News and events

More than 140 decision makers and representatives of government, civil society, international organisations, donors, financing institutions, and the private and banking sector, came together for 3 days sharing experiences and discussing needs, challenges and next steps during the “Conference on Water Governance in MENA and wider Mediterranean region” that was held in Barcelona, on 12-14 December. The Regional Conference was organised under the auspices of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), by two UfM-labelled projects supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), namely the Governance & Financing for the Mediterranean Water Sector project led by GWP-Med, and the Regional Water Integrity Capacity Building Programme in MENA, led by SIWI UNDP Water Governance Facility. The Conference was organised in close and strategic synergy with the EU-funded Sustainable Water Integrated Management and Horizon 2020 Support Mechanism (SWIM-H2020 SM) regional project.

The 3rd Consultation Workshop on enhancing the potential for Private Sector Participation in Water Infrastructure in Lebanon, with emphasis on the role of Banks was organised in Beirut on the 8th November 2017, as part of the National Policy Dialogue on Water Governance and Financing. The Workshop involved more than 25 targeted representatives of relevant public institutions, private banks, regional organisations and NGOs.

The 2nd Consultation Workshop on enhancing the potential for Private Sector Participation in Water Infrastructure in Lebanon, with emphasis on the role of Banks was organised on 10 October 2017 as part of the National Policy Dialogue on Governance and Financing of water projects.

The Conference’s central aim is to tangibly contribute towards overcoming challenges relating to Water Governance & Financing as well as Water Integrity in the MENA region.

The investment potential in wastewater treatment and reuse in Middle East & North Africa (MENA) was discussed at a session organised by the Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med) during the recent World Water Week in Stockholm (27 August – 1 September 2017). This was part of the “MENA Focus” set of 4 sessions, led by key institutions in the Region.2017 was the 2nd year that a dedicated MENA Regional Focus was part of the World Water Weeks’ programme, alongside the Regional Focus Days for Africa, Asia and Latin America. In addition to the (co) organization of sessions, GWP-Med is coordinating the overall “MENA Focus”.

2017 marks the 2nd year that a dedicated MENA Regional Focus is part of the Stockholm World Water Weeks’ programme, alongside the regional days for Africa, Asia and Latin America. The overall coordination of the MENA Focus has been entrusted to GWP-Med that works closely with key regional partners, each leading targeted sessions, to ensure that the region’s priorities are duly reflected in the Water Week’s programme.

The Dialogue on “Governance and Financing of water projects in Lebanon: Private Sector Participation and the role of Banks in investments” was successfully launched on 27 March 2017, representing a strategic synergy of the UfM/Sida project “Governance & Financing for the Mediterranean Water Sector” and the European Union funded project “Sustainable Water Integrated Management (SWIM)-Horizon 2020 Support Mechanism”.

More than 70 participants attended the session “Water Governance & Integrity under change in the MENA: how to boost up implementation efforts?” that took place on Sunday 19 March 2017, during the Arab Water Week 2017 at the Dead Sea, Jordan. The session was organised by GWP-Med and supported by Sida, through the UfM-labelled project “Governance & Financing for the Mediterranean Water Sector” implemented by GWP-Med and the OECD. It was organised in synergy and close coordination with the “Water Integrity for the MENA” project implemented by the UNDP Water Governance Facility at SIWI.

The 2nd Regional Conference of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) labelled project “Governance & Financing for the Mediterranean Water Sector” was organised on 5-6 December 2016, in Tunis, Tunisia, by the Global Water Partnership - Mediterranean (GWP-Med), in close collaboration with the H2020 Pollution Reduction & Prevention Investment Group (PRPI) & National Action Plan process. It convened more than 110 decision makers and representatives of government, civil society, international organisations, donors and financing institutions and the private sector.

The 2nd Regional Conference of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) labelled project Governance & Financing for the Mediterranean Water Sector will be held on 5-6 December 2016, in Tunis, Tunisia, in synergy with the UfM’s Pollution Reduction & Prevention Investment (PRPI) Group.