EMWIS Flash N°109, April 2013

EMWIS Flash - April 2013 Euro-Mediterranean Information System on the know-how in the Water Sector EMWIS is a program of the Union for the Mediterranean. For further information: www.emwis.net Monthly Flash produced by the EMWIS Technical Unit- OIEAU, CEDEX, SOGESID- It is available in English, French & Arabic. (French & Arabic versions are available few days later) Mediterranean Water Information Mechanism / Geo-Catalogue / UfM-Water

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In this issue N°109 (www.emwis.net/thematicdirs/eflash/flash109)
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HEADLINE
1- 5+5 Dialogue Ministerial Conference: Key role of UfM projects in reinforcing regional and sub-regional cooperation

IN BRIEF
2- Anna Lindh Forum: Actions for renewed Euro-Med Partnership

3- The Mediterranean: Tackling fresh-water shortage problems
4- Top executives from 10 Mediterranean water utilities discussing water losses reduction strategies
5- Support for Natural Capital Accounting Growing in the Middle East and North Africa
6- An EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change
7- Algeria will contribute to funding the UfM project of desalination plant in Gaza
8- Algeria: Importance of waste recycling
9- Tunisia: 25 MD to avert the shortage of drinking water
10- Tunisia: CIRAD confirms its collaboration with Iresa
11- France: Veolia & Suez form battalions for a new Marseillaise
12- France: From Millennium Development Targets to Sustainable Development Targets
13- France: Further progress in the implementation of the right to drinking water
14- French clusters very active in the field of water created a new brand "France Water Team"
15- France: The quality of rivers waters on iPhone
16- Malta: National Water Plan should be priority
17- Jordanian official confirms support for Red Sea-Dead Sea Conduit
18- Jordan: The National Agricultural Information System/Network (NAIS)
19- Jordan: Ministry can operate all water resources despite strike
20- Jordan readies its first policy on climate change
21- Nile basin: Climate Change Takes Central Focus
22- Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting in Caribbean and Mediterranean
23- Data dearth impeding fight against desertification
24- LinkSCEEM-2: A computational resource for the Eastern Mediterranean
25- Zero Waste Index proposed for improving city waste management

NOMINATIONS and VACANCIES
PUBLICATIONS  
CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
CALL FOR PAPERS
TRAINING
EVENTS
PROJECTS
BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
CONTACT US / COMMENTS

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HEADLINE
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1- On the 16^th of April, the Secretary General of the UfM took part in the 10^thMinisterial Conference of the 5+5 Dialogue that took place in Mauritania. Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, Mauritania, France, Malta, Libya, Tunis, Portugal and Deputy Ministers from Italy, Spain and Morocco took part in the Conference strengthening the cooperation in Western Mediterranean. The final declaration adopted praises the “key role of the UfM to reinforce regional and sub-regional cooperation through concrete projects”. Particularly, Ministers mentioned the relevance of the Business Forum to be organized with the Secretariat of the UfM and the UFM projects in the field of Education, particularly the project of a Euro – Mediterranean University in Fez. Ministers welcomed the “advancement of the work of the Secretariat of the UfM and the implementation this year of concrete projects of regional and sub-regional dimension in the fields of water, higher education, women entrepreneurship, employment, transport and logistics”. Ministers also stressed in the Declaration the importance of assuring the complementarity of the action of the 5+5 Dialogue and the Secretariat of the UfM. In his speech during the Ministerial Conference, the Secretary General offered the support of the UfM Secretariat to be a useful tool for the implementation of the projects decided in the 5+5 Dialogue and its readiness to assure synergies between different Mediterranean stakeholders. Further information on EMWIS website.

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IN BRIEF (Full news)
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2- The launch of an Annual Week of the Mediterranean, where voices and joint actions of citizens, parliaments, local authorities and civil society will be shared, was announced at the closing session of the Anna Lindh Forum that for the first time brought together in dialogue youth leaders, civil society, non-state actors, parliamentarians and elected officials. The Forum, held under the banner ‘Citizens for the Mediterranean’, opened a space for interaction, exchange and debate of the top issues facing the Euro-Med region today, with concrete plans for a better partnership across the region. Around 1500 citizens from 44 countries from across the Mediterranean participated in the Anna Lindh Forum, held in Marseille from 4 to 7 April. Addressing the Forum, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle underlined: “We are trying to move from rhetoric to reality, from assertion to action in a rapidly changing world. We may not have always chosen the best partners in our relations but the message to us from the people on the ground is clear: politicians make promises but it is people who make partnerships. That is why we are now putting a new emphasis on Civil Society in efforts to make our relations more inclusive.” On his part President of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue Between Cultures André Azoulay said: “The potential of the region’s abundant youthful energy and dynamism, coupled with its entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, is enormous. The very first summit of Presidents of Parliaments of the Union for the Mediterranean, held simultaneously in Marseilles, recongised the Anna Lindh Foundation as the leading Euro-Med institution for intercultural dialogue and participatory citizenship. The Anna Lindh Foundation for Inter-Cultural Dialogue promotes knowledge, mutual respect and inter-cultural dialogue between the people of the Euro-Mediterranean region, working through a network of more than 3,000 civil society organisations in 43 countries. Its budget is co-funded by the EU (€7 million) and the EU member states (€6 million). Further information on EMWIS website

