issue 2 november 2016

SITE SPECIFICS: Rosetta branchdemo area profile

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IN ACTION: Workshops, training,World Water Week

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newsletter of the waterport component of the WATER SUM project

Water management challengesOfficials from Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia identify WATER SUM benefits

H.E. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Aty Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Egypt

“Internal and external factors arepushing Egypt to act rapidly andresolutely to safeguard and manageessential water resources.Demographics, coupled withincreasing water consumption andthe impact of climate changeacross the country and in the NileDelta region are pushing us toreach out to modern research-based solutions as well as tooptimise the use of our waterresources. The introduction ofsalinity-tolerant crops and thedevelopment of appropriatetechnologies in the field ofdesalination for agricultural use areexamples of how we could copewith these challenges in the future.”

“The exchange of data, informationand experience between countrieswithin the MENA region that sharesimilar water issues is also crucial.For this reason, we welcome thework of WATER SUM and theWater, Growth and StabilityInitiative. Similar efforts play animportant role in supporting Egyptand the other beneficiary countriesthrough capacity-building actionsaimed at strengthening integrated

water resources management. Theyalso facilitate a regional dialoguethat leads the main stakeholders toshare experiences and successstories that can be replicatedelsewhere with satisfying results.”

H.E. Dr. Hazim El-NasserMinister of Water and Irrigation,Jordan

“Jordan would be considered thethird poorest country in the world ifwe were to take as our baseline theper capita share of available waterresources. Our situation isexacerbated by climate change, aswell as by the unprecedented influxof refugees coming from Syria, themajority of whom are concentratedin the Yarmouk basin.”

“A robust national strategy that willensure sufficient water for drinking,industrial and agricultural purposesmust go hand in hand with strongregional cooperation among MENAcountries. Hard skills alone may notbe sufficient to close the wideninggap between water demand andavailable water resources.”

“Targeted projects that emphasisecapacity and dialogue building,such as WATER SUM, are needed tosupport our commitment to

achieving the sustainable use ofavailable water resources and tobroach ideas and solutions thathelp address common challenges.”

H.E. Dr. Samir Taieb Minister of Agriculture, WaterResources and Fisheries, Tunisia

“Achieving sound integrated waterresources management and watersecurity are Tunisia’s main goals forthe next five years and beyond. Weare glad that the WATER SUMproject’s main objectives follow ourcountry’s planned trajectory for thewater sector. The technicalassistance and capacity-buildingactions provided through theproject are proving very valuableand integrative to the efforts of ourministry and other stakeholderswho are working together in thewater arena.”

“We are noticing a remarkableincrease in the intensity of bothphenomena in recent years. Ourexperts are working with the WATERSUM team to increase the capacitiesand knowledge of our nationalinstitutions for monitoring anddetecting climate change effectsand identifying good practicesrelated to water scarcity.” ●

H.E. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Aty H.E. Dr. Hazim El-Nasser H.E. Dr. Samir Taieb

profile

issue 2 november 20162

From objectives to actionIntegrated water resources management, climate change adaptation and cooperation on water-related planning are put into practice in the project demonstration sites, including the Rosetta branch in Egypt.

EGYPT

Rosetta branch, Nile RiverThe Rosetta branch is a freshwaterstream extending northwards fromEgypt's Delta Barrage for about236 km on the western boundaryof the Nile Delta. The branch hasan average width of 180 m and is between 2 and 4 m deep. It has itssource in the Nile and drains into the Mediterranean Sea.

The Edfina Barrage was constructed on the Rosetta branch to preventthe intrusion of saltwater into the river branch and to control water discharge from the city of Edfina, 30 km upstream.

WATER POrT activities will be carriedout in the demonstration site, whichlies in the northern coastal zone of Kafr el-Sheikh Governorate, extending between the Rosettabranch and the city of Burullus.

