The Arab Spring- An Eye on the Future

The winds of change are blowing on the Middle East. Taking our

countries to a new era where the people are the leaders, decision

makers and the driving wheel for all. People are looking for real

reforms in all aspects of life; education, health, scientific

researches, transportation, reform of wages, and of course reforms

in water and wastewater infrastructure and services.

Restructuring water and wastewater utilities is one of the most

important scheduled reforms, because it affects and interferes in all

the aspects of one‘s life. The development of the water sector is a

top priority in this drought region, due to the scarce water resources

and due to the climate change that is affecting the rainfall average.

In addition to the weak water technologies and the skills that

manage them.

ACWUA is there to help Water utilities in the Arab world to stand

the change efficiently and effectively, by building capacities of their

employees, disseminating best practices and guarantee a useful

sharing of knowledge and experience, by doing a matchmaking

between water utilities to encourage the cooperation between Arab

Countries.

Khaldon H. Khashman

Exchange

Platform for

Water and

Waste Water

Utilities in the

Arab World

Inside this issue:

Message from

the Secretary

1

ACWUA at

Glance

2

ACWUA’s 4th

Best Practices

Conference:

3

Conferences and

Exhibitions

4

Training

Programs

5

GIZ continue

supporting

ACWUA

6

News from Our

Members

7

ACWUA

Partners &

Supporters

8

July - October 2011

Volume 1, Issue 2 Water Arabia

Dear ACWUA Members and Friends,

We are proud to welcome you to ACWUA new website which has had a complete

makeover! A number of pages are still under construction, but please visit the site

(www.acwua.org) on a regular basis as we will complete and improve the website

continuously. At the moment, the website is only available in English, but Arabic

language will be prepared and added soon! We hope you will enjoy your visits to our site

and find the information you are looking for!

We are pleased also to extend our sincere thanks to all members of the Arab Countries

Water Utilities Association ACWUA for their continuous support. This Issue - the

second issue of first ACWUA newsletter - will include different news from ACWUA

achievements and its future programs. It will also highlight the latest developments in the

water sector activities in the Arab region as well as worldwide. Please find below a

selection of news from ACWUA activities.

Mohammed T. Obidallah

Message from the Secretary General

Editorial

Regional

Center of

Excellence to

provide Best

Practices for

Water &

Wastewater

Utilities in Arab

Countries

ACWUA a member of the World Water Council (WWC)

By joining the World Water Council; ACWUA will demonstrate its interest in

taking part in the global debate on water security and further contributing to the

collective work engaged by the World Water Council and its members.

Read more

ACWUA the Official Partner of WASSER BERLIN INTERNATIONAL

2013

ACWUA is selected as Steering Committee member of Global Water Operator Partnership Alliance (GOWPA)

for the Arab region

Where the second annual meeting of the International Union for the water service

providers in 03.22.2011 was held in the city of Cape Town, South Africa, and in

the presence of more than 150 Operators and service providers of water and

sanitation around the world and in meeting Public body ACWUA has been

chosen as a representative for Arab utilities .

ACWUA signed cooperation agreement with the Euro-Mediterranean Association for Cooperation

and Development e.V. (EMA)

EMA organized the 1st Hamburg Environmental Forum on the 7th

& 8th of June 2011. The Environment Forum discussed a wide

range of environmental, financial issues - with a special focus on

the sectors of waste management, renewable energies, water

management and climate protection. The ultimate goal of this

event is to promote economic, scientific and environmental

exchange between Germany and the EMA region. The EMA

maintains a lively contact with important figures in the EMA-

region. ACWUA represented in its Secretary General Eng.

Khaldon Khashman presented ACWUA important role in the

region signed agreement of cooperation with EMA to build

cooperation linkages. Read more

It is with great pleasure that we announce that the Arab

Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) became an

official partner of WASSER BERLIN INTERNATIONAL

2013.

ACWUA is looking forward to this partnership to stabilize the

vital role of ACWUA in the Regional and international level.

ACWUA is planning as well for a strong presence for the Arab

Water sector in this big event, and to open new horizons for

our members to get introduced to the latest technologies in the

water sector. For the first time, Arab water utilities and

companies are going to be presented under one umbrella – a

large special booth for Arab Countries is going to be set.

