A Word from the Wise: Enhancing water scarcity management with increased regional integration and cooperation

A side event during Cairo Water Week 2022

Wednesday 19th October , 9:30 – 11:00

Water scarcity management is increasingly a priority for governments in both the Asia-Pacific Region and the Near East and Northern Africa (NENA) Region. Demand for water is increasing rapidly, which is driven by population and economic growth, and associated trends in urbanization, industrialization, and diet preferences. Climate change and the rise of water-related hazards, such as severe droughts, is exacerbating existing challenges. 

These circumstances place compounding stressors on available water resources in both regions in terms of quantity and quality, as demand for water increases and competition for resources intensifies. Improvements in hydrological data, government and institutional capacity, education, risk assessment, and information sharing are areas that need further development to achieve progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that target water security, food security and poverty eradication. There is also an urgent need for better integration of national and regional climate strategies and water management policies 

The objective of the session is to discuss areas of integration and cross-regional learning between the Asia-Pacific and NENA regions. It will also highlight key examples of experiences, success and challenges of the WSI in an effort to enhance and improve the WSP, while also seeking to achieve the following goals:

1. Share best practices and key lessons from Australia’s water reform journey which can contribute to addressing water scarcity across the regions;
2. Establish new professional partnerships between practitioners and stakeholders in both regions;
3. Facilitate the exchange of new knowledge and lessons between practitioners and stakeholders in both regions;
4. Discuss ways in which future interaction between the two regions can be systematized