First Arab Forum on Water Scarcity | Amman, Jordan
7 - 8 Feb 2024 | ALECSO and The University of Jordan
The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALESCO) together with the School of Agriculture at the University of Jordan organized the First Arab Forum on Water Scarcity Management in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions.
Hosted by the University, the Forum addressed the topic ‘Innovation for Sustainable Water Management’, and the most pressing challenges and mechanisms presented by the scientific community, decision-makers and end users.
About the Organizers
The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) is a Tunis-based specialized institution working under the umbrella of the League of Arab States. It is essentially concerned with the development and coordination of the activities related to education, culture and sciences in the Arab World. It was established by virtue of Article 3 of the Arab Cultural Unity Charter, and was officially announced in Cairo on July 25, 1970.As stated in Article One of its Constitution, ALECSO was established with the aim of promoting Arab intellectual unity through education, culture and sciences, and enhancing the educational, cultural and scientific level in the Arab World so that it can positively contribute to universal civilization.
The University of Jordan (UJ) was founded in 1962 and has grown to become Jordan’s largest university. In fact, it is the first university in Jordan, established in the capital city of Amman by a Royal Decree in 1962. It has evolved into a comprehensive university with a second branch in the port city of Aqaba. UJ has been rated five QS Stars and it has been ranked among the best 591-600 universities in the world according to the QS World University Rankings 2023. It offers a wide range of programmes with eight international accredited schools (24 Academic programmes). The University is located in the heart of Amman and is surrounded by shopping centers, accommodation, restaurants, entertainment and public transportation links. The official currency is Jordanian Dinar. The official language is Arabic, and English is the first foreign language.
The vision of the School of Agriculture of the University of Jordan is to actively participate in securing agricultural needs, food production and environment protection and prepare students to become future leaders in agriculture and society through excellence in the services provided, modernization and continual improvement. The Faculty aims to provide quality education research and services to promote production in agricultural and food sectors through improved and advanced practices and sustained management of natural resources in an atmosphere that promotes student personality, innovation and excellence.
Background
Arab nations, through their research and academic centers, together with other countries around the world, have been aiming at openness to the regional and international environment, and within the scope of global policies and strategies for water management and conservation emanating from the Arab and international countries and as a contribution to achieving the sustainable development goals 2030 related to water, environment, climate change and energy.
The Forum
The forum aims to enhance the participation of Arab and international experiences in the field of water management under conditions of water scarcity to achieve the goals of sustainable development, more specifically Goal 6 “Clean water and sanitation” by increasing the efficiency of water use and maintaining its supply in a sustainable manner to overcome the problem of water scarcity and reduce the degree of this problem by 2030. According to World Bank reports, water scarcity affects more than 40% of the world's population, and water-related disasters account for 70% of all deaths related to natural disasters, with most countries today putting unprecedented pressure on water resources.
It is estimated that if current practices continue, the world will face a 40% shortfall between expected demand and available water supply by 2030. Furthermore, non-renewable water sources, climate change and resulting disasters (such as floods and droughts) are seen as one of the greatest threats to sustainable development. The expected frequent and successive droughts will increase water scarcity and water resources deterioration, which in turn will lead to increased competition on water. Therefore, the increased water scarcity is expected to have negative impacts on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to eliminating hunger (SDG2) and clean water and sanitation (SDG6), which in turn affects all aspects of sustainable development of cities and communities (SDG11). Water management which forms part of environmental conservation is also linked to clean energy (SDG7) and food production for zero hunger (SDG2).
To enhance water security, it has become necessary to develop innovative mechanisms and methods for managing water resources and mitigating the negative impact of climate change on water resources (climate action or SDG13), and to invest in technology and innovative applications for enhancing productivity and efficiency and preserving and protecting water resources in the Arab region, which faces accumulated challenges in the field of water as a result of population growth, migration, changing consumption patterns, regional conflicts, climate changes and water management systems.
In this context, ALESCO and The University of Jordan seek to shed light on the issue of managing water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions and its implications by presenting modern methods in monitoring and managing water and using modern technologies, artificial intelligence technology, and various applications in the field of data processing and governance. The forum will also identify information and data sources that are necessary for water management in arid and semi-arid regions, by linking the scientific community, decision makers and end users.
The Forum Goals
• Enhancing the role of scientific research and innovation in finding solutions to water issues and raising awareness in the field of water resources management, and contributing to the development of research and technology used in building capacity in the field of water by discussing modern concepts and methods in managing water scarcity,
• Enhancing cooperation between academic scientists and researchers, exchanging experiences and results of research related to water scarcity management, and contributing to the formulation of strategic policies and enhancing Arab and international cooperation in this field,
• Stimulating economic and social development through the use of modern technologies and optimal water management,
• Highlighting the scientific challenges and practical solutions adopted in the field of water scarcity and sustainable water management,
• Identifying appropriate methods for building and activating water information and data, while demonstrating the role of open data and innovation platforms in water management.
The Forum Themes
§ Theme 1: Innovation and technology to confront the challenges of water scarcity
- Smart networks and artificial intelligence for water management.
- Modern applications in processing water data and benefiting from water information databases.
- Using renewable energy and raising the efficiency of supply networks to alleviate water poverty.
§ Theme 2: Ways and mechanisms for developing and diffusing innovation for sustainable water management
- Water policies and strategies, the role of women, youth and community participation.
- Financing and innovative models for implementing water scarcity projects.
- Capacity building and institutional development to increase resilience, the role of media and public awareness.
§ Theme 3: Good governance and integrated management of water resource
- Integrated management of water resource management, and coordination of action plans for sectors related to water scarcity.
- Adapting to climate change and environmental degradation, especially in areas of water stress.
- Available information platforms and their role in managing disasters affecting the water sector.
§ Theme 4: Modern concepts in water management
- Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystem Nexus (WEFE Nexus).
- Water accounting, water auditing, the role of remote sensing and geomatics.
- Green economy, city planning, land use, and their role in water management.