DEMONSTRATION SITE FACTS

Site area: The northern coastal zone of Kafr el-Sheikh Governorate, extending between the Rosetta branch and the city of Burullus.Water sources within the site:The main source of drinking water is surface water— the Nile, and the Bahr Tira, Meet Yazid, Rwinh,Bahr Nashrat, Alqdhabh, Bahr Alsaidy andRashidiya canals. Length of river section: 85 kmGovernorates: Kafr el-Sheikh (covering an area of3,748 km2) lies between two branches of the Nilein the northern part of the Nile Delta. It is borderedto the south by Gharbia Governorate, to the eastby Dakahleya Governorate, and to the north by theMediterranean Sea. Lake Burullus, which is locatedwithin the borders of the governorate, covers anarea of 120,000 acres.Main water usage: The Rosetta branch providesfreshwater to meet domestic and agricultural demand. Water is purified at various stations be-fore entering the drinking water supply network.Hydraulic infrastructure: Delta Barrage and Edfina Barrage.

TUNISIA

Medjerda River Basin

The Medjerda River and its tributaries provide irrigation and domestic water forTunis and its surroundings.

WATER SUM activities are being carried out in this demonstration site, as outlined in POrTal, issue 1.

JORDAN

Yarmouk River Basin

The Yarmouk is the biggest tributary of the Jordan River, and its basin covers 1.5%of the territory of Jordan. Its waters areused for agriculture and domestic supply.

Issue 1 of POrTal features details about this demonstration site.

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in action

As climate change multiplies existing stresses related to water availability,allocation and quality across the MENA region, WATER SUM is helping tobuild capacities for adaptation, resilience and sustainable growth.

In late May 2016, workshops on integrated water resources management(IWRM) and adaptation to climate change took place in Jordan and Tunisia.

Participants hailing from public authorities and agencies dealing with water-related issues contributed with their expertise to the positive outcome of theevents. The workshops helped in gathering information, recommendationsand inputs that proved invaluable in fine-tuning the content and structure of a string of follow-up activities at national level that emphasise theinterlinkage between water resources and climate change. Next year — oncethe events carried out at national level are finalised — a regional workshopwill bring together experts and practitioners from all target countries to takestock and to exchange experiences and knowledge. ●

Learning to adapt

GETTING TOGETHER: WATER POrT team and Jordanian workshopparticipants gather for a family photo.

issue 2 november 2016

World Water Week (WWW) isthe annual global forum for allactors engaged in water issues.Organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute, thisyear’s event was on the theme ofWater for Sustainable Growth.

The 2016 focus on water chal-lenges in world hotspots, includ-ing MENA, made an ideal back-drop for presenting WATER SUM.

The REC’s World Café 2016,Water, Growth and Stability, drewover 60 participants for intensivediscussions. The emphasis wason how MENA countries can con-tribute to meeting the water-related SDGs. The following con-clusions were reached :

• Further policy and institu-tional reforms are needed inMENA, such as involvingwater users in decision making, introducing cost re-covery, and making strategicdecisions on water allocation.

• Mainstreaming climatechange in relevant policiesand strategies and furtherengaging the private sector,stakeholders and local com-munities, is key to support-ing climate changeadaptation efforts in MENA.

• There is no water securitywithout inclusivity and democratic, participatorygovernance. ●

See www.rec.org/event.php?id=56for REC activities at WWW2016.

Spotlight onMENA at WorldWater Week

Water Resources Management in a Changing Climateworkshops September/October 2016 •Jordan and Tunisia

• Combining the use of national knowledge and internationalexperience can lead to effective and smart solutions for mitigatingclimate change impacts.

• Adaptation and resilience building must be supported by a full understanding of current processes and strategies, as well as of future scenarios.

• Embracing a holistic approach, including socioeconomic relations,contributes to a better understanding of climate change impacts,leading to wiser decisions on mitigation and adaptation.

Keymessages

Flood Risk Management and Adaptation workshop and Flood RiskManagement, Flood Hazard and Flood Risk Maps training October 2016 •Tunisia

• Sharing regional and international practices can help in the development of flood risk and hazard mapping at national level.

• Flood risk management plans should set clear goals, while differ-ent approaches can be considered in order to reach these goals.

• Identifying relevant data and improving their quality leads to successful flood mapping.

The WATER POrT photo competition attracted numerous professional and amateurphotographers, as well as members of the broader public, who were keen todocument the daily interactions between water and people in Tunisia and Jordan.Congratulations to the winners, and many thanks to all who submitted photos and supported the contest by sharing the word.