3- Water is the most vital resource for human life. However, urbanisation, extensive irrigation and variations in rainfall patterns due to global climate change have led to serious water scarcity in many areas of the world. A European research project has developed a transport system consisting of water-bags and tugboats to bring fresh water to the hardest-hit coastal and island regions around the Mediterranean. Areas under increasing pressure from water scarcity, particularly in the summer months, include small cities and islands along the coasts of Spain, Greece and Italy, among others. It is estimated that 50 million European citizens – 18% of Europe’s population – living in coastal cities and island communities around the Mediterranean are affected by water-stress problems. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), 16 to 44 million additional people will suffer water scarcity in Southern Europe by 2070. The EU has taken a leading role in tackling water scarcity both on a European and global scale. The Mediterranean region is a major concern. Coastal and island communities are facing serious water shortages, made worse by the annual influx of tourists. To meet growing demand for water in this region, an innovative, flexible and affordable solution is needed to transport large quantities of fresh water from ‘water-rich’ to ‘water-poor’ areas. The EU-funded Refresh project has come up with such a solution. The research team has developed and successfully tested a flexible and cost-effective system to transport fresh water by sea using flexible plastic containers – water-bags – towed by a tugboat. In a test carried out in November 2012, the Refresh prototype water-bag was successfully towed for 16 nautical miles on a voyage back and forth through the Gulf of Souda, off the island of Crete. The test proved that both the bag and towing system could deal with the stresses and strains of a number of seaborne manoeuvres. Further information on EMWIS website.

4- Can a water utility separate real losses (leakages) from commercial losses (water utilized by customers but not billed) and for what purposes? Is the non-revenue water indicator (NRW), which measures physical losses but also commercial losses, a relevant tool for a water utility manager? These were some of the questions, which were discussed and debated at a regional workshop on reducing water losses held at the CMI in late January.  The workshop offered an opportunity to exchange about what has worked, and what has not in terms of utility performance and management and in particular, to hear about the preliminary results of five target countries of the region (Morocco, Tunisia, Malta, Albania and Cyprus) as well as other case studies from Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Italy, Portugal, and Marseille water utility (Société des Eaux de Marseille). Feedback from the workshop discussions and results of the case studies will be synthesized in a regional report and made available on the CMI website by the end of June. Looking ahead, participants including donors, water utilities and private sector representatives agreed to adopt a common framework to enable benchmarking, facilitate exchange between utilities through twinning arrangements and to prepare NRW action plans for a group of utilities that could be submitted to donors for financing. The World Bank and its CMI partners (AFD, EIB, Plan Bleu) is currently preparing a road map for a phase two program (2013-2014) based on the feedback from the utilities managers at the workshop and a regional expert task force is being set up to spearhead this effort. Further information on EMWIS website.

5- Ministers from Lebanon, Egypt and Morocco discussed ways to use Natural Capital Accounting to encourage green growth in the Middle East and North Africa. They are among the first countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to consider natural capital accounting as a means to encourage green growth, poverty reduction and job creation. These countries, along with Tunisia and Jordan, came together at a regional workshop on Natural Capital Accounting for Green Growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that was held on March 26-27, 2013 at the Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) in Marseille, France. Some of the attending countries have already initiated work on NCA (Morocco for instance on water accounts) and there is a widely shared view in the region that water scarcity and the degradation of natural capital, such as deforestation and land degradation, are hampering growth and job creation, as well as lowering welfare. The recent Med Report on Green Growth in Mediterranean countries presents a set of policies to make growth processes more resource-efficient, clean, and resilient without necessarily slowing economic activity. One of the conclusions of the Med Report is that implementing green growth policies requires adapting the tools used to monitor economic activity. While natural assets and the services they provide are fundamental to the well-being of businesses and society, they are not well represented within Governments’ economic accounting systems. The second day focused on technical applications including the methodology for natural capital accounting using the United Nation’s System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) and hands-on training sessions in environmental accounting, ecosystem valuation, and development policy. Further information on EMWIS website.