WASSER BERLIN INTERNATIONAL trade fair and

congress, with a clearly defined focus on water and

wastewater, is the ideal platform for this important partnership

Read More

ACWUA at Glance

ACWUA is organizing its 4th Best Practices Conference: “Water and Wastewater Utilities Reform -

Changes and Challenges”

Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt , 7-8 December, 2011

This year focus area will be Water and Wastewater Utilities Reform:

Changes and Challenge. Conference key themes:

1. The paradigm shift in managing water utilities

2. Challenges prohibiting a successful utility reform

3. Capacity building in water utilities reform

4. Best practices in water utilities reform

Some other activities will take place within this Conference.

A workshop organized by IWA and a training course organized by GIZ. The annual meeting for ACWUA Board of

Directors will take place on the first day to discuss ACWUA‘s achievements during the year and to discuss the

upcoming plans for the coming year.

For more information visit:

http://www.acwua.org/events/conference

ACWUA’s 4th Best Practices Conference:

Water & Wastewater Utilities Reform “Changes and Challenges”

7-8 December 2011

Sharm Al Sheikh, Egypt

Page 3

Volume 1, Issue 2

Study Tour: Integrated Sanitation & Sewerage Infrastructure Project (ISSIP2)

Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) has organized a study tour for Integrated Sanitation &

Sewerage Infrastructure Project (ISSIP2) under the title of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Technologies,

Applications and Reuse for 13 Egyptian Delegation from top and middle management from water sector in Egypt.

Read More

Partners

Conferences and Exhibitions

ACWUA in the World Water Week 2011

ACWUA has participated in the World Water Week 2011. In a joint forum with IWA,

ACWUA has presented 3 case studies about Water Utilities Reforms.

Eng. Khaldon Khashman, ACWUA Secretary General, gave a presentation about

Water Utilities Reforms in the Arab Region. ACWUA utility members; Eng. Ahmad

Nizam, the general manager of South Lebanon Water Establishment, and Dr. Ahmad

Moawad, the head of Technical affairs in the Holding Company for Water

&Wastewater in Cairo, gave 2 separated presentations about Water Sector Reform in

Lebanon, and Water Sector Reform in Egypt before and after the establishment of the

Holding Company which encompasses all Water utilities in Egypt under its umbrella.

Read more

ACWUA in the Water & Climate Change International Conference

ACWUA has presented the challenges and impacts of Climate change on the Arab

region. The Jordanian Minister of Water and Irrigation, Eng. Mohamed Al-Najjar was

a key guest and had discussed the phenomenon impacts in Jordan.

Whereas many important guests representing different companies, regionally and

internationally took part in those discussions and suggested solutions and that would

reduce. The Arab Countries Water Utilities Association, with its 90 public and private

utilities in 16 countries, made climate change one of its important topics. Read more

ACWUA in WASSER Berlin International 2011

Besides the numerous international companies from the Middle East, ACWUA has

participated for the first time in Wasser Berlin International 2011; representing 91

water and wastewater utilities from 16 Arab countries. During the congress, the

representatives actively participated in lectures, presentations and meetings besides

visiting the large number of trade fair booths. ACWUA Secretary General introduced

case studies about utility reforms in a number of Arab Countries, like: Egypt, Jordan,

Lebanon, Tunisia and Yemen. The Jordanian Minister of Water presented the water

sector in Jordan. Other ACWUA Members were there too to present water sector in

their countries, like: Dr. Salah Bayoumi, the project manager in the holding company

for Water and Wastewater, and Eng. Ramez El-Titi from Palestine who presented the

role of GIZ in developing and serving the Water Sector in Palestine. Read more

ACWUA in the 2nd Interdisciplinary Alumni Conference

Leadership in Transition: Opportunities for Change- 16– 19.6.2011 Cairo, Egypt

The conference aimed at gathering people from a variety of professional backgrounds

and countries across the region as a response to the ongoing changing situation in the

MENA region. ACWUA Secretary General gave a speech introducing case studies

about recent reform processes that were implemented in water utilities in the Arab

region, for the aim of sharing and exchanging the local experiences with the audience

from different sectors. Discussion and comments were targeting and focusing on

identifying best practices on water utilities reform.

