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Saturday, 16 August 2008  - Islamic Development bank (IDB)

JEDDAH- 15.7.08 : High level officials from more than 15 Arab countries, including 8 ministers in charge of water, and some 80 water experts from the Arab region and beyond attended the formal launching of the Arab Water Academy (AWA) in Abu Dhabi last week, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahayan, deputy prime minister of the UAE and chairman of the Environment Agency—Abu Dhabi (EAD).

The Arab Water Academy is the brainchild of the Cairo-based Arab Water Council (AWC), a regional water policy think-tank chaired by Dr Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation and former President of the World Water Council, who also attended the meeting. Hosted by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB)’ s Dubai-based International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), in partnership with EAD, the Academy is a groundbreaking regional capacity development programme targeting decision-makers and industry executives. The Academy is being supported by the IDB and the World Bank.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, the IDB President, said "As the region’s economies and population grow, the cost of providing water services will continue to put tremendous pressure on governments across the region, not least because of dwindling water resources and escalating production costs. This region will increasingly need "smart" solutions that combine effectively engineering and managerial prowess. This will require, amongst others, re-training water policy makers and managers, in order to meet the water challenges of the twenty-first century".

"This sea change in addressing water problems "out-of-the-box" will not be easy to implement and will require commensurate institutional and human capacity, underpinned by strong political commitment", Dr Ali, added.

Speaking to, reporters, Dr Shawki Barghouti, the ICBA Director General, said "The Academy will serve as a regional center of excellence for capacity development,for example, in integrated water resources management, utility management and water governance with a view to improving the delivery of water services through sustainable water sector strategies for advancing national economies of countries in the Arab region". The Academy will also make extensive use of virtual communication platforms, media and broadcasting resources.

In addition to tapping into the expertise available within the region, the Academy will also forge strategic partnership with leading academic and research institutions worldwide, such a Harvard University, Oxford University, Cambridge University and Cranfield University, all of which attended the Abu Dhabi meeting.

August 2008 - World Bank

In 1955, three Arab countries suffered with water scarcity. Today, that number has risen to 11 with another seven anticipated to join the list by 2025. With a rising population placing increased demand on a finite resource, the Arab Water Council (AWC) believes it is essential for the region to expand its understanding of the most effective water management strategies. The Council, which launched in 2004 with 400 members from 17 Arab states, seeks to build upon its members’ areas of expertise in water management, business, science and public policy by establishing the region’s first water educational institution, the Arab Water Academy (AWA).

The Academy, which was officially launched on July 6, 2008 in Abu Dhabi, UAE., hich articulates, designs and implements relevant professional leadership development programs focusing on the needs of the Middle East and North African (MENA) region.

"The Academy is a significant investment in the human capital of decision makers, professionals and scientists working in the water sector and associated fields in the Arab region," says Dr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, as the president of the AWC.

Arab Water Academy Inaugural Session and Workshop

To further the aims of the Academy, the AWC,  the
Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EADand the
International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) also held a workshop on Building Human Capacity for Water Management from July 6 through 8 in Abu Dhabi. International participants ranging from ministers, water utility managers, academicians and international experts discussed the Academy’s focus, which would include but not be limited to:

• Executive Leadership Training for Tomorrow’s Water Management will demonstrate how to Effectively communicate and negotiate with decision makers and incorporate decision-support tools in order to prioritize water into the national agenda and to balance competition for the resource (agriculture, urban expansion, industry etc) among sectors in the short and long term.
• Water Resources Planning and Management Under Future Uncertainties will address the need for flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances; learning how to meet the challenges of future uncertainties; capacity to adapt technologies and methodologies for improved efficiency and effectiveness; and increasing awareness and engaging stakeholders.
• Water Diplomacy will focus on strategic communications and negotiations methods which water leaders can use to manage transboundary resources and compete with other sectors to bring priorities to the national agenda.
• Driving Change will introduce MENA water leaders to international and regional policies, tools and technologies that will shape their organization’s water agenda in the immediate future, as well as address longer term issues.

In addition, institutional capacity will be addressed in

• Enabling Environments for Future Leaders, which will focus on developing comprehensive human resource strategies, incorporating effective incentive systems, recruitment strategies and development plans into the organizations in question, and.
• Leading the Institutional Reform Process which will enable water leaders to ensure that their institution is designed and equipped to successfully manage water resources over the long term. The program would include sustainable financing mechanisms, economics, and corporate strategy.

"It is expected that the deliberations and discussions of the workshop will lead to the development of a world-class human capacity building program for the Arab region," says Atem Ramsundersingh, acting program lead for World Bank Institute’s Water Unit. "The World Bank is proud to support this much needed regional initiative."

The Council is keen to launch the first series of courses toward the end of this year.

Download the AWA Workshop Agenda [pdf 361kb] in English and Arabic.

2008-09-07

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