1. FAO's Regional Initiative on Water Scarcity in the Near East:
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June Cairo, Egypt
FAO's Regional Initiative on
Water Scarcity in the Near East:
Overview
Mohamed Bazza, PhD
Senior Officer, FAO

2. Background Prior to 2012 As of January 2012
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June Cairo, Egypt
Background
Prior to 2012
FAO’s Work Plan Strategic Objectives
Approach to planning : Strategic Framework reviewed, Medium Term Plan prepared every 4 years
As of January 2012
- New Management
- Launch of a “Strategic Thinking Process” for preparation of MTP for
Results: 1. Reviewed Strategic Framework Outline
2. Five Strategic Objectives for MTP ,
potential main priorities of emphasis of FAO’s work

3. Strategic Framework SO1 SO2 SO3 SO4 SO5
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June Cairo, Egypt
Strategic Framework
Contribute to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition
Increase and improve provision of goods and services from agriculture, forestry and fisheries in a sustainable manner
Reduce rural poverty
Enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems at local, national and international levels
Increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises
SO1
SO2
SO3
SO4
SO5
slide 6

4. Background As of January 2012 - New Management
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June Cairo, Egypt
Background
As of January 2012
- New Management
- Launch of a “Strategic Thinking Process” for preparation of MTP for
ResultS: 1. Reviewed Strategic Framework Outline
2. Five Strategic Objectives for MTP
3. Six Regional Initiatives to pilot implementation of SOs in 2013
SO2
Latin America
Europe
Africa
Asia
Near East
Water Scarcity

5. Water Scarcity Initiative
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June Cairo, Egypt
Water Scarcity Initiative
Why Water Scarcity
Among top priorities in “FAO’s Regional Priority Framework for Near East” (2010 and 2012)
approaches water resource management within the context of agriculture and food security since almost 90% of water use allocated to agriculture and food security is both another regional priority and FAO’s concern
Innovations, Principles
Focus on regional priorities
Integration, multi-disciplinary approach
Joint work by Decentralized Offices and HQ
enhanced collaboration between countries
Partnership

6. Water Scarcity Initiative
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June Cairo, Egypt
Water Scarcity Initiative
Project development
1. Facts
Near East region is water-scarce and net food importer as a result
Countries have over past years made important economic development efforts and investment in water resources, albeit with differences
Region has acquired good experience in water management; and is slightly ahead of other similar regions in terms of agriculture water management indicators
HOWEVER, current levels of performance and food insecurity gap reduction are still well below potential and do not reflect acuity of water scarcity which is higher than in other regions
The approaches to improve water management applied over the past years have reached their limits and become too redundant
2. Resources and timeframe
Human resources
One Million US Dollars
One year

7. Water Scarcity Initiative
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June Cairo, Egypt
Water Scarcity Initiative
Project Development
3. Project Scope
How best to benefit the region, building on the experiences and knowledge of countries, FAO and other partners active in the field of agriculture water in the region, in order to identify gaps and highlight priority areas for action to improve Agriculture water productivity in a sustainable manner, and thus reduce the food deficit gap?
Rather than continuing business as usual, there is a need to inject fresh thinking into the process of finding sustainable solutions to water scarcity and food security problems through facilitating the implementation of cost-effective water investments and management practices
4. Beneficiaries
Members Countries of FAO Near East Region: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
5. Partners
Multiple partners on national, regional and international levels, e.g. ICARDA, IFAD, IDRC, GIZ, World Bank, African Development Bank, AWC, etc.

8. Objective and Outcomes
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June Cairo, Egypt
Objective and Outcomes
Overall Objectives
support Member Countries in identifying priority areas of action in agriculture water management that can significantly contribute to boosting agriculture productivity, improving food security and sustaining water resources
highlight the specific areas that require support of partners active in the field of agriculture water in the region
build partnerships to move the process forward.

9. Objective and Outcomes
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June Cairo, Egypt
Objective and Outcomes
Outcome I
A regional collaborative strategy on sustainable agriculture water management for increasing the level of food security in the Near East Region endorsed by Member Countries
build on past experience and knowledge to identify critical gaps and most efficient means to sustainably increase food production and improve food security in the face of water scarcity
help countries identify priority areas for action and remove identified gaps/constraints
Highlight areas requiring technical support by partners and facilitate development of collaborative partnerships for the provision of such support
also include baseline and indicators for implementation, starting in 2014
Elaboration driven by countries, in close collaboration with FAO and partners, through consultative process involving relevant stakeholders within countries
Draft Strategy presented at a regional meeting of senior decision-makers from member countries and partners for review and endorsement. Final version presented to the 32nd FAO Regional Conference for the Near East in February 2014 for endorsement.

10. Objective and Outcomes
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June Cairo, Egypt
Objective and Outcomes
Outcome I
Regional Collaborative Strategy
Outputs
I.1.Knowledge gap Analysis
I.2. Food Supply Options Analysis
I.3. Nat. Water Audits
Assessment of experiences, policies, practices and measures to cope with water scarcity with regard to effectiveness, highlighting successes and failures and the reasons of both
Assessment of the available food supply options in terms of effectiveness, cost as well as technical, social and environmental feasibility
Based on food supply enhancement options identified under I.2, national data and statistics, accounts of water supply & demand as well as institutional, social, environmental and financial dimensions of water management

11. Objective and Outcomes
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June Cairo, Egypt
Objective and Outcomes
Outcome II
A Regional partnership to support countries in the implementation of the regional collaborative strategy
Establish Regional Partnership composed of representatives of Member Countries and broad range of partners including donors, support providers and other stakeholders
Partners will be key players in the consultative process to elaborate the Strategy and in its subsequent implementation
Strategy will also be shared with other stakeholders and potential partners active in the field of water resources in the region, in order to facilitate coordination and identify additional synergies

12. Objective and Outcomes
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June Cairo, Egypt
Objective and Outcomes
Outcome II
Regional Partnership
Output
Collaboration agreement on implementation
Partners elaborating the Strategy will enter into an agreement to be officially announced in regional meeting.
Final Strategy will bear the logos and names of collaborating partners

13. Implementation Approach
Near East Water Scarcity Initiative - Launching Workshop, June Cairo, Egypt
Implementation Approach
Preparatory Phase
FAO Multi-disciplinary team (DOs, HQ)
Consultations with countries and potential partners
Partnership building
Multi-stakeholders team in pilot countries
Launching workshop
Assessment in Pilot Countries
Gap Analysis (desk study and in-country)
Food Supply Cost curve Analysis
National Water Audits
in-Country workshops
Land and Water Days (lessons from Land and Water Projects)
Data collection from non-pilot countries
Regional Collaborative Strategy
Elaboration
Discussion at regional level
Endorsement by FAO Regional Conference

14. Thank you