It is the first time that an event dedicated to the MENA Region forms part of the World Water Week’s programme; this will be institutionalized thereafter.
The main aim of the event is to enhance experience and knowledge sharing, as well as to promote priority issues for the MENA Region in the global water agenda. In line with the Week’s ‘Water for sustainable growth’ theme, the event will address key issues that impede sustainable growth in the region; at the same time it will contribute to the global water agenda by showcasing replicable practices and lessons learnt.
Aiming for a participatory mode, the session is designed to include a limited number of presentations, as well as panel discussions with experts from the region. There will be an emphasis on facilitated open discussions. More information about the “MENA Focus” is available here.
Further to the overall coordination of the “MENA Focus”, on 30 August GWP-Med:
- Co-leads, together with the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) and the ‘Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau’ (KfW), the 1st session “Seeking answers to the water crisis in the MENA” (09.00 – 10.30, NL Auditorium/Aulan), that will also function as the official opening of the “MENA Focus”.
- Leads the 2nd session, “Strengthening Water Governance through Sustainable Financing & Integrity” (11.00 – 12.30, NL Pillar Hall/Pelarsalen), in cooperation with the UNDP Water Governance Facility at SIWI.More information about the session and its agenda is available here.
The other 2 sessions under the “MENA Focus” on 31 August are:
- “Informing the SDGs through the Arab MDG+ Initiative” (09.00 – 10.30, Room FH 202), convened by the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA), the League of Arab States (LAS), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN ESCWA).
- “World Café 2016: Water, Growth, Stability” (11.00 – 12.30, Room FH 202), convened by the Regional Environmental Center (REC).