6- The Commission adopted an EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change in April 2013 (Launch event - 29 April). By complementing the activities of its Member States, the strategy supports action by promoting greater coordination and information-sharing between Member States, and by ensuring that adaptation considerations are addressed in all relevant EU policies. Adaptation strategies are needed at all levels of administration: at the local, regional, national, EU and also the international level. Due to the varying severity and nature of climate impacts between regions in Europe, most adaptation initiatives will be taken at the regional or local levels. The ability to cope and adapt also differs across populations, economic sectors and regions within Europe. The EU's role can be particularly appropriate when climate change impacts transcend borders of individual states - such as with river basins - and when impacts vary considerably across regions.  Strategy focuses on three key objectives: 1) Promoting action by Member States: The Commission will encourage all Member States to adopt comprehensive adaptation strategies (currently 15 have strategies) and will provide funding to help them build up their adaptation capacities and take action. It will also support adaptation in cities by launching a voluntary commitment based on the Covenant of Mayors initiative; 2) 'Climate-proofing' action at EU level by further promoting adaptation in key vulnerable sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and cohesion policy, ensuring that Europe's infrastructure is made more resilient, and promoting the use of insurance against natural and man-made disasters; and 3) Better informed decision-making by addressing gaps in knowledge about adaptation and further developing the European climate adaptation platform (Climate-ADAPT) as the 'one-stop shop' for adaptation information in Europe. Further information on EMWIS website.

7- The Palestinian Minister of water Dr. Shaddad Al Attili revealed last April 21 that Algeria will contribute to funding a desalination plant on the coast of the Gaza Strip. A pressing urgency given the extreme pollution of groundwater in Gaza. Long expected, the works on the desalination plant in the Gaza Strip could finally be launched. The visit of the Palestinian Minister of Water who met in Algiers his Algerian counterpart, Hocine Necib, at least gives hope. To combat the water shortage in the Gaza Strip, Algeria promises to finance up to 10% of the plant, with a total construction cost is 400 million dollars. Evidence of the long friendship between Algerians and Palestinians. "Nobody forgets that it is from Algiers that the Palestinian state was proclaimed by the late Yasser Arafat," recalled Shaddad Al Attili. "At the next summit of Arab Ministers of Water Resources, we will discuss the proposed desalination plant in Gaza with all the countries of the Arab League. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, we have also confirmed their contribution to this project, " Dr. Al Attili revealed. Algeria will also train "Palestinian experts to manage independently desalination, recovery and treatment." Further information on EMWIS website.

8- The importance of recycling has been recalled by the Secretary of State to the Algerian Minister of Planning, Environment and the city in charge for the Environment, Mrs. Dalila Boudjemaa recently in Annaba. Secretary of State urged, during an inspection visit to the wilaya the creation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) specialized in sorting, recovery and utilization of waste, considering that this activity contributing to the preservation of the environment is also a source of wealth. This approach would, she argued, "better control of waste management while promoting better living conditions." Ms. Boudjemaa recalled on the implementation, since 2005, of a national program to fight against industrial pollution targeting large companies, including El Hajar steel complex and ASMIDAL factory in the province of Annaba. Further information on EMWIS website

9- A budget of around 25 million Tunisian dinars (MTD) was mobilized to take action to avoid cuts of drinking water during the next summer, in the governorates of Sfax and Sidi Bouzid, Mohamed Ben Salem, Minister of Agriculture assured recently. This program includes a project for the construction, equipment, connection and operation of 10 new wells to increase water resources in the two governorates indicated with an estimated cost of 7.5 MD, for a total capacity of 180 litters of water per second. Further information on EMWIS website

10- A new framework agreement for scientific cooperation was signed on 22 March 2013, in Tunis, for a term of five years between Iresa (Institute of Agricultural Research and Higher Education) and CIRAD. CIRAD is a French research centre working with developing countries to tackle international agricultural and development issues. The research conducted by CIRAD in partnership with Iresa and its institutes are not recent. Both institutions had already formalized in 2009 a cooperation agreement. This new agreement will extend scientific collaboration and will clarify the statute of expatriates. Two researchers from CIRAD Water Research Unit are currently located at Iresa dependent institutions in Tunisia: Serge Marlet working in INRGREF Ariana and Julien Burte in INAT Tunis.  The thematic framework of this agreement is very large (life sciences, humanities and social sciences, applied in particular to agriculture, food and environment) and leaving the door open to new scientific collaborations. The reciprocal exchange of scientists will also be developed by promoting the participation of young researchers. Were also proposed the joint organization of workshops and seminars, participation in European and international research networks and training, and more typically, exchange facilities documents, data and scientific equipment. The water management appears in the heart of the agreement. Further information on EMWIS website.

