1. WMO Blue Peace - Water Security in the Middle East: Strategic Management of Hydrological and Meteorological Data and Information Product Generation Al-Hamndou Dorsouma, Senior Programme Manager, WMO Resource Mobilization Office Project Inception Workshop, Geneva, 24-25 January 2013 WMO; RMO

2. Background  Middle East is one of the driest regions in the world: arid to semi-arid climate, less than 100 mm of rainfall p.a.  Limited water resources, low per capita share of water, and weak management of available water resources are threatening sustainable development in vital sectors.  IPCC reports:  20% precipitation decrease over the next century  Likely increase in the frequency and severity of droughts  Reduction in groundwater recharge rates.  Over 60% of the region's water supply flows across international borders, underlining the need for regional cooperation  A High Level Group on regional water cooperation in the Middle East was launched in April 2012

3. WMO Problems to be addressed  Data Management Issues:  High cost of in-situ data collection and analysis  Lack of data management systems and standardized methods/protocols for data collection, management and validation across the region  Limited use of reliable local and regional water information systems  Leveraging Innovation  Declining hydro-meteorological monitoring network  Limited use of remote sensing techniques to monitor hydrological extremes (floods and droughts), water quality, and to support hydrological models.  Need for improved frameworks to assimilate or integrate remote sensing data into hydrological modeling systems

4. Problems to be addressed (Cont’d)  Traditional In-situ Methods of Observation and New Technologies  Need for sufficient in-situ measurements against which remote sensing algorithms can be validated and improved  Need for continued education and training on new data sources, such as satellite remote sensing and radar, …  Need to balance traditional in-situ hydro-meteorological systems and latest technical innovations from remote sensing and Earth observations

5. Project Goal  Strengthen the delivery of weather, water, and climate services in Middle East countries, to support economic development and disaster risk management  Help key national stakeholders to develop an action plan to improve hydro meteorological standards, processes and capacities, both in-situ and through innovative technologies

6. Specific objectives  Develop a methodology for comparative analysis and harmonization of national protocols, guidelines and practical measures to standardize hydro-meteorological measurements of water quantity and quality in accordance with WMO standards  Develop a regional Memorandum of Understanding between NMHSs to reinforce the interoperability of information systems, and establish a platform/database for consolidation and sharing of water related data  Recommend a prioritized plan of improvement of data delivery to national users, to be financed under subsequent phases together with countries and development partners.

7. Project Outputs  Outputs of the First Phase (2012-2013):  OUTPUT 1: Needs Assessment on Jordan and Lebanon, to form a baseline, identify end user needs and regional coordination issues  OUTPUT 2: Inception meeting  OUTPUT 3: Draft prioritized plan of improvement of data delivery to national users.  OUTPUT 4: Regional Stakeholder Workshop to agree on the prioritized plan.  OUTPUT 5: Initiate priority pilot project (s) based on the needs assessments, included in the prioritized plan and as agreed at the regional workshop.

8. Deliverables  Deliverable 1: Assessment report on Lebanon  Deliverable 2: Assessment report on Jordan  Deliverable 3: Draft project proposal on enhancing the capacity to provide hydro meteorological services  Deliverable 4: Regional Agreement on regional information systems, and regional platform/database  Deliverable 5: Final Report outlining main priorities for developing modern services for weather, climate and hydrology in the Middle East

9. Programme of activities

10. Project management  Steering Committee and Technical Coordination: High Level Group will act as a steering committee Regional technical Secretariat under RSS will coordinate the pilot projects to be designed  WMO will be responsible for Outputs 1, 2 and 3  RSS will be responsible for Outputs 2 and 4  Responsibilities for Output 5 will be defined at the Stakeholder Workshop, depending on the nature and scope of the selected pilot project(s)  Swiss Actors

11. Partnerships/coordination  Global Environment Facility (GEF) / World Bank project recently approved (mid-2011) to improve water resources and agricultural management and planning in Middle East (including Lebanon and Jordan) based on quantitative and spatial-based decision making tools  United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR): collaboration on shared water resources and integrated management and protection of water resources  EXACT (with Israel, Palestine, Jordan): technical cooperation through global agencies such as WMO to ensure consistency and compatibility for procedures and standards.

12. Project Budget OutputBudget Output 149,000 Output 235,000 Output 353,000 Output 450,000 Contingency (5%)9,350 Total Activities196,350 Subtotal255,25.5 WMO Support cost 13%25525.5 Total221,875.5

13. Conclusion  This project will help develop a comprehensive regional approach to improve hydro meteorological standards, processes and capacities in the Middle East  Phase 1 is to be completed before the end 2013. Next step (Phase 2) depends on the outcomes from Phase 1 and pending resource availability  WMO is commited to work with countries, RSS, the Middle East region, SDC and other partners to ensure success of the project and plan for subsequent phases  Coordination and regional cooperation are key for the success of this initiative.

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