Some of the most influential decision makers in the Arab World’s water sector, will come together in Abu Dhabi on July 11 at a high level forum to debate and develop innovative solutions to the region’s water challenges. The Forum marks the second anniversary of the Arab Water Academy which was set up in 2008 with the support of the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD).

Opening the Forum will be HE Mohammed El Bowardi, the Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Managing Director of the EAD. Attending will be Water Ministers from Iraq, Palestine, Sudan, Jordan, Lebanon and Yemen, key decision makers in water utilities, CEOs from the private sector and world leading water experts like the President of the World Water Council and the President of UNESCO-IHE Institute for water education. High level contributions will also come from associate fields such as energy, agriculture and finance.

Led by the Arab Water Academy, the Forum seeks to change the frame of the debate from talking about the problems to looking into developing and delivering the solutions to secure the water future of the Arab World. The Academy works to support leaders who can champion strategies for change, equip managers with the latest knowledge, experiences and skills, and engage the public to support change. The Forum will seek to look beyond borders to find regional solutions to the water issues and build the political momentum needed for change. The Forum will also explore how other sectors like energy and agriculture affect water issues in the region.

The Arab Water Academy (AWA) was launched in July 2008 in Abu Dhabi as a regional center of excellence for water policy deliberation and executive education in water issues. The AWA’s focus is on strengthening the knowledge and skills of Middle East and North African decision makers to address change and effectively manage the region’s water challenges. The AWA was initiated by the Arab Water Council and is hosted by the EAD and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA). It is supported by the government of Abu Dhabi, the World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank.

The Water Leader’s Forum will lay the groundwork for a secure water future in the Arab World. Results will be used in developing the capacities of new leadership; in establishing the forums where policy, politics and possibility can be discussed; where decision will be made and innovations explored. It will start to build regional solutions based on local experience and develop the road for the Arab World’s inputs to the 6th World Water Forum in March 2012.

The driest in the world, the Arab region has researched its water challenges. Water security is declining as countries are unsustainably and inefficiently using more water than is available. There are growing new complex connections between water, energy, climate change and food security. Fast growing populations, increasing affluence, economic growth and diversification place new demands on water.

Solutions mean realizing that the best engineers in the Arab World can take on the technical challenges but decision makers must find the financial, social, economic and cultural solutions. Innovation means engaging with new partners, looking at cutting edge programs and policies and understanding that polices that deal with energy, trade, agriculture, real estate and social protection might have more impact on water management than those championed by water related Ministries. Engagement means completing needed changes and overcoming political opposition to reforms.

Three distinct sessions will be held at The Water Leaders Forum.

Innovative Solutions from the Arab World: Securing Water Futures – Led by the President of the World Water Council and the Chairman of the Arab League’s Water Ministers Council, this high level panel of Ministers and decision makers from the Arab world plus global leaders will outline and discuss new solutions to water issues and bring their perspective on how the necessary political decisions will be made so that reforms take place and outline their commitment to innovation and solutions.

Agents of Change in the Arab Water Sector – How to create the learning programs so that the current and new generation of leaders in the water sector have the knowledge, skills and abilities to manage the systems and solutions that will be created and develop a forum for the policy decisions that need to be made. Led by the Director of the Arab Water Academy and the Rector of UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education this session will look at the policy discussions that need to take place and capacities that need to be built for 21st century water decisions makers.

New Horizons, New Partners, New Solutions – Hosted by HE Majid Al Mansouri, Vice-President of the Arab Water Academy and Secretary General of the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, this private leaders working lunch will look at the issues that must be answered if the Arab World wants to secure sustainable and integrated water management. What perspectives can the private sector, other countries experiences and international organizations provide; how have others used a scientific and evidence-based approach to water policies and what are the social and behavior changes needed to ensure reforms in the water sector. CEOs from the private sector in Australia and Singapore and water experts from the World Bank will outline their experience.
 

We accept Guest Posts

Download the Dubai City Guide iPhone mobile app

DubaiCityGuide.com is owned and managed by Cyber Gear