Page 4

WATER ARABIA

Training Programs:

Consultancy Agreement for the support of 2 Technical Working Groups

3rd Regional Training Course: Enhancing Business Performance of

Water Utilities through Quality Management and Standards (QMS)

Page 5

Volume 1, Issue 2

This training was accomplished and organized in a cooperation between

ACWUA and GIZ in May 22-26, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. Water utilities in the

MENA region are striving hard to improve their efficiency, the quality of their

services and the level of their overall performance. Thus, this training course

aimed at building capacities in the water sector to enhance knowledge on

internationally accepted standards, modern quality management concepts and

how to apply them at various workplaces in water utilities organisations.

The Water Utilities Management Capacity Building Program (WUM-CBP)

Technical Working Groups:

ACWUA has signed a consultancy agreement on Thursday July 14th with

the local Jordanian Consulting Firm ECO Consult, to provide consulting

services for the support of two of ACWUA‘s technical working groups;

1. Utilities Management 2. Utilities Reform

ACWUA has accomplished three training modules successfully in cooperation

with Engicon O&M and the German Association for Water, Wastewater and

Solid Waste (DWA) the within the Water Utilities Management Capacity

Building Program (WUM-CBP).

1. Operation & Maintenance of Water & Wastewater Treatment Plants

2-7 April, 2011. This course was attended by 8 participants from

Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine.

2. GIS application for Water Utilities 26-30 June, 2011. This course was

attended by participants from Palestinian Water Authority, Salfit

Municipality, Kuwaiti Ministry of Public Works and Sa‘adah Local

Corp.

3. Non-Revenue Water Management: 18-22 October, 2011

4th Regional Training Course ―Negotiation & Cross Sectoral Coordination for

Good Water Governance‖, 16-20 October, 2011

ACWUA in cooperation with GIZ is planning for the 4th Regional Training course within the "Water Utilities

Performance-WUP" Program in October (16-20), 2011 in Amman.―Negotiation & Cross Sectoral Coordination

for Good Water Governance‖ training course enables participants to analyze and understand conflicts over

competing water resources, to be part of a water dialogue process, to explore and implement fair and equitable

solutions in the allocation and efficient use of water, and to act as change agents in a complex institutional setting

towards solutions for sustainable water uses following the internationally accepted principles of IWRM.

Read More

ACWUA in cooperation with GIZ, have successfully accomplished the series of Public

Awareness encounters that started in 2009 and was hosted in different Countries; Jordan,

Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, Berlin and finally back to Jordan. Aiming to raise awareness

about water scarcity, water degradation and about the resulting imbalance between

availability and demand, the workshops brought together important number of participants

from different Arab countries namely: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon,

Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen for the sake of sharing and exchanging their different

experience and ideas about awareness campaigns and studies. The focus topic for this

course, was about social marketing and behavior change communication, a topic that was

widely welcomed by the participants and proved to be essential as being a base line in

public awareness. Read more

Continuing the Public Awareness Program Series:

25-29 Sep. 2011, Amman—Jordan

Past Events

Page 6

WATER ARABIA

WATER IN THE GREEN ECONOMY IN PRACTICE: TOWARDS RIO+20

3-5 October, 2011 Zaragoza, Spain

ACWUA in the 2nd German-Arab Energy Forum - 20-21 October, 2011 in Berlin -

Germany

ACWUA is Water Meter Middle East 23-25 October, 2011 in Dubai, United Emirates

ACWUA is endorsement partner of the Middle East Water Meter Seminar 2011.

The Water Utilities Management Capacity Building Program (WUM-CBP)

ACWUA is planning for the next training modules in cooperation with Engicon O&M and

the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste (DWA) within the Water

Utilities Management Capacity Building Program (WUM-CBP) in Amman, Jordan.

Planning & Design for Water and Wastewater Systems 18 - 22 December 2011

Upcoming Events

International Water Forum ―AQUA UKRAINE 2011‖ - 8-11 November 2011

German Water Partnership meeting - Berlin, 10-11 November, 2011

EMA Board Meeting, Hamburg, 12 November, 2011

Bonn2011 Conference, 16-18 November, 2011

Arab Water Forum, Cairo, 20-23 November, 2011

Water Governance at Basin Level, Cairo, 23-24 November, 2011

VDMA+GWP Energy Efficiency, Cairo, 20-21 November, 2011

The 10th Gulf Water Conference - 22-24 April, 2012 Doha - Qatar

ACWUA has signed a financing agreement with GIZ, in

which GIZ will support ACWUA financially till March, 31,

2012 for the aim of strengthening and consolidating

ACWUA in the following areas:

1. To improve the institutional, organizational and

technical framework of ACWUA Secretariat.

