Advancing Water Scarcity Solutions at the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Technical Preparatory Meeting for WASAG

Stakeholders gathered at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy, for a pivotal event: the "Towards a High-Level Dialogue on the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG) - Technical Preparatory Meeting." Hosted by FAO, this two-day affair marks a crucial step in preparing for the forthcoming High-Level Dialogue on WASAG, scheduled to coincide with the World Food Forum in October 2024.

The primary objective of the meeting was clear: to enhance collaboration, mobilize commitments, and agree on operational mechanisms for WASAG to maximize its impact. Specifically, the focus was on aligning global and regional initiatives to address water scarcity effectively. The session included various presentations and discussions, with stakeholders sharing experiences, highlighting challenges, and proposing strategies for enhancing coherence between global and regional efforts.

Unveiling the challenges: Insights from the Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI)

The event included a technical session titled "Advancing Coherence between WASAG and FAO Regional Initiatives and Tools in Addressing Water Scarcity." Facilitated by FAO experts, the session aimed to foster a focused discussion among participants, emphasizing strategies to align global and regional efforts in water management.

The session kicked off with a presentation on the Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI), which emphasized the high dependency on water for agriculture production in the MENA region and the significant role of Non-conventional Water Resources (NCWR) in agriculture. Moreover, it underscored the challenges posed by ongoing land degradation and projected food insecurity in the Near East and North African (NENA) region. Attendees learned about  the current Mechanism of Action followed by the WSI that is designed to foster enhanced interaction between science and policy. 

Integrated solutions: The Inter-Regional Technical Platform on Water Scarcity (iRTP-WS)

Following the WSI presentation, attention shifted to the Inter-Regional Technical Platform on Water Scarcity (iRTP-WS). Participants delved into the necessity of integrated planning to tackle water scarcity. Emphasizing the importance of synchronizing policies, sharing knowledge, fostering partnerships, and streamlining efforts across regions, the presentation underscored the pivotal role of iRTP-WS as a catalyst for collaboration and innovation.

Key discussion points and reflections

Throughout the session, the moderator engaged the audience with probing questions, encouraging active participation. Attendees reflected on issues such as:

• Key entry points for aligning objectives, policies, and actions between global and regional initiatives in water management and adaptation
• Potential role of the Inter-Regional Technical Platform on Water Scarcity (iRTP-WS) in enhancing coordination, communication, and knowledge exchange between global and regional initiatives
• Best practices or successful approaches for capacity building, policy advocacy, and networking to enhance coherence and effectiveness of global and regional water initiatives
• Recommendations for overcoming challenges and maximizing synergies between global and regional water initiatives
• Ensuring implementation of recommendations and action points to enhance coherence between global and regional water initiatives

Towards a unified vision: Proposed actions and declarations for a commitment to sustainable water management

In the end, a proposed declaration was presented, advocating for the need to enhance  and strengthen regional engagement and influence in strategic orientation, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts in achieving sustainable water management goals

to address water scarcity challenges. The event had served as a crucial step towards realizing the vision of sustainable water management, setting the stage for meaningful dialogue and action in the months to come.