The document discusses water resource management initiatives in the Arab region and calls for enhanced coordination. It notes the large number of UN and regional organizations working in water management but their efforts have had mixed results due to lack of coordination. It proposes strengthening existing coordination mechanisms and increasing participation of member states and the Arab League to jointly address priorities like integrated water resources management, shared water resources projects, irrigation management, and research. Coordinated actions across organizations could help optimize resources and better manage water in the region.

1. Water resources management initiatives; toward enhance coordination at the
regional level
Mohamed J. Abdulrazzak
Professor of water resources management
Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain
I-Water Policy
The Arab region being located in the most water scarce parts of world will be facing in 2025 a
major challenge of the widening the water supplies and demand gap attributed to the
limited renewable water sources and the expected; high population growth, increases water
requirement for the dynamic socio-economic development activities and negative impact of
climate change. Overcoming the expected water deficit in 2025 estimated at 237 billion
cubic meter (bcm) due to imbalance between supply of 258 bcm and demand of 495 bcm will
make it necessary to augment the supply through further mining of groundwater, increased
dependency on desalination ,reuse of adequately treated wastewater sources and mitigation of
climate change measures impact combined with the need to implement integrated
management measures that should take into consideration enforced coordination with other
developmental polices and the prevailing harsh arid environment, social, economic and cultural
conditions. The past rigid short term water policies of the last four decades that have
emphasized supply management and fragmented management measure must give way to
new management tools to develop a flexible policy coordinated with other relevant policies
(agriculture, finance, social, environment, energy, urban, trade, industry) to achieve water
sustainability and ecosystem protection and migration of climate change impact.
The past explicit or implicit water policies in the region of the 1960-2000 period have addressed
water resources scarcity through securing adequate supplies and services with good water
supply and sanitation coverage meeting the MDG targets specially in the urban areas and
expansion of irrigation schemes that have lead to extensive groundwater mining. However
governments of the region have realized the shortcoming of supply provision limitation from
renewable water sources as sources have reached their physical limit and have began 2000 to
pay more attention to the development of water policies in line with the internationally known
integrated water resources management approach (IWRM) with longer planning horizons to
cope with the expect water deficit challenge.
Governments of the region have endorsed the Sustainable Development Submit (WSSD)
recommendation to formulate integrated water resources management plan by the year 2005.
This target has been achieved with mixed result as only few countries formulated their
management plans. Effective water resources management framework in line with IWRM
approach must emphasis enhanced water use effect in all development sectors in efficiency
and allocation ,supply-demand management supported by effective and enforced institutional
arrangement and legal frameworks ,mandated coordination with other related policies,
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2. enhance of stakeholder participation ,strengthening of water governance issues, forging
partnership with private sector, effective regional cooperation through UN and regional
organizations, committing adequate financial and trained human resources and preservation of
the environment integrity. Such complex IWRM approach will enable government of the region
to shift from rigid traditional approach of supply augmentation and as services providers to the
implementation of more flexible integrated management measures and as regulator of
services.
II-Regional Cooperation
Water management at the regional level requires coordination among leading United Nations
and regional organizations active in the water and water related fields as they can play crucial
roles in enhancing cooperation and cooperation of their water management program to
enhance delivery of capacity building initiatives, implementation of regional projects, creation
of think tank centers and act as neutral and credible players in assisting countries in studies and
IWRM plan formulation and implementations. The existing two coordination frameworks; the
UN Regional Cooperation Mechanism (RCM) and the UN Development Assistance Framework
(UNDAF) as well as the existing international and regional conventions, instruments and the
recommendations of major water summits and conferences represent a viable tool to
coordinate all water management activities at the regional level. The most relevant
international water management initiatives; are the 2002 WSSD recommendation that called
upon the member states to develop their IWRM plans by 2005, the UN Convention on the Law
of Non-Navigational Use of International Watercourses (not ratified) and the non-binding Law
of Tran boundary Aquifers. The other UN conventions related to some aspects of water is the
UN Climate Change Convention with regard to water resources vulnerability, the Convention to
Combat Desertification regarding land use and the Convention of Biological Diversity with
regard to freshwater ecosystem integrity. The regional initiatives is the recently establish
Council of Arab Ministers for Water, the drafted Shared Water Strategy and the CAMRE Arab
Action Plan for Climate Change.