11- The deadline has passed for private operators to submit proposals for water and sewerage service contracts in 18 districts of Marseille – worth an estimated €3 billion over a period of 15 years. Four contracts are up for grabs – one for water supply and three for sewerage services – compared to 20-30 contracts under the existing public service delegation regime. A spokesman for the Société des Eaux de Marseille (SEM), a subsidiary of Veolia, confirmed that his company had submitted bids for the new contracts. SEM is the incumbent operator of many of the current contracts, which are due to expire at the end of 2013. Lyonnaise des Eaux subsidiary SERAM, meanwhile, is one of the main operators of the sewerage contracts. A spokesperson for the Marseille Provence Metropolitan Council (MPM) said the body could not disclose any information about the candidates, as the bids are currently under review. Further information on EMWIS website

12- The French President closed the International Solidarity and Development sessions on 1 March 2013 with an explicit mention of water, alongside climate and health, as one of the action priorities to benefit from new development financing which has been or will be provided. This sector of activity, which has sometimes been neglected in recent times because of new challenges such as those associated with energy, can only be a source of satisfaction. But water is at the heart of almost all development strategies - and water shortages or poor water quality are still a brake slowing progress for many populations on our planet. The topics covered in these sessions also demonstrate that the concept of development covers many aspects and now needs to be looked at again in view of today’s challenges and the new world order. Further information on EMWIS website.

13- New legislation in France helped to introduce more diversity in water pricing rates and multiple objectives simultaneously. It is now possible to adjust the prices with household size and income, and also to introduce economic incentives to reduce water consumption. This reform should be conducted with caution because the principle of equal treatment of users prohibits excessive pricing. Moreover, it will not be possible to cut the water supply to households with accumulated unpaid water. Further information on EMWIS website

14- French clusters very active in the field of water - including the group Swelia, Ea eco-businesses, WSM (water sensors & membranes) and cluster water - decided to create a common brand France Water Team which intends to facilitate the visibility and international development of SMEs' competences in water. The launch of this brand will be detailed at the next show in Montpellier Hydrogaïa to be held by mid-June 2013. Further information on EMWIS website

15- For the first time in France, the data on the water quality of the rivers in the Rhone-Mediterranean and Corsica can be found on the ground. Created by the Water Agency "Rhône Méditerranée Corse" iPhone "Quality rivers" application allows fishermen, kayakers, hikers, vacationers knowing the health of rivers. On the other hand, the water agency "Rhone Mediterranean Corsica" has finalised its new report on the quality of streams and groundwater. Half of the rivers has a good or very good ecological status, a result still far from the goal of 66% set for 2015 (EU-WFD). Physical deformations of rivers and pollution by micro always topped the list of causes of degradation of the aquatic fauna and flora. Further information on EMWIS website.

16- Malta Water Association (MWA) has proposed objectives for the National Water Plan, which they believe should be a ‘top priority’, as they state in their 2012 document ‘Towards Integrated Water Management in Malta- Recommendations to Political Parties’. They report that 90% of Malta’s aquifers do not meet good status today and it is unlikely that any of the current water management measures will restore Malta’s groundwater to reinstate it as a major contributor of drinking water for the Islands. Proposed objectives for the National Water Plan are: to establish goals that will ensure the conservation of Malta's water resources; maximise the capture, storage and use of rainwater (and alleviate flooding); maximise the potential of treated sewage effluent; provide a water policy framework based on high quality data and analysis as a foundation for all future water planning, pricing, and public investment in the sector; ensure that all water sources are treated as a valued and scarce economic resource; replace current myths and incorrect assumptions about Malta's water supply with accurate and candid public education; improve Malta's managerial and analytical capacity for the water sector; and update the currently ambiguous and incomplete regulatory framework. Malta Water Association has embarked on a process towards the development of the Terms of Reference for such a plan, which would be forwarded to all three parties, who have confirmed their commitment to the plan. The Association hope that the National Water Plan will soon be started by the Government, charting the actions which Malta should take to ensure that water sustainability can be attained by no later than 2027, the date which coincides with Malta’s request for an extension of its obligations with respect to the Water Framework Directive. Further information on EMWIS website.

