The Setting: Water scarcity and high level of transboundary water dependency

1. Water Security for All: Science Diplomacy for Sustainable Development of Shared Water Resources in the Arab Region and Neighboring CountriesPresented by:Ghaith FarizDirector of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States

2. The Setting: Water scarcity and high level of transboundary water dependency Source: Mekonnen & Hoekstra, 2016 Sources: University of Oregon and FAO AQUASTAT

3. Background • Water … the most pressing and persisting challenge in the Arab Region…. 7 out the water poorest countries in the word are in the Arab region • Water… a regionally shared resource with highly interlinked … Nearly two thirds of the fresh surface water resources of the Arab region originate outside each individual country…Likewise, countries in the region share several major groundwater aquifers among themselves and with neighboring countries. • Regional cooperation is inevitable …. There is no other way…. • Effective and meaningful regional and sub-regional cooperation modalities and frameworks are yet to evolve into joint management of shared water resources, with only few exceptions. • Sustainable development and management of transboundary resources demand a great deal of water diplomacy including wider scientific cooperation, even when water diplomacy may struggle due to seemingly irreconcilable priorities.

4. Following several initiatives and after many years….. What was accomplished • Advancement towards developed water sector capacities • Better understanding of the physical systems • Some/different levels of cooperation frameworks exist • A few cases of success in data sharing… much more is needed! • Increasing sense of the need for cooperation

5. Following several initiatives and after many years….. Are we better off ? • Reality of benefit sharing remains below what is hoped for • Central issues unresolved • State of water continues to decline • Innovative out of the water box (socio-economic developmental solutions) almost missed • Joint water governance and management remains weak…. If any! • Transboundary water resources issuesare becoming increasingly complex

6. Following several initiatives and after many years….. Lessons • Science/water diplomacy can no-longer focus onlyon sectoral issues (water allocations, quality, …etc) • Socio-economic, institutional, and political factors must be addressed within a developmental framework • Information transparency is a pre-requisite for confidence-building • The need for appropriate science that contributes to developmental priorities • Public awareness/ engagmentis critical…

7. “Water security refers to the availability of an acceptable quantity and quality of water for health, livelihoods, ecosystems and production, coupled with an acceptable level of water-related risks to people, environments and economies”

8. The water crisis is a crisis of governance • The need for effective governance • That takes into consideration issues of vulnerability and value • Adopts IWRM principles and practices • a responsive governance framework is needed Impediments to adopting and applying Effective Governance • unclear and overlapping responsibilities, • inefficient institutions, • insufficient funding, • centralized decision-making, • limited public engagement, and • and ineffective regulations and enforcement.

9. Within the overall framework of achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) for all peoples of the Arab region and neighboring countries, The ultimate aim of this science diplomacy developmental initiative is to meaningfully contribute to the establishment of a regional water status that is based on: • equitable, • efficient, and • sustainable utilization of water resources

10. The SDG Agenda provides the most appropriate context for science diplomacy Target on IWRM transboundary cooperation Target on international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water

11. With achievement of the globally endorsed SDGs providing the overall umbrella for the initiative, the suggested approach is anchored to the following major pillars: • Adopting mutual socioeconomic, environmental and cultural benefits as major entry points for science/water diplomacy in the region; • Promotion and deployment of science and technology to address the pressing water challenges; • Promotion of effective water governance to guide and control suggested interventions; and • Trust building as an indispensable prerequisite for any science diplomacy initiative.

12. Promoting concepts of “mutual benefit” programs, projects, and investments Establishment of a Project Identification Unit • Achieving the SDGs for all : The mutual benefit programme Supporting joint Research and Innovation Public Awareness Water Security for All… UNESCO as broker and facilitator Effective and efficient deployment of knowledge and science and technology Know Your Neighbor: Building Mutual Trust Cultural Communication Open Access to Data and Information Regional Disseminating of Science and Knowledge Matching capabilities as foundation for dialogue…. building capacities for all partners Promotion and capacity building for Effective water governance Promoting the Science/Decision Making Interface Joint Technical Training and capacity building

