ICARDA at the Arab Water Forum 2021

Sep 23 2021

This week ICARDA’s scientists and Director-General collaborated with other global water experts at the Arab Water Forum, the most important water-related event in the Arab region.

The Arab Water Forum (AWF) is convened by the Arab Water Council, under the patronage of The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and supported by The League of Arab States (LAS), The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Egypt (MWRI) and water authorities from 22 Arab countries. The forum provides a unique stage where global experts, government, water community leaders, and key decision-makers can debate water challenges that dry regions are facing, especially in the Arab region, one of the most water-scarce territories in the world.

The AWF is also an opportunity for expert organizations like ICARDA to identify priority areas for research and development in key water-related sectors and promote our proven, scientific innovations supporting family farmers across the region.

“The future is certainly unpredictable. But it is our role as decision-makers, experts in water-related fields, academia, and influencers to work hard to anticipate and fulfill the needs of the current and future generations.” – His Excellency Dr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, President of the Arab Water Council

Tackling Climate and Water Security Nexus – Assessment, Policy Formulation & Financing

ICARDA’s presence kicked off with Dr. Ajit Govind, ICARDA Research Scientist (Climatologist), at this early session exploring the interplay of existing risks such as climate change, population growth, and water scarcity. Discussion centered on how such risks can exacerbate regional climate and water security concerns.

Dr. Ajit also discussed our collaborations and partnerships on climate-smart innovations that adapt to the challenges and offer family farmers livelihood resilience by producing ‘more per drop’ in an increasingly water-scarce environment.

Advanced Technologies and Early Warning Systems to Improve Agricultural Water Productivity in Transboundary Water Basins

At this session, Co-Chair Dr. Chandrashekhar Biradar, ICARDA Research Team Leader GeoAgro, discussed advances and innovations in irrigation water-use efficiency and management practices at field, basin, and national levels.  Dr. Biradar highlighted why water and agricultural resources monitoring and early warning systems based on remote-sensing, modeling, and precision agriculture improve water productivity.

He also outlined the vast potential of digital tools to identify the best possible agricultural interventions, water approaches, and technology for specific dryland settings. And he explained how digital augmentation in research, driven by remote sensing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, can combine with on-the-ground citizen scientists’ data and local farming knowledge and methods to make ICARDA’s innovations far more successful and scaleable.

Water for Sustainable Development – plenary session

On the last day of the Arab Water Forum, ICARDA’s Director General and CGIAR Regional Director of CWANA (the Central and West Asia and North Africa Region, spoke at the plenary session alongside representatives of The League of Arab States, Regional and International Development & Research Organizations & Networks, and Civil Society Organizations. They debated the efforts made and required at regional and global levels to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in particular, SDG6 (Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all).

Leveraging the Untapped Potential of Food Production under Water Scarcity and Climate Change in the Arab Region

Dr. Vinay Nangia, ICARDA Research Team Leader (Soils, Waters and Agronomy), moderated this session, co-chaired by Mr. Aly Abousabaa, on the challenges and opportunities for the Arab region to deal with water scarcity, increase water productivity, and ensure food security.

Dr. Pasquale Steduto (FAO Water Expert and Advisor to ICARDA) moderated the panel discussion that followed, where Dr. Nangia, Mr. Abousabaa and international panelists tapped into the importance of adopting a multidisciplinary approach to overcoming water, food security, and climate change challenges. They highlighted the importance of integrating local communities and cultures and a full-fledged understanding of the specific challenges.  

DETAILS ON SESSIONS AND SPEAKERS

Tuesday, September 21st

Session – ‘Climate and Water Security in the Arab Region: From Words to Action”

His Excellency Dr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, President of the Arab Water Council:

H.E. Dr. Nada El-Agizy, Head of Sustainable Development & International Cooperation Department, LAS

Tackling Climate and Water Security Nexus (Regional Context: Assessment, Policy Formulation & Financing)

Dr. Ajit Govind- Research Scientist (Climatologist), ICARDA

Professor Walid A. Abderrahman, Vice President, Arab Water Council

Dr. Jean D’Cunha, Senior Global Advisor on International Migration, U.N. Women

Sujala Pant, Project Manager, SDG Climate Facility project, UNDP

Tuesday, September 21st

Session: ‘Advanced Technologies and Early Warning Systems to Improve Agricultural Water Productivity in Transboundary Water Basins’:

Chair: Dr. Khalil Ammar, Program Leader, ICBA, UAE

Mr. Rashyd Zaabool, Climate Modeling Scientist, ICBA

International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA)

International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)

International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID)

Thursday, September 23rd

Session: Leveraging the Untapped Potential of Food Production under Water Scarcity and Climate Change in the Arab Region

Charafat Afailal, former Moroccan Water Resources Minister

Essa Alhashemi, Head of the Food Security Office in the Prime Minister’s Office, Government of UAE

Felix Reinders, WASAG Chair ` Xurong Mei, Vice President, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Atsushi Tsunekawa, Professor, Tottori University, Japan

Ayman Omer, In-charge of Resilience Program, FAO-RNE

Khalil Ammar, Head of Natural Resources Management Program, ICBA

Pasquale Steduto, FAO Water Expert and Advisor to ICARDA

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)

International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)