From Crisis to Opportunity: Collaborating for Sustainable Water Solutions in a Water Scarce MENA region.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is the most water-scarce region in the world. According to 2018 data, 14 of the 17 most water-stressed countries globally were in the region, including the top six. Moreover, the water crisis is expected to worsen in the coming years. Water availability is projected to fall by another 50 percent due to an increasing population, climate change, and poor water management practices. This will have severe socio-economic and environmental consequences, including food and energy insecurity, health risks, and conflicts over shared water resources.

To overcome these challenges, collaboration is needed between water utilities, regulators, government agencies, and civil society organizations to develop sustainable water management strategies. These include diversifying water sources, investing in and upscaling water infrastructure, improving water use efficiency, and promoting collaborative governance of water resources. The aim of these will be to ensure that communities in the MENA region will have access to safe and reliable water services for generations to come.

This panel discussion will bring together stakeholders from various sectors of the MENA region to discuss opportunities for collaboration and explore innovative strategies for improving the sustainability and management of water.