2. To improve the exchange of experiences with the

German Water Sector. Read More

GIZ continue supporting ACWUA

Volume 1, Issue 2

News from Our Members

Page 7

The Water Union Service Providers in

Palestine elected a new General Assembly,

The water union service providers in Palestine held

an election on Wednesday 8-6-2011. The elections

resulted in the following: Imad Alzeer Chairman of

the union, Munther Shublaq Vice Chairman, Abdul

Khaliq Al-Karmi treasurer, Simon Larach Secretary

General, and Munir Jaradat as a member.

Immediately after the election a meeting was held to

discuss future matters, such as the increasing

awareness publications of the WUSP and the

conducting of frequent visits in different areas to

exchange expertise.

Later in the meeting, the new Chairman Imad Alzeer,

confirmed that efforts will be put to provide water for

every citizen in the West Bank and Gaza strip. He

also indicated that more efforts will be put to monitor

the available water resources, so as to fairly

distribute the water between citizens across the

Palestinian Territories.

The water union service providers in Palestine is the

first organization of its kind in the Arab region, and it

is considered a great achievement for Palestinian

water sector especially within the hard conditions

caused by the occupation forces.

The opening of Sidi Bishr Customer Service

Centre - Alexandria Water Company,

Alexandria Water Company (AWCO) in

cooperation with the General Administration of

Awareness and Customer Service of the Holding

Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW) has

recently set ―Sidi Bishr Customer Service Centre‖.

The centre has been opened in July,2011 by Eng. EL

Sayed Nasr Arafaat - the Chairperson of HCWW,

Eng. Mamdouh Raslan - vice Chairperson - and

Eng. Nadia Abdou – the Chairperson of AWCO.

The opening has been attended by the chairpersons

of all Egyptian subsidiaries and the heads of

AWCO‘ sectors.

AWCO has established the Customer Service Centre

as a response to Alexandria citizens' needs and to

obtain the highest level of customers‘ satisfaction.

Sidi Bishr Service centre is well equipped and the

staff is highly qualified to deal with customers; in

addition to the advanced database system which is

designed and programmed by AWCO IT staff, it

includes all the information required. The queuing

system is also installed in the Service Centre to

facilitate and organize the work and to ensure the

speed of the service as well.

ACWUA Partners & Supporters

Water Arabia

Khaldon H. Khashman

Secretary General

Mustafa Nasereddin

Director of Programs and Technical Services

Mohammed T. Obidallah

Director of Communications

Abbas Hiare

Director of Finance

Dana Daqqaq

Communications Officer

Ahmad Abu Saleem

Programs and Technical Services Coordinator

For more information:

Arab Countries Water Utilities Association,

Umm Umarah Street 19 A, Al rasheed Area, P.O. Box 962449,

Amman 11196, Jordan

Phone: +962 6 5161700

Fax: +962-6-5161-800

E-Mail: acwua_secretariat@acwua.org

Follow us on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube

www.acwua.org

Ahmad Abu Saleem:

Obtained his M.Sc. degree in Water Resources and

Environment Management from Balqa Applied University,

Jordan. Ahmad worked as water and environment design

engineer on different projects on public awareness,

environmental management, EIA‗s, solid waste management,

water demand management.

————————————————————————————

Abbas Hiare:

Obtained his BA degree in Accounting from Al-Ahliyya

Amman University, Jordan. Abbas has a wide knowledge and

considerable experience in all financial issues through his work

in different companies as a Accountant and Auditor.

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Page 8

ACWUA is growing steadily; more than 100 water and wastewater

utilities from over 17 Arab countries joined our association. Algeria,

Bahrain UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco,

Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen. ACWUA as

a professional regional association attracts also international experts,

private sector companies, NGO‘s, donors, other associations and search

institutions from Europe, US and Africa. Please click here to view Who

are our Members.

Join ACWUA Membership

Arab Countries Members