Features Open Glass Doors: What regulation can improve openness and transparency?   Presentations and case studies from session 4.2.5 WaDImena and partners actively participate at the 1st Arab Water Forum in Riyadh Arab Water Council AWC | (Read more...) World Water Forum 5 WWF5 | (Read more...)

WWF5 Venue, Istanbul

"Over 33 000 participants took part in the 5th World Water Forum, from March 16-22 in Istanbul making it the world’s biggest ever water-related event. Much more than the size of the event, the number of recommendations, proposals, commitments and initiatives made throughout the preparatory process and during the week make this Forum a long-lasting highpoint in the international development calendar."
— From the WWF5 website.

The World Water Forum is organized every three years by the World Water Council in close collaboration with the authorities of the hosting country, with the four main purposes:

• To raise the importance of water on the political agenda;
• To support the deepening of discussions towards the solution of international water issues in the 21^st century;
• To formulate concrete proposals and bring their importance to the world’s attention; and 
• To generate political commitment.

More on the WWF5 website...

WADIMENA AT THE WWF5

WaDImena was heavily involved in the thematic, regional, and political processes which are integrated during the development of the Forum, as well as in taking part in the Forum activities. WaDImena and IDRC supported 22 participants, mostly from the MENA region, to attend the forum. They also convened and took part in four main activities:

1. "Opening Glass Doors: What regulation can improve openness and transparency?” Thematic Session 4.2.5 co-convened by WaDImena, AWC and UN-Habitat
2. MENA/Arab Countries regional day, convened by the AWC
3. IFAD/IDRC side event “Addressing water scarcity in rural and marginal areas of Arab countries: Innovative solutions”
4. Three-Way Dialogue session between the regions 'In and around Turkey,' 'MENA,' and 'the Mediterranian'
5. IFAD Booth

"Opening Glass Doors: What regulation can improve openness and transparency?"Thematic Session 4.2.5

Under Theme 4: Governance and Management, WaDImena, AWC, and UN-Habitat had convened session 4.2.5 on March 18. For over six months prior to the Forum, Dr Laamrani, WaDImena Project Coordinator, worked on the design and content of the session with co-conveners and contributors . Seven regions were represented which gave the session a global perspective. All segments of society were present, including NGOs, media, researchers, and regulators.

The conveners and attendees of the session 4 stressed on the necessity to link water management regulations to more participatory approaches and on the need for independent regulatory body to work on ensuring more transparency in water access and management, which in turn will ensure mutual accountability to give voice for the poor and marginalized. Mutual accountability leads to better water users’ access to water resources, long-term sustainability for groundwater and freshwater management, and distributive justice.

For session details, outcomes, and case studies

MENA/Arab Countries regional day

This regional session was convened by the Arab Water Council (AWC) and was held on March 19. The day was divided into three parts:

(i) a high level plenary session moderated by a well-know journalist;
(ii) stakeholder session with representatives from NGOs, research community, policy community, and the private sector where the way forward beyond the forum was discussed and presented; and
(iii) a ministerial meeting for Arab States water ministries who reflected on the discussions during the plenary session and other relevant messages, a ministerial statement was issued at the end of the meeting.

WaDImena has been engaged with the AWC, where Dr Laamrani was a member in the Stakeholders Panel session.

Visit the AWC Website for more information

IFAD/IDRC side event “Addressing water scarcity in rural and marginal areas of Arab countries: Innovative solutions”

The IFAD/IDRC side event was held on March 18. Three presentations were given by:

1. WaDImena on greywater reuse in agriculture in the context of integrated development
2. ICBA on saline agriculture in the context of integrated development
3. ICARDA on use supply management, water saving techniques, use technologies, and research-developed drought resistant agriculture

Following the presentations, a video on the Language of Water was shown, this video is produced by ARCA Consulting who was partially supported by WaDImena to shoot its funded projects in Jordan, Morocco, and Lebanon.

Three-Way Dialogue

Dr Laamrani also took part in this session which discussed future plans for dialoguing and benchmarks between the overlapping regions ‘in and Around Turkey,’ ‘MENA/Arab Countries’ and ‘the Mediterranean.’ The main topic of the session was Learning and Capacity Building; the common issues which are shared by each region were identified to be: climate change, water scarcity, legislation, public awareness and capacity building. The discussions took into account that know-how transfer in the MENA region, the Mediterranean, and in and around Turkey is the main requirement. The recommendations coming of the session were:

1. Form a platform secretariat by DSI, IME, and Arab Water Council
2. Modify the existing program for climate change effects
3. Training for different target groups

The booth distributed WaDImena and IDRC publications in three languages including: the WDM Media kit, all WaDImena publications CD, WDM trilingual Glossary CD, Greywater technical bulletin, Water resources management journal/book, WDM experiences and lessons learned from MENA book, Participatory natural resources management book, WaDImena project flyer and brochure. The greywater video and the Language of Water film were displayed on the booth's screen.

WADIMENA CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REGIONAL REPORT

Dr Laamrani was the lead author of chapter three of the regional report “Bridging the gap between the poor and the rich.” He also contributed extensively to the other chapters of the report, which was presented by the region at the WWF5. WDM as a regional issue in MENA was reflected in the report as an essential approach to eliminate the water scarcity situation in the region was reflected clearly. Dr Laamarani had also some input to the Mediterranean regional report.

Read the report

WADIMENA CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WWF5 PREPARATORY PROCESS 

WaDImena was involved extensively in the MENA/Arab region’s preparatory process by providing significant technical and political input during preparatory meetings, engaging in the Forum blog (Virtual Meeting Space VMS), and through e-mail exchanges. Dr Laamrani was one of 26 members in the regional consortium responsible for the region’s contribution to the Forum.

WaDImena also participated in the series of regional preparatory meetings and events held during the past year in preparation for the WWF5, including:

• WWF5 Topic Coordination Meeting held in Istanbul in February 2008. WaDImena was able to engage in topic papers coordination in theme four on “Governance and Management” and contribute to its agenda through two topic coordination groups. 
• Two preparatory meeting organized by the Arab Water Council (AWC) in Egypt in March and June 2008. Through synergies with key partners in MENA and compilation of necessary information, WaDImena was able to facilitate ideas for IDRC and WaDImena’s effective participation at the WWF5. 
• In Stockholm, August 2008, and in Montpellier, September 2008, potential collaboration on the way to Istanbul WWF5 were discussed with key players and Forum organizers such as the associate director of the World Water Council and the director of the National Water Agency. 
• WaDImena and partners actively participated in the 1st Arab Water Forum (AWF) in Riyadh, which came as a step in the road to Istanbul.

1st ARAB WATER FORUM

The AWF focussed on presenting and discussing the progress of the MENA/Arab region’s preparatory processes, for which the AWC acted as the regional coordinator. WaDImena was involved in the preparations for the AWF, and has supported and contributed to the Forum as follows: 

• WaDImena organized a WDM day where country experiences were shared and participants engaged in fruitful debates on WDM critical issues and the way forward. 
• WaDImena supported six research team leaders of its funded applied research and pilot projects who presented the findings of their projects through a poster session. 
• Dr Laamrani reported on the work done in the preparation of chapter 3 “Bridging the divides between the rich and the poor” of the MENA/Arab regional document.