OBJECTIVES

The Water, Growth and Stability Initiative

PIllarS

The Water, Growth and Stability Initiative (WGSIni)

is a framework for the creation of a knowledge-based

platform; a dynamic network of water experts; and

an e-learning tool for capacity building and the

dissemination of lessons learned.

The initiative was launched in April 2016 as an output

of the multi-stakeholder conference “Water, Growth

and Stability: Transboundary Water Cooperation for

Sustainable Growth and Stability in the Middle East

and North Africa (MENA)”, which was organised in the

framework of the project “Sustainable Use of

Transboundary Water Resources and Water Security

Management in the MENA region” (WATER SUM).

The WGSIni pillarsThe initiative is based on three pillars that recognise the strategic import-ance of water: water for sustainable development: water for growth andstability; and good governance for water.

Water for sustainable development

The strategic importance of water is illustrated by the fact that one of the17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is devoted specifically towater: Goal 6 is to ensure the “availability and sustainable managementof water and sanitation for all”. In fact, water is a key aspect of many of theSDGs (goals 1, 3, 4, 11, 12, 14 and 15 have an explicit reference to water;while goals 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13 have an implicit reference to water), sinceit forms the basis of life on earth, is vital for socioeconomic developmentand is essential for biodiversity. Water was recognised as a fundamentalhuman right by the UN General Assembly in July 2010 (A-RES-64-292); bythe Human Rights Council in September 2010 (HRC Resolution 15-9); bythe Arab Charter on Human Rights (which entered into force on March 15,2008); and by the constitutions of a number of Arab states (Morocco in2011, Tunisia and Egypt in 2014). This legal recognition guarantees the rightof all people to equitable access to safe water as a basic human require-ment, while also enhancing public participation in water management.

Water for growth and stability

Sustainable water management is a key driver of economic activity,poverty alleviation and health, and a prerequisite for growth and stability.Poor water management, lack of good water governance and limitedawareness contribute to water supply vulnerability and water pollutionand are a source of conflicts that constrain growth and threaten both security and the water–energy–food–climate nexus.

Good governance for water

Good water governance should ensure a mix of policies, principles andtools such as water diplomacy; regional, transboundary and cross-bordercooperation; integrated river basin planning and management; climateadaptation; public participation; accountability; transparency; subsidiarity;and appropriate decentralisation.

2 3

WGSIni

TOP LEFT: Participants at the first WGSIni conference. Zsolt Bauer

STrucTureObjecTIveS

ObjectivesThe main objectives of the WGSIni are to:

● support the MENA region and its water stakeholders in advancingwater management at national and local level, while also shoring upregional cooperation and engagement and identifying viable toolsand solutions;

● stimulate the more sustainable use of the region’s water resources,stronger cooperation between pivotal actors, and a long-term approach to climate change adaptation;

● promote a comprehensive and integrated approach to water securityand ecosystem services and raise awareness of the increasingly interrelated nature of our global resource systems and their impacton water sustainability;

● develop a framework programme within the WGSIni, in line with the priorities of countries in the MENA region; and

● mobilise additional resources and partners to expand the establishedframework steered by the MENA region, and identify synergies withother on-going programmes and initiatives.

StructureThe WGSIni is supported and managed by the Regional EnvironmentalCenter (REC) in cooperation with strategic partners. The work of the initiative is structured by its High-Level Panel and five forums (AcademicForum, Business Forum, Civil Society Forum, Municipality Forum andWomen’s Forum).

High-Level Panel

Good governance structures, policies and strategies, as well as watermanagement technical propositions, not only need consensus at the levelof technical expertise, but also have to be supported at the political level.

The objectives of the High-Level Panel are to transfer expert knowledgeon the three pillars of the initiative to central government bodies; and tohighlight the interactions between good water governance and growthin order to galvanise political will and leadership for the implementationof water governance and management tools and processes that willcontribute to the achievement of the SDGs.

Academic Forum

The academic sector contributes significantly to the production of soundexpert, technical and scientific knowledge. This knowledge is essentialfor building governance systems for water, drafting policies and strate-gies to promote the sustainable use of water resources, and developingtools and processes for water resources management.

The Academic Forum will bring together academics and experts to pro-vide inputs to the WGSIni network under the three thematic pillars, andto contribute to the development of tools and methods.

The forum comprises members of national and regional research andknowledge-based organisations and universities in the MENA region thatare working in areas related to the three thematic pillars of the initiative.Members of such organisations in the international community with aninterest in the MENA region are also welcome to participate in this forum.

4 5

LEFT: The Medjerda/Cap Bon Canal, Tunisia. Sonia Driss

STrucTureSTrucTure

Business Forum

The business sector is a key driver of water consumption and directlyaffects water demand, supply and quality. It also plays an important rolein the interactions between water and growth.

The Business Forum aims to give expression to the business perspectiveand to motivate the sector to be involved in water governance and in theachievement of the water-related SDGs.

Civil Society Forum

There is increasing recognition that the active involvement of civil societyand water users is a prerequisite for integrated water resources man-agement (IWRM), water security, effective water policies and soundpractice. Empowerment, participatory planning, and the social organisa-tion of direct water users is a fundamental element of the local water security approach, which takes into consideration not only water resources as such, but also how water flow and water use determine thehealth of the broader ecosystems of which they are part.

