in other regional offices and the Headquarters, IWMI MENA will keep intensifying its efforts to deliver water solutions and expand and deepen its impact by combining research with data to enhance knowledge, information services and products; strengthen capacity and set up dialogue for better water management.
At IWMI we believe that no impact scale can be achieved by acting alone, and we are confident that through strengthened partnerships, we can bridge the gap between science, policy, business, and development for a more sustainable resilient future. IWMI will continue to develop strategic alliances with national and international partners and stakeholders across the MENA region and beyond while considering the region and countries specificities. Our partnerships rely on collaboration among scientists, governments, civil society, businesses, development organizations, and users including smallholders.
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The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with its arid and semi-arid climate, faces profound challenges in managing limited water resources. These challenges are further intensified by political tensions and socioeconomic inequalities, often resulting in water being an essential element in conflicts and tensions. Particularly during the last decade, the number of conflicts involving water has increased dramatically in MENA. This research explores the dynamics of water’s role in conflicts, actors and scales of conflict across five fragile MENA countries, where it serves as a weapon, a catalyst, and a casualty. The analysis revealed a significant increase in the number of water-related incidents during the last two decades in these countries, with devastating implications on multiple social, economic, and security dimensions. The study suggests a concentric circle transformation (CCT) framework with three tiers of strategies: foundational, supportive, and expansive to help move from water-conflict to water-peace in MENA. These strategies, with examples of interventions, support transformation to water-peace by integrating soft interventions like empowering local communities, raising awareness, with hard interventions such as building resilient infrastructures and leveraging the power of innovative technological solutions. The framework offers scalable and adaptable solutions for regions facing similar challenges globally.
Socioeconomic aspects / Political aspects / Climate change / Water availability / Water resources / Awareness-raising / Intervention / Strategies / Frameworks / Conflicts / Water scarcity Record No:H053695
Water, energy, and food provisioning plays a pivotal role in advancing social and economic development. Human well-being cannot be attained without ensuring secure access to water, energy, and food resources, as well as maintaining a healthy environment. The Water-Energy-Food-Environment (WEFE) Nexus presents intricate interlinkages with the concept of an inclusive society, where every individual, regardless of background or circumstances, has an opportunity to fully participate and benefit from societal resources and opportunities equitably. The intersectionality of WEFE Nexus with human security underscores the complex interconnections between access to resources, societal inclusion, and the protection of individual well-being. Understanding the intersectionality of the WEFE Nexus can contribute to fostering an inclusive society and human security through: conflict prevention; equal access and distribution of resources; community participation and engagement; promotion of diversity; addressing gender inequality and social exclusion; resilience building; and sustainable development. This discussion brief investigates and conceptualizes the intersectionality between the WEFE Nexus and the concepts of inclusive society and human security. This intersectionality is highlighted through three examples from the MENA, SSA, and Asia-Pacific regions. It contains insights from a literature review and a summary of discussion points from a three-day Royal Academy of Engineering’s Frontiers Symposium ‘The Nexus in Action: Navigating the Water-Energy-Food-Environment Nexus for Climate Resilient and Inclusive Futures’ held from 7-9 February 2024, in Amman, Jordan jointly hosted by the Royal Scientific Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering. In navigating the challenges posed by climate change, conflict, and socioeconomic disparities, a concerted focus on the WEFE Nexus offers a pathway towards building inclusive societies and enhancing human security as evidenced in the MENA, SSA, and Asia-Pacific regions. Through continuous collaboration, innovation, and commitment to sustainable development, a future can be created where all individuals have access to the resources needed to thrive.
Case studies / Economic diversification / Stakeholders / Communities / Refugees / Natural resources / Livelihoods / Gender equality / Social inclusion / Governance / Conflicts / Sustainable development / Socioeconomic aspects / Intersectionality / Nexus approaches / Environment / Food insecurity / Food security / Energy / Water scarcity / Resilience / Climate change Record No:H053085
This research explores the limitations and opportunities of Water Accounting Plus (WA+) for addressing water management issues in the MENA, focusing on Jordan. A comprehensive literature review and interview-based analysis were conducted to identify prevalent water management issues and evaluate information used in decision-making and strategy appraisals. The findings suggest that WA+ can enhance the spatio-temporal coverage of water resource assessments, refine estimates of irrigation water consumption, and facilitate demand management. Quantifying recharge and surface runoff requires integrating WA+ with hydrological models. Addressing climate change’s impact on future water resources requires integrating climate change projections with WA+.
Case studies / Assessment / Climate change / Hydrological modelling / Remote sensing / Water scarcity / Water security / Integrated water resources management / Water accounting Record No:H053619
Social aspects / Women / Gender-transformative approaches / Stakeholders / Business models / Cost recovery / Financing / Sustainability / Health hazards / Water quality standards / Agricultural water use / Irrigation water / Guidelines / Planning / Water governance / Water policies / Resource recovery / Municipal wastewater / Wastewater treatment / Water scarcity / Water availability / Water resources / Water reuse Record No:H051838