13. Achieving the SDGs for all and by all: • The mutual benefit programme • Promoting concepts of “mutual benefit” programs, projects and investments • Organizing regional/sub regional meetings for discussion and exchange of ideas of potential project and programs. • Conduction of capacity building activities for countries in the region on “mutual benefit” projects identification and management. • Organizing relevant awareness campaigns • Establishment of Project Identification Unit • Survey and identifying potential joint programmes, projects, and investments • Drafting of concept notes and presenting them to relevant countries/parties • Sponsoring joint discussions/dialogues of the suggested progammes and projects and convening relevant parties • Coordinating/leading resource and investment mobilization for mutually approved projects • Providing technical and administrative support to the implementation of approved projects

14. The main aim of this component is to promote concepts and practices of identification and implementation of socioeconomic programs of “mutual benefit” for all. • It involves identification of joint developmental socioeconomic programs and projects (involving 2 or more countries) with scientific interventions, particularly those related to water, being a major input/output. • These programs can be in the form of social, economic and or environmental nature. • The basic idea is to crystalize cooperation around real projects/activities that are of mutual direct benefit to all involved parties.

15. Know Your Neighbor… building mutual trust • Public Awareness • Organization of public awareness campaigns at the regional level- films, brochures and other media; • Building the individual and institutional capacities of main media organizations on shared waters and the cultural dimension, • Organizing of mutual visits for youth and women organizations • Cultural communication • Using/celebrating cultural and social commonalities and diversities as tools and entry points to trust building • Open Access to Data and Information • Establishment of open access portal of all available information and data; • organization of mutual visits to water facilities and installations; • Organization of mutual visits to data centers; • Exchange of academicians and professionals; • Exchange of students -including MA and PhD students)

16. Main objective: Creating an enabling environment for collaboration through building a strong foundation of trust at multiple levels • Awareness and participation have an important role to play in building confidence at multiple levels, including cultural, social, and value systems. • Awareness of the challenges facing others is a fundamental value of cooperation. • Transparency as an important element of good governance • The seriousness of efforts to launch the shared governance of environmental resources depends on the provision of data and information through open information portals

17. Effective and efficient deployment of knowledge and science and technology • Supporting Joint Research and Innovation • Establishment of a fund and mechanism for sponsoring joint water related R&D; • Building the capacity of joint task-forces and teams in the management of scientific research • Sponsoring the holding of scientific seminars to discuss outcomes of joint R&D and its application. • Regional Disseminating Science and Knowledge • Establishment of an open access portal for all available R&D; • Dissemination and publication of jointly produced knowledge; • Holding an annual exhibition of science and water knowledge products; • Establishing an annual prize for best joint technological, scientific/water Product.

18. The activities and programs of this pillar aim to promote scientific cooperation and to disseminate effective and useful scientific research aimed at tackling complex scientific and development issues, especially those affecting countries with shared water resources. The main components of the superstructure are based on • Encouraging joint research and innovation • Spreading the uses of science and knowledge

19. Matching capabilities as foundation for dialogue…. building capacities for all partners • Promotion and capacity building for Effective water governance • Building technical and administrative/managerial capacities on water governance at all levels, • Promoting the concepts and practices of effective water governance. • Promoting the Science/Decision Making Interface • Holding joint seminars between decision makers and producers of knowledge • Development and activation of mechanisms for mainstreaming knowledge production and science in development decision making, especially with respect to water. • Joint Technical Training and capacity building • Joint training and building professional capacities for technicians (water quality; shared resources management……)

20. Main objective: Strengthen institutional and individual capacities towards the effective water governance • Investing UNESCO's competencies and experiences by involving national academies of science in the process of strengthening the interface between decision-making and science as an integral element of the Water Security for All Initiative . • Establish a bi-directional dialogueto identify mechanisms that strengthens the role of evidence-based decision-making. This also applies to all activities carried out within the framework of the promotion of good and effective water governance.

21. سبعون عاما في بناء السلام في عقول الرجال والنساء في المنطقة العربية 70 Years of Building Peace in the Minds of Men and Women in the Arab Region