Existing UN and regional organizations are mandated to coordinate their programs including
water resources programs and projects among themselves as well as with the member states
and Arab league, however the level of coordination has produced mixed results due to the
overlapping of their water management activities, competing and domination roles combined
with lack of joint programming initiatives, absent of institutionalized coordination mechanism,
member states weak program ownership and participation and lack of funding to support
regional water management projects. These major constrains have contributed to
fragmentation and implementation of similar activities leading some times to the duplication of
outputs specially on capacity building (training and experts group meetings) initiatives ,
uncoordinated technical advisory services and few regional shared water sources projects .
There are 17 United Nations and regional organizations implementing two years or longer
programs cycles to address national and regional water and other environment management
priority issues within the framework of international conventions, goals and recommendations.
The UN organizations consist of UNU (water management capacity building initiatives and
projects), ESCWA, UNDP and UNEP (water management studies, technical advisory service,
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3. capacity build and projects), WHO-CEHA (wastewater and water health issues) , UNCEIF, WHO
and IDRC (water supply and sanitation) and FAO, AOAD, ICARDA and CIHEAM/ BARI (water
management in agriculture) while the regional organizations ;ACSAD, ALESCO belong to the
League of Arab States ,ISESCO and CEDARE (Water studies, capacity building and projects )
¸IUCN (water and natural resources),IDRC( demand management) and WB (water management
studies and projects and the Council of the Arab Ministers for Water(water studies). The fund
agencies consisted of bilateral and multi lateral entities provide limited funding for water
infrastructures at the national levels and limited regional water projects such as the Arab Fund
for Social and Economic Development, the Kuwaiti, Saudi and Abu Dhabi funds, Islamic
Development Bank, AGFUND and the major donors; Global Environment Facilities, European
Union, the German, JICA-Japan, Ditch and USAID and CIDA.
The existing water networks that have focused their activities on capacity building initiatives
are represented by the Wadi Hydrology, the Groundwater and the Water Ethic (UNESCO), the
Arab integrated Water Resources Management AWRENET( ESCWA),the Water Reuse (WHO-
CEHA), Islamic Water Resources (ISESCO), international network on Water and Environment(,
Demand Management WaDlmena (IDRC), Cap –Net (UNDP), NBNBN-RE9 (many donors) while
water associations are Water Science and Technology , Arab Health and Water Utility while
the NGO are Arab Water Council, Arab Forum for Environment and Development, READ and
Egyptian Water Partnership and more than national 25 water environmental societies.
Water research centers are; the UNU-Arabian Gulf University Virtual Integrated Water
Resources Management (Bahrain), UNESCO Regional Training Centers (water resources
management-Egypt) and (shared groundwater-Libya), the Arab League ACSAD and Water and
Arab Water Security studies Center (Syria), The IDB international Center for Bios line agriculture
(Abu Dhabi), Observation Du Sahara Et Du Sahel (Tunisia), the Middle Easter Desalination
(Oman)and the Arab Water Academy (Abu Dhabi). The list organizations including the focus of
their activities are shown in table (1).