The pic of the bunch

moving forward

issue 1 march 20161

editors: Jovanka Ignjatovic •Valerio Ponzocontributors: Adel Alobeiaat •Raouf Khalifa • Imola Koszta •Ahmed Yassin Towfit • VentzislavVassilev • Abdelrehim Yehya •Doha Zamel design and layout: Sylvia Magyar copyediting and proofreading:Rachel Hideg • Nathan Johnsonphotographs: Imola Koszta •Valerio Ponzo • WATER POrT photo competition winners

publisher: Regional EnvironmentalCenter (REC)

The POrTal newsletter provides anoverview of the events andactivities carried out within theregional project Sustainable Use ofTransboundary Water Resourcesand Water Security Management(WATER SUM), with an in-depthfocus on its Water ResourcesManagement Good Practices and

Knowledge Transfer (WATER POrT)project component. POrTal alsoincludes news and tools related tobuilding skills and transferringknowledge on integrated waterresources management (IWRM),stakeholder dialogue, and climatechange adaptation across theMENA region.

newsletter of the waterport componentof the WATER SUM project

watersum.rec.org

issue 2 november 2016

November 8–9, 2016National Workshop on Water Demand Management

• Tunis, Tunisia

November 14–18, 201622nd Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP22)and REC side event

• Marrakech, Morocco

November 22–24, 2016Regional Workshop on Data Processing and Exchange

• Cairo, Egypt

November 28–30, 2016Budapest Water Summit 2016

• Budapest, Hungary

December 5–6, 2016National Workshop on Water Demand Management

• Dead Sea, Jordan

December 12–16, 2016Study Visit on Water Quality and Quantity Monitoring Issues

• Spain

January 2017Training on Data Processing and Exchange

• Jordan and Tunisia

February 2017Training on Flood Prevention and Control Warning Systems at Demonstration Sites

• Tunisia

February–March 2017Combined Regional Workshop on Water Demand Management, Water Resources Management andAdaptation to Climate Change

• Location tba

February–March 2017Training on Water Monitoring at Demonstration Sites

• Jordan and Tunisia

March 2017Study visit on IWRM cooperation at regional level: International Sava River Basin Commission

• Croatia and Slovenia

March 22, 2017World Water Day

April 2017WATER SUM project final conference

For final dates please check our onlinecalendar.

▲ Winner Tunisia: Arafet Ben Marzou“Hope: Here is a nice illustration ofperseverance, hope andliving simply. This pictureshows a man who hasused recovery materialsto manufacture a rudimentary fishingboat with oars, since motorboats are prohibited fromfishing on the river.”

1st placeAdult

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If you would like to learn more abouthow the WATER SUM project as wellas other REC-led projects andinitiatives are addressing water-relatedchallenges, promoting the strategicimportance of water, and fosteringregional cooperation in the Middle Eastand North Africa, check out ourdocumentary videos on YouTube:

www.youtube.com/channel/UCdox0WGTFldmZgycrSdbNQg/videos

COMING UP

The WATER POrT online forum is anoutreach and dissemination tool forproject activities related to cooperationwith the public and civil society.

The forum provides a space whereinstitutions, non-governmentalorganisations and civil societyorganisations, policy makers, otheractors working in the water sector, andthe general public can exchange viewson and propose solutions to thecomplex water issues affecting theMENA region and beyond.

This participatory tool is open forcontributions from project partners

and the public. Posts should supportthe spreading and strengthening ofactivities linked to stakeholderengagement, public awareness andpublic participation, gendermainstreaming and human rights–based approaches, as well aseducational activities that enhanceskills and leadership. ●

We’d love to hear from you about how youractivities are helping your community andcountry to tackle water-related challenges.Don’t forget to tell friends and colleaguesabout this opportunity to increase thevisibility of their commitment and efforts inthe water sector. Let’s use the forum to createnew partnerships for a sustainable future!

Be part of the solution!

▼ Winner Tunisia: Wassim Chaieb“View of Medjerda/Cap Bon Canalthrough the fields, in perfectharmony with people and animals.”

1st placeYouth

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1st placeAdult

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▼ Winner Jordan:Mohammad Aljaradin“Children swimming and bathing in verypolluted water in theDead Sea area.”

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