The current water situation in the Arab countries is alarming, with critical implications for the future of development in the region. The demand for water is increasing exponentially as a result of rapid population expansion, changing lifestyles, urbanization, and the pressures of economic growth. The high dependency of the region on transboundary waters and growing competition over water use further intensifies the water crisis. Furthermore, the repercussions of climate change, both current and projected, will exacerbate these ongoing challenges. The complex nexus between this fragile water situation, food security, and the energy sector further emphasizes the social, economic, and political implications of the water crisis in the region. This water crisis is, at its core, an issue of governance. The water sector, in many cases, is managed by fragmented government institutions, with inadequate capacities, low coordination, and overlapping responsibilities leading to the inefficient provision of potable water and sanitation services. Furthermore, in many countries, lack of government funding and low cost recovery constrains the financial sustainability of the water sector. The water security of the region requires an integrated and comprehensive approach of "effective water governance", and is necessary to ensure sustainable development in the Arab region. Identifying and adopting the principles and practices of effective water governance can guide the evolving socioeconomic needs of the people in an equitable and environmentally sound manner. Going beyond the traditional debates on availability, uses and dependency of water resources, this Report places the issue in a socioeconomic and environmental context and lays out the building blocks of good water management. These includes "cost effectiveness" analysis as a tool for weighing the options and competing interests involved in complex water decisions; setting up and enhancing environments through legislation, regulations and institutions; supporting shifts in patterns of water demands; and creating incentives for investment in more sustainable approaches. Lastly, the Arab region's current political and economic transformations present an opportunity to advance water governance reform, while effective water governance systems can in turn catalyse region-wide aspirations for overall governance and sustainable human development.
Water scarcity is one of the major challenges in the 19 countries of the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. The lack of water is affecting important irrigated areas, limiting the increase of food production needed to address the growing demand due to population growth. In most countries of the NENA region, the need to use non-conventional water resources, including brackish water, is well recognized. Brackish water is loosely defined as water that is more saline than freshwater, but less saline than seawater. It covers a large range of salinity levels, from 500 to 30 000 mg/l of total dissolved solids (TDS). Despite the presence of large amounts of brackish water and its potential for use in growing a number of crops, it is only used in limited amounts for irrigation. The successful use of brackish water for irrigation requires a basic understanding of scientific principles affecting the interactions among the climate, the applied water, the soil, the crop, and the environment. Equally important is the application of suitable technology and management practices that will facilitate the optional use of this poor-quality water. The successful use of brackish water requires a higher level of management and likely the adoption of new irrigation management practices. Because climate, water quality, soil type, and crop tolerance to salinity vary from location to location, guidelines, with some degree of site-specific flexibility, must be developed.
Water scarcity is one of the major challenges in the 19 countries of the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. The lack of water is affecting important irrigated areas, limiting the increase of food production needed to address the growing demand due to population growth. In most countries of the NENA region, the need to use non-conventional water resources, including brackish water, is well recognized. Brackish water is loosely defined as water that is more saline than freshwater, but less saline than seawater. It covers a large range of salinity levels, from 500 to 30 000 mg/l of total dissolved solids (TDS). Despite the presence of large amounts of brackish water and its potential for use in growing a number of crops, it is only used in limited amounts for irrigation. The successful use of brackish water for irrigation requires a basic understanding of scientific principles affecting the interactions among the climate, the applied water, the soil, the crop, and the environment. Equally important is the application of suitable technology and management practices that will facilitate the optional use of this poor-quality water. The successful use of brackish water requires a higher level of management and likely the adoption of new irrigation management practices. Because climate, water quality, soil type, and crop tolerance to salinity vary from location to location, guidelines, with some degree of site-specific flexibility, must be developed.
The region is characterized for its aridity and vast deserts making water to evaporate very fast while at the same time permeating into the soil rapidly before it could be properly used or contained. The sourcebook provides a comprehensive description of the existing technologies available in West Asia so that decision makers, government and non-governmental organizations can use as a reference to promote the sound planning and management of freshwater resources in this particular region.
This study uses the value chain (VC) approach as a conceptual framework which encompasses organization, coordination, power relationships and governance between institutions and actors participating in the ecosystem of date palm products and services, and consolidates the views, comments and recommendations received through a broad stakeholder consultation process that allowed participatory feedback on the major constraints at the various value chain components. A multidisciplinary study team was formed to lead the background research, consultation and analysis and reporting for this study.
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