III-Coordinated Actions
The existence of large number of organizations active in the water management field make it
necessary that they further enhance their coordination on water management issues through
the two UN regional coordination tools, the Regional Coordination Mechanism(RCM) and UN
Development Assistant Framework (UNDAF ). The existing UN coordination mechanism (RCM)
scan be strengthened by expanding its membership to include beside the Arab League, other
regional organizations and funding institutions such ISESECO, AOAD, ICARDA, CEDARE, Arab
Funding Institutions, Islamic Development Bank, AGFUND, Arab Water Council, and IDRC in
order to avoid duplication and steam line their activities, formulate and implement joint
activities, rational their financial resources for efficient use and increase funding for regional
water projects. The UN-RCM made good progress when the lead organization ESCWA in 2009
Beirut meeting coordinated ahead of time with other organizations to provide the opportunity
some of them to take a leading role addressing region emerging issues MDG (ESCWA), climate
change(UNEP) and food security (FAO). This process has achieved excellent coordination
producing substantive outputs. The other effective coordination mechanism is being followed
by UNESC, ALESCO and ISESCO. The three organizations exchange their two years programs
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4. prior to their implementation and agree on the areas of cooperation in term of joint studies,
EGM and training meetings and sharing of financial resources. Based on this mechanism many
successful water management initiatives were implement in the Arab region
The Arab League can play a central role in monitoring and evaluating of the RCM coordination
level of all UN organizations two years’ biennium programs prior to their finalization and report
to the UN at New York. The UN organizations are mandated to coordinate and cooperate on
their programs during the planning and implementation processes among themselves and with
and the Arab League. The independent UN - ACBQ committee in Ney York reviewing process of
the proposed programs always check if program coordination and cooperation are achieved
with the Arab League and other regional organizations in order to strengthen program
effectiveness in addressing regional priority issues such as water resources management and
rationalize budgetary requirements. The Arab League active participation in the program
planning process can eliminate overlapping as well as enhance joint implementation of
activities.
The member states are in a strong position to be a key player in enhancing the regional
coordination of water management program through their representation and active
participation in the UN inter government committees, UN Ministerial Sessions and their UN
official focal points at their respective countries and at UN-New York. The member states must
understand their influencing role as their input in emphasizing water management priority
issues in the proposed programs and activities should be addressed. It is essential that they
under take extensive reviewing and evaluation in advance actively participate in raising their
concern on proposed issues as well as insure that programs coordination is achieved among UN
and regional organization. The member states active participation can lead to their ownership
of the UN programs, strengthen joint programming initiatives and help the UN organizations in
soliciting funds from Arab funding institutions and donor communities for regional projects.
Also it will enhance the effectiveness and accountability of programs delivery towards effective
management of water.
Funding institutions and international donors should be forthcoming in providing adequate
funds to UN, regional organization, water network, associations and NGO and research centers.
The Arab region suffered from weak extra budgetary funding which hinder significantly the
advancement of the water management issues, limited R and D activities and contributed to
brain drain. The Arab Aid coordination group that consist of seven funding institutions ;Islamic
Development Bank, OPEC, Arab fund for Social Development ,the Arab Gulf Program for UN,
the Kuwaiti , The Saudi and Abu Dhabi present a viable coordination mechanism to channel
funding for regional water resources management activities.
All regional organizations including network, centers, associations and NGOs and funding
institutions and donors should cooperate and coordinate their programs to address water
management priority issues ; formulation and implementation of regional water management
projects that emphasis development of practical integrated water management ( IWRM)
materials and manuals, shared water resources management studies, training of trainer
workshop and expert group meetings, documentation and dissemination of lesson learned,
technical exchange visits, providing financial support sustain existing water network s and NGO
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5. functions ,innovated research and establishment of water science and technology centers
,parks and incubators to institutionalize water management technologies and attract promising
young and renowned senior water scientists.
