• His Royal Highness, Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, is joining global leaders and experts to promote progress on water resilience and sustainability
The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), in partnership with the World Bank Group, will hold a high-level forum to address the urgent water crisis facing the Middle East and North African (MENA) region, leading efforts to increase water availability, fosterresilience and growth through innovative water-smart solutions.
The two-day forum, ‘Water Development Financing Forum for MENA’, kicks off January 21, in Kuwait. It will explore ways to enhance water management, promote water-efficient technologies, unlock financing for essential projects, and discuss relevant policies and regulations.
MENA remains one of the most water-scarce regions globally. It has the lowest per capita water availability in the world compared to other areas. The region is facing an impending water emergency, with some populations already acutely at risk. This forum will address the challenges, and spotlight how countries in MENA and development partners could takeeffective actions through innovative technologies and finance, smart climate practices and wide-ranging reforms.
“We are heartened to see many countries coming together for the first MENA Water Forum in Kuwait,” said Ousmane Dione, World Bank Vice President for MENA. “Delivering impact at scale requires mobilizing all stakeholders. This forum offers an excellent opportunity to address how the region is tackling water challenges, including through strategic development finance and public-private partnerships.”
The forum will feature a keynote address by His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, a prominent advocate for water sustainability and regional cooperation. It will also bring together regional Water ministers, Heads of Arab Coordination Group (ACG) member institutions, WBG experts, and water sector leaders.
“Water is life; it is an existential issue for Arab countries, especially those facing growing populations, intensified climate change, and increasingly strained budgets,” said Bader AlSaad, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Arab Fund. “A Collaborative effort is needed to address this challenge. By leveraging our regional expertise and knowledge, we are well-positioned to work with global partners to mobilize resources for supporting sustainable water-smart projects.”
While facing challenges related to water availability, the region’s water consumption, particularly in agriculture, exceedssustainable levels, impacting water resources, economic productivity, and the availability of drinking water for future generations.
The forum serves as a dynamic platform for sharing knowledge, exchanging best practices, and presenting diverse perspectives tosave water and unlock investments in essential water-related projects.
