28-31/10/2014
Athens
Greece
Ecopeace Middle East representative attended a “1st Regional Conference of the Union for the Mediterranean (UFM) labeled project Governance & Financing for the Mediterranean Water Sector & Training on risk and insurance in PPPs for water infrastructure in Athens, Greece.
The conference, held in close collaboration with the EU funded Sustainable Water Integrated Management- Support Mechanism (SWIM-SM), aimed at reinforcing the regional dialogue, set off during the Launching of the UFM project in May 2013, and the sharing of experiences on the water governance and sustainable financing nexus by bringing together targeted Mediterranean stakeholders from within and outside the water sector, including public authorities, civil society and the private sector.
The conference took stock of the outcomes from the water Policy Dialogues conducted in Jordan and Tunisia during the first year of the UFM projects implementation (2013-2014) and discussed the way forward for the second year.
EcoPeace Middle East presented about cross cutting themes and stakeholder engagement, reflecting on the work the organization has been doing regarding equity, poverty, rights and the environment and focused on the importance of ensuring stakeholder engagement -and civil society in particular- in policy processes. Most notably, the organizations work in the region regarding its role in preserving the shared water resources that promote cooperation and joint management of the regions limited water resources was brought to the forefront in this regional gathering.
It is worth mentioning that EcoPeace Middle introduced a regional master plan funded by the European Union for the rehabilitation of the Lower Jordan River intended to improve the living conditions of the Jordan Valley inhabitants whether environmental or economic. The master plan incorporates national master plans into a single cohesive trans- boundary master plan that could be advanced in full or in part by decision makers both unilaterally at the national level, and at the regional level.
The required interventions will be presented in an international conference on Sustainable Development in the Jordan Valley in November, to be used by the consortium partners as an advocacy tool with national and international stakeholders, for the purpose of increasing the political will for the adaptation in full or in part of the study’s recommendations by national authorities in the region.
The Master Plan is built on the organizations vision of a rehabilitated river, managed jointly, shared equitably and accessible to all. The Interventions identified relate to agricultural improvement, Water management, pollution control, policy and legislative improvement, tourism and cultural Heritage, Urban and infrastructure development, and finally, international cooperation.
For more information about the Master Plan, Click here
For an overview presentation about the regional Master Plan, Click here
This post is contributed by EcoPeace Middle East Media Officer/ Projects Coordinator at the Amman Office.