Regional Workshop on National Water Information Systems (NWIS) and EMWIS Results of the feasibility study on the Water Information Systems in 10 Mediterranean Partner Countries Eng. Hala Zawati/easyinfo June 2006-Algeria

Presentation Topics Study background Study background Study background Study background Study Deliverables Study Deliverables Study Deliverables Study Deliverables Conclusions Conclusions Conclusions Recommendations Recommendations Recommendations

Overall objective To carry out feasibility studies of National Water Information Systems (NWIS) in 12 Mediterranean Countries involved in EMWIS. Objective Countries Duration Reasons NWIS definition Background

Countries included in the study Algeria Algeria Cyprus Cyprus Israel Israel Jordan Jordan Lebanon Lebanon Malta Malta Morocco Morocco Palestine Palestine Tunisia Tunisia Turkey Turkey Objective Countries Duration Reasons NWIS definition Background

Study duration  Starting date 1/4/2005  Ending date 30/1/2006 Objective Countries Duration Reasons NWIS definition Background

Reasons for conducting the study EMWIS started in 1999 with the main objective; “Facilitate access to the existing know-how in the water sector and develop the sharing of information along with preparation of common outputs and cooperation programs between the participating countries“. Success factor: is the information provided by participating countries. The input from countries is not as smooth, frequent or harmonized as required EMWIS believes it is caused by unavailability of efficient NWIS EMWIS initiated the first step (the feasibility study) for development of NWIS Motivate Countries and donor agencies to finance NWIS implementation Objective Countries Duration Reasons NWIS definition Background

A system that stores and processes information shared between the main national water stakeholders in a country. Usually a computerized system Considered as one of the main instruments of the national water policy. NWIS includes :   Institutional and legal information (agreements between stakeholders, ownership, copyright, legal data exchange, etc.)   Standardization and organizational information (formats, exchange and management procedures, etc.)   Could include quantitative information, maps, best practices, directories, water legislation information, and grey literature. Definition of NWIS Definition of NWIS Objective Countries Duration Reasons NWIS definition Background

Envisioned ideal NWIS Envisioned ideal NWIS

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Study deliverables  10 country reports  Final Report

Presentation Topics Study background Study background Study background Study background Study Deliverables Study Deliverables Study Deliverables Study Deliverables Conclusions Conclusions Conclusions Recommendations Recommendations Recommendations

Conclusions Conclusions Conclusion 1: Most of the countries visited have not developed or thought of developing a national water information system, reasons are: Lack of awareness of NWIS benefits Lack of financial resources Lack of human resources Political situation. Lack of the institutional structure and technical infrastructure to collect, store and share data Absence of a political decision Unavailability of data

Conclusions Conclusions Conclusion 2: Algeria is the only country among the countries included in this study that is developing a NWIS but has not yet institutionalized the system

Conclusions Conclusions Conclusion 3: Relationships between stakeholders within the different countries range from "very close" to "nearly non-existent"

Conclusions Conclusions Conclusion 4: EMWIS NFPs were categorized based on the level of their capabilities to coordinate and supervise the NWIS in their countries into three levels:

EMWIS NFPs assessment to coordinate and implement NWIS EMWIS NFPs assessment to coordinate and implement NWIS

Conclusions Conclusions 6 Conclusion 6: The types of information that were most commonly found in all countries are; quantitative data, maps, and grey literature.