The Civil Society Forum comprises civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations, including water user associations, riverbasin organisations, farmers’ organisations and media working at a grass-roots level.

Municipality Forum

Although reforms aimed at decentralisation have been initiated in anumber of countries — especially in North Africa — the MENA region isstill characterised by a high level of centralisation. Local governmentsmanage and implement central government programmes rather thantheir own, and are subject to the control of central government. In themajority of MENA countries, municipal, provincial and regional institutionsare, at the same time, decentralised local authorities and de-concen-trated administrative units. However, there is widespread recognitionthroughout the region that local governments need to become moretransparent and accountable to local citizens.

6 7

TOP: First WGSIni conference in Szentendre, Hungary. Zsolt Bauer

CENTRE: On-the-job tranining for municipalities in Jordan. Radoje Lausevic

BOTTOM: MENA World Water Cafe, World Water Week 2015. WATER SUM team

STrucTureSTrucTure

There is also widespread agreement that models of good governanceand IWRM require a decentralised and multi-stakeholder approach thatincludes municipalities.

The objectives of the Municipality Forum are to foster the exchange ofknowledge among municipalities concerning their role in the three pillarsof the initiative; and to inspire municipalities to be involved in water man-agement, water governance and the implementation of the water-related SDGs.

Women’s Forum

According to the Dublin Statement on Water and Sustainable Develop-ment, “Women play a central part in the provision, management andsafeguarding of water.” This role has been confirmed in several interna-tional conferences and declarations.

In the last two decades, civil society organisations in the MENA region,including women’s organisations, have been actively involved in watermanagement as a key element of IWRM, water security, effective poli-cies and successful practice.

The goal of the Women’s Forum is to provide an opportunity for womento express their views in relation to the three pillars of the initiative. The WGSIni will encourage women experts to become active leaders in water management and governance and in the implementation of thewater-related SDGs.

National and regional women’s organisations and assocations are invitedto participate in the forum, as are international organisations interestedin exploring the role of women in the water sector in the MENA region.

8 9

TOP: Women spend their day at the water spring,

washing clothes and carrying water, Tunisia. Zouhayer Ahmadi

BOTTOM: Fishing boat made from recovered materials, Tunisia. Arafet Ben Marzou

MIleSTONeSMIleSTONeS

launch of the WGSIni

April 2016

The WGSIni was launched at the firstWGS conference, april 26–28, 2016,as an output of the WaTer SuMproject.

July 2016Second WGSIni

conference,Tunisia

World Water Week(WWW2016)

Focus Day, Stockholm, Sweden

August 2016

The WGSIni will contribute to MeNa Focus Day duringWWW2016 by exploring solutions to the water crisisin the MeNa region, promoting water governance forsustainable growth, raising awareness of the SDGsthrough the arab MDG+ Initiative, and organisingWorld café 2016. (www.worldwaterweek.org)

The second WGS conference is plannedfor july 11–14, 2016, in Tunisia. ThreeWGSIni forums will be launched during the conference: the Municipality Forum,the civil Society Forum, and the Women’s Forum.

November 2016budapest Water Summit

(bWS2016)

The WGSIni will contribute to bWS2016,November 28–30, 2016, with a specialfocus on the MeNa region, at the civilSociety Forum and via other channels.(www.budapestwatersummit.hu)

The third WGS conference is plannedfor april 17–20, 2017, in jordan. Theconference will showcase the results ofthe WaTer SuM project and pave theway for a long-term frameworkprogramme for the MeNa region.

Selected members of the High-level Panel will participateat the meeting of the rec’s General assembly to discussregional cooperation and engagement and identify viabletools and solutions for identified environmental problems.This will be a great opportunity for networking withrepresentatives of the rec’s core geographical area:central, eastern and South eastern europe and Turkey.

April 2017Third WGSIni

conference, jordan

MeNa Dialogue rec General assembly,

Hungary

December 2016

10 11

OBJECTIVES

CONTACTS

Radoje Lausevic ● Project Director ● rlausevic@rec.org

Ana Popovic ● Project Manager ● apopovic@rec.org

Jovanka Ignjatovic ● Project Manager ● jignjatovic@rec.org

Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC)Ady Endre ut 9–11 ● 2000 Szentendre ● Hungary

Tel: +36 26 504 000 ● Fax: +36 26 311 294

The REC is an international organisation with a mission to assist in addressingenvironmental issues. The REC fulfils this mission by promoting cooperationamong governments, non-governmental organisations, businesses and otherenvironmental stakeholders, and by supporting the free exchange of informationand public participation in environmental decision making.

The WATER SUM project is financed by the Government of Sweden and implementedby the Regional Environmental Center (REC). The REC is implementing the project withthe support of the Regional Office for West Asia of the International Union forConservation of Nature (IUCN ROWA).

FRONT COVER: The Dead Sea area, Jordan. Mohammad Aljaradin

PAGE 11 TOP RIGHT: Wadi Mujib and Mujib Dam, Jordan. Valerio Ponzo

Follow #wgsini

wgsini.rec.org