FAO's Regional Initiative on
Water Scarcity in the Near East:
Overview
Mohamed Bazza, PhD
Senior Officer, FAO
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June 2-4 20013. Cairo, Egypt
Prior to 2012
FAO’s Work Plan - 11 Strategic Objectives
Approach to planning : Strategic Framework 2010-19 reviewed, Medium Term Plan prepared every 4 years
As of January 2012
- New Management
- Launch of a “Strategic Thinking Process” for preparation of MTP for 2014-17
Results: 1. Reviewed Strategic Framework Outline
2. Five Strategic Objectives for MTP 2014-15,
potential main priorities of emphasis of FAO’s work
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June 2-4 20013. Cairo, Egypt
Background
Strategic Framework
Contribute to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition
Increase and improve provision of goods and services from agriculture, forestry and fisheries in a sustainable manner
Reduce rural poverty
Enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems at local, national and international levels
Increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises
SO1
SO2
SO3
SO4
SO5
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Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June 2-4 20013. Cairo, Egypt
As of January 2012
- New Management
- Launch of a “Strategic Thinking Process” for preparation of MTP for 2014-17
ResultS: 1. Reviewed Strategic Framework Outline
2. Five Strategic Objectives for MTP 2014-15
3. Six Regional Initiatives to pilot implementation of SOs in 2013
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June 2-4 20013. Cairo, Egypt
Background
SO2
Near EastAsiaAfricaLatin
America
Europe
Water Scarcity
Why Water Scarcity
Among top priorities in “FAO’s Regional Priority Framework for Near East” (2010 and 2012)
approaches water resource management within the context of agriculture and food security since almost
90% of water use allocated to agriculture and food security is both another regional priority and FAO’s
concern
Innovations, Principles
- Focus on regional priorities
- Integration, multi-disciplinary approach
- Joint work by Decentralized Offices and HQ
- enhanced collaboration between countries
- Partnership
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June 2-4 20013. Cairo, Egypt
Water Scarcity Initiative
Project development
1. Facts
- Near East region is water-scarce and net food importer as a result
- Countries have over past 40-50 years made important economic development efforts and investment in
water resources, albeit with differences
- Region has acquired good experience in water management; and is slightly ahead of other similar
regions in terms of agriculture water management indicators
- HOWEVER, current levels of performance and food insecurity gap reduction are still
well below potential and do not reflect acuity of water scarcity which is higher than in
other regions
- The approaches to improve water management applied over the past 10-15 years have reached their
limits and become too redundant
2. Resources and timeframe
- Human resources
- One Million US Dollars
- One year
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June 2-4 20013. Cairo, Egypt
Water Scarcity Initiative
Project Development
3. Project Scope
How best to benefit the region, building on the experiences and knowledge of countries, FAO and other
partners active in the field of agriculture water in the region, in order to identify gaps and highlight priority
areas for action to improve Agriculture water productivity in a sustainable manner, and thus reduce the food
deficit gap?
Rather than continuing business as usual, there is a need to inject fresh thinking into the process of finding
sustainable solutions to water scarcity and food security problems through facilitating the implementation of
cost-effective water investments and management practices
4. Beneficiaries
Members Countries of FAO Near East Region: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq,
Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab
Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
5. Partners
Multiple partners on national, regional and international levels, e.g. ICARDA, IFAD, IDRC, GIZ, World Bank,
African Development Bank, AWC, etc.
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June 2-4 20013. Cairo, Egypt
Water Scarcity Initiative
Overall Objectives
support Member Countries in identifying priority areas of action in agriculture water management that can
significantly contribute to boosting agriculture productivity, improving food security and sustaining water
resources
highlight the specific areas that require support of partners active in the field of agriculture water in the
region
build partnerships to move the process forward.
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June 2-4 20013. Cairo, Egypt
Objective and Outcomes
Outcome I
A regional collaborative strategy on sustainable agriculture water management for increasing the
level of food security in the Near East Region endorsed by Member Countries
build on past experience and knowledge to identify critical gaps and most efficient means to sustainably
increase food production and improve food security in the face of water scarcity
help countries identify priority areas for action and remove identified gaps/constraints
Highlight areas requiring technical support by partners and facilitate development of collaborative
partnerships for the provision of such support
also include baseline and indicators for implementation, starting in 2014
Elaboration driven by countries, in close collaboration with FAO and partners, through consultative process
involving relevant stakeholders within countries
Draft Strategy presented at a regional meeting of senior decision-makers from member countries and
partners for review and endorsement. Final version presented to the 32nd FAO Regional Conference for the
Near East in February 2014 for endorsement.
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June 2-4 20013. Cairo, Egypt
Objective and Outcomes
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June 2-4 20013. Cairo, Egypt
Objective and Outcomes
Regional Collaborative StrategyOutcome I
Outputs I.3. Nat. Water AuditsI.2. Food Supply Options AnalysisI.1.Knowledge gap Analysis
Assessment of experiences, policies,
practices and measures to cope with
water scarcity with regard to
effectiveness, highlighting successes
and failures and the reasons of both
Assessment of the available food supply
options in terms of effectiveness, cost
as well as technical, social and
environmental feasibility
Based on food supply enhancement
options identified under I.2, national data
and statistics, accounts of water supply &
demand as well as institutional, social,
environmental and financial dimensions
of water management
Outcome II
A Regional partnership to support countries in the implementation of the regional collaborative strategy
Establish Regional Partnership composed of representatives of Member Countries and broad range of
partners including donors, support providers and other stakeholders
Partners will be key players in the consultative process to elaborate the Strategy and in its subsequent
implementation
Strategy will also be shared with other stakeholders and potential partners active in the field of water
resources in the region, in order to facilitate coordination and identify additional synergies
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June 2-4 20013. Cairo, Egypt
Objective and Outcomes
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June 2-4 20013. Cairo, Egypt
Objective and Outcomes
Regional PartnershipOutcome II
Output Collaboration agreement on implementation
Partners elaborating the Strategy will enter into an agreement to be officially
announced in regional meeting.
Final Strategy will bear the logos and names of collaborating partners
Preparatory Phase
FAO Multi-disciplinary team (DOs, HQ)
Consultations with countries and potential partners
Partnership building
Multi-stakeholders team in pilot countries
Launching workshop
Assessment in Pilot Countries
Gap Analysis (desk study and in-country)
Food Supply Cost curve Analysis
National Water Audits
in-Country workshops
Land and Water Days (lessons from Land and Water Projects)
Data collection from non-pilot countries
Regional Collaborative Strategy
Elaboration
Discussion at regional level
Endorsement by FAO Regional Conference
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June 2-4 20013. Cairo, Egypt
Implementation Approach
Thank you
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