Conclusions Conclusions Conclusion 7:, common problems are: All countries are facing problems in exchanging water information, common problems are:

Conclusions Conclusions Conclusion 8: Two distinct phases in NWIS development were defined; the Pre-NWIS development phase and the NWIS development phase. NWIS pre-development phase: Survey of all water data sources.Survey of all water data sources. Monitoring of Water resources.Monitoring of Water resources. Development of Standard Operating Procedures for monitoring and data collection.Development of Standard Operating Procedures for monitoring and data collection. Usage of computers and availability of network infrastructure.Usage of computers and availability of network infrastructure. Having qualified IT staff.Having qualified IT staff. Institutionalization of monitoring by having a specialized data collection and monitoring department.Institutionalization of monitoring by having a specialized data collection and monitoring department. Internet connection availability.Internet connection availability. Web sites available for some or all stakeholders.Web sites available for some or all stakeholders. NWIS development phase : Conduct awareness campaign.Conduct awareness campaign. Obtain political decision to implement NWISObtain political decision to implement NWIS Establish a coordination committeeEstablish a coordination committee Overall NWIS Concept.Overall NWIS Concept. Select host/ coordinator.Select host/ coordinator. IT staff Capacity Building.IT staff Capacity Building. Data Classification/sharing policy.Data Classification/sharing policy. Data Collection Roles & Responsibilities.Data Collection Roles & Responsibilities. Secure Funds.Secure Funds. Feasibility Study & Design.Feasibility Study & Design. Detailed Technical Design Study.Detailed Technical Design Study. Write the TOR.Write the TOR. Develop NWIS.Develop NWIS. Validation and testingValidation and testing Institutionalization & implementation.Institutionalization & implementation. Phase 1Phase 2 Ready for phase 2

Conclusions Conclusions Conclusion 9: Countries readiness for NWIS was assessed and accordingly countries were divided according to their readiness to implement NWIS into four groups Group1: Most advanced NWIS-Ready Group2: Medium High NWIS-Ready Group3: Medium Low NWIS-Ready Group4: Still-to-be Developed NWIS

Conclusions Conclusions Conclusion 10: Launching of awareness raising campaigns in the countries under investigation is of crucial importance in order to convince their high-level decision makers of the benefits of NWIS

Conclusions Conclusions Conclusion 11: Main reasons (obstacles) behind the sometimes unreliability and intermittent provision of information to EMWIS by the countries visited can be attributed to one or more of the following: Most req. info. by EMWIS are either not readily available or need time to transfer them into digital format. Unsatisfactory relationships between stakeholders Overloaded staff Lack of WIS within countries Confidentiality of data and the political situation

Conclusions Conclusions Conclusion 12: Wherever regulations for data exchange and information provisions existed, the flow of data and response of stakeholders were much smoother and timely.

Conclusions Conclusions Conclusion 13: All the countries need assistance regarding the development of NWIS but with varying degrees.

Action opportunities for EMWIS and Donor agencies Conclusion 14: Action opportunities for EMWIS and Donor agencies

Presentation Topics Study background Study background Study background Study background Study Deliverables Study Deliverables Study Deliverables Study Deliverables Conclusions Conclusions Conclusions Recommendations Recommendations Recommendations

Recommendations to EMWIS More involvement of Stakeholders in EMWIS activities Info required by EMWIS should be classified into two categories During NWIS implementation in countries, EMWIS can subcontracts a third party to help countries prepare information for countries EMWIS site. Group meeting in Algeria around mid Subsidize Internet connections where required NWIS development can follow 3 scenarios: 1. Develop NWIS individually per country. 2. Develop one NWIS system for all countries 3. If Algeria is willing to share their source code, use it for all countries

Recommended immediate actions to EMWIS Follow up with Algeria to launch NWIS Start awareness raising campaigns Help Morocco transfer their WIS to NWIS. Help enhance Palestine and Lebanon’s readiness to NWIS level

Road Map for EMWIS to Aid in NWIS Development should take into account : -Minimizing and eliminating obstacles and problems -Capitalizing and making use of in-country on going opportunities -Carefully identifying and containing the threats to the development of NWIS -Recognizing and rectifying the weak points (gaps) Recommendations for NWIS development /enhancement

Road Map for EMWIS to Aid in NWIS Development

Cont. Road Map for EMWIS to Aid in NWIS Development

Cost estimate for developing NWIS in each country Cost estimate for developing NWIS in each country

Results of the feasibility study on the Water Information Systems in 10 Mediterranean Partner Countries