IV-Specific actions
i-United Nations organization such as ESCWA, UNDP, UNESCO, UNEP and FAO and regional
organizations ALESCO ,ISESCO, CEDARE and IDRC can coordinate their programs to develop a
guideline on technical knowhow on demonstration method and their practical application to
formulate an integrated water management plan at the basin and national levels with emphasis
on data collection and analysis ,the delineation of the required coordination of all development
activities, required water and water related expertise ,public participation role , financial and
human resources requirement .Actually case study at a basin level or a small scale country level
would help national experts enhance their knowledge on the practical aspect of IWRM plan
formulation and implementation .The Arab Water council can take the leading role in the
implementation of such activities.
ii-The UN and regional organization; ESCWA, UNEP, FAO, WHO-CEHA ,UNESCO ,CEDARE,IDRC
World Bank, ALESCO, ISESCO, ICUN,UNU- AGU- IWRM Center ,CAP-Net ,Arab Water Academy
and UNESCO Training Center, Observation Du Sahara Et Du Sahel, the Arab League- ACSAD, and
Water and Arab Water Security studies Center and GEF, AWC need to coordinate water
management training workshops and expert group meetings in order to establish
complimentarily among the issues and sustainability of activities. Focus should be placed on
the training of trainer to enhance national capacity and expand dissemination of knowledge on
all IWRM and shared surface and groundwater sources aspects in order to enhance confidence
building measures between national experts as it can facilitate information and expertise
exchange and enhance the negotiation and technical skills to draft agreement and joint
management. The join organization of training workshops and expert meetings on specific
water management issues can be implemented by agreeing on a leading role exercises on
rotational bases among the organization in order to eliminate duplication, rationalize financial
resources and avoid domination by certain entity
iii-The funding of regional project on shared surface and groundwater sources among Arab
countries can facilitate their cooperation to optimize the utilization of shared sources and
eliminate future tensions. The current un-coordinated development of shared sources is
leading to extensive depletion of groundwater sources and impact of biodiversity along coastal
zone and increased salt water intrusion. Such regional project represent a priority issues .UN
organizations should work together to formulate project document, solicit funding and work in
complementarily bases for its implementation. Organizations that may be involved; UNESCO,
UNEP, CERADRE, ACSAD, Water and Arab Water Security studies Center, Observation Du Sahara
Et Du Sahel. Funding agencies by partial or complete financed by Arab Funds, donors and GEF
and Islamic Bank.
iv- Irrigation water management represents a priority issues as it is the major water consumer
in the Arab region. Regional project needs to address agriculture policy in relation to food
security and water scarcity and impacts of desertification and biodiversity. Suggested project
needs to focus on irrigation efficiency and water allocation, land use, biodiversity of freshwater
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6. coastal zones. FAO, ICARDA, ESCWA, ACSAD and AOAD can cooperate to formulate and
implement such regional project. Leading role can be designated to FAO or AOAD .Potential
funding sources could the Arab Fun, and international donors.
V-Research and development projects need to focus on the development of water assessment
methodology that can apply under arid condition as well as the evaluation of practical water
management measures that take into consideration the environment, economic, social, cultural
and religious conditions of the Arab region. The institutionalization of technology ;desalination,
solar energy, water saving devices, appropriate and low cost wastewater treatment through
technology centers and science parks such as the ones recently established by ESCWA in
Jordan and Dubai. Such initiatives will lead to the availability of well trained scientific and
technical cadres, reduce brain drain and attract water science to the region. Organizations that
can be involved are ESCWA, UNDP, UNESCO, ALESCO, ISESCO MEDRIC and other centers and
leading universities.
V-Concluding remarks
It is evidence that a large numbers of organizations are active in the Arab region addressing
water resources management issues, however their contributions have produced mixed
achievements due to the lack of coordination, weak participation by the member states and the
Arab league, and NGO and lack of adequate financial resources contributions from the member
states, funding institutions and donor communities. Enhanced coordination of the many
capacity building initiatives ,formulation and implement of regional projects and establishment
of R and D centers can contrite to enhanced management of water resources at the national
and regional level, availability of well trained water professional and strengthen the role of
water networks, associations and water NGO. The Member states, the Arab league should play
a monitoring role to enhance coordination of all programs. The Arab Water Council should be
receive support as it can be an effective and neutral facilitator to advance the management of
water resources specially on Integrated water resources management aspects.
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