17- A Jordanian senior official affirmed that his government supports the proposed Red Sea-Dead Sea Conduit and regards it as an essential step in battling the severe water shortage in Jordan. Saad Abu Hamour - secretary general of the Jordan Valley Authority and Jordanian head of the Israel Jordan Joint Water Committee - assured participants of the Ashdod Sustainability Conference that Jordan would support the proposed conduit from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. The so-called Two Seas Canal is a joint Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian project intended to provide potable water to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority. It would also bring sea water to stabilize the Dead Sea water level. Abu Hamour's statements follow previous reports in the Jordanian press that Jordan was not committed to full implementation of the project. Jordanian officials have said recently that they are still examining the feasibility of the conduit, but Abu Hamour was unequivocal in declaring Jordanian support for the Two Seas Canal. Under the proposal, Jordan would supply water to Israel's south from its Aqaba desalination plant in return for water from the Sea of Galilee, which would be used by Jordan's main population centers. The project has been examined by the World Bank and would include water desalination for Jordanian use, with the brine being directed to the Dead Sea. Abu Hamour said the conduit would be part of a long-term solution to his country's water shortage as well as an important project for regional cooperation. The crisis in Jordan has led to water rationing, he said, with each neighborhood receiving water for only 48 consecutive hours every week. During that time, residents collect water for use during the rest of the week. The Jordanian government subsidizes water for home consumption and agriculture. Further information on EMWIS website.

18- The National Agricultural Information System/Network (NAIS) of Jordan is an integrated, bilingual (Arabic/English) institutions-based web platform for information and knowledge sharing and exchange for agricultural research and development for the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA). It is aimed at capturing and disseminating information about MOA institutes, experts and researchers working in those institutes, publications issued by those researchers, completed or currently active projects, national plans on agricultural and agricultural research in Jordan, success stories resulting from research and development, good practices to be followed and applied, news and events, extension bulletins produced for farmers, laws and agreements as information services for stakeholders, and other modules. It is a knowledge sharing and collaboration platform for the agriculture sector. NAIS was developed in partnership and collaboration with FAO within the framework of the Development of a National Agricultural Information System (NAIS) Project (TCP/JOR/3202), building on FAO tools and methodologies. NAIS is playing a significant role in disseminating the information and knowledge of MOA at institutional level. It is also playing a major role at national and regional level and this achieves a vision of MOA. The project has made some efforts to input information and extension products and research publications. However, the project still needs to make significant efforts to input further available information and extension products and research  innovation. Further information on EMWIS website.

19- After striking Water Ministry employees disrupted pumping from several water resources early April, the minister said there was enough staff to ensure a constant supply of water to subscribers. Newly appointed Water Minister Hazem Nasser said that the ministry is capable of operating its water resources across the Kingdom despite the strike. The striking employees stopped several main water resources for a brief time, the ministry's spokesperson, Omar Salameh told The Jordan Times. He said that pumping from some wells in Maan, Tafileh and Madaba, in addition to the Lajoun wells in Karak, was stopped briefly, adding that the protesters managed to stop the Khaw pumping station for a while, a main source of water for Amman and Zarqa from Al Azraq wells. The committee organising the strike has listed three main demands: raising overtime payments from 30 per cent to 50 per cent; distributing the “institution allowance”, which is equal to 30 per cent of the basic salary; and paying transportation allowance to all employees. The Cabinet declined to approve the employees' demands, issuing a statement that employees of the ministry, the Jordan Valley Authority and the Water Authority of Jordan, will continue to receive their current overtime payment of 30 per cent. Following the Cabinet's decision, the employees threatened to stop water resources starting April 1, the date by which they said the ministry promised to meet their demands. Further information on EMWIS website

20- Jordan is set to launch a national policy this month for mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change, making it the first Arab country to do so, according to its environment ministry. The policy, a strategic document, recognises that women and children are particularly affected by climate change, for example because of its impact on food prices and the spread of disease at local and household levels. The policy assesses the barriers facing climate change adaptation and sets out recommendations for national research priorities, such as water and agriculture. The Ministry of Environment has drawn up the policy in cooperation with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility, a financial mechanism for UN conventions on environment. The policy will also suggest amendments to Jordan's environmental protection laws to strengthen its compliance with three UN conventions: on biodiversity, climate change and desertification. Further information on EMWIS website

21- The nine countries sharing the Nile Basin may have specific variations in cultures, policies, and institutional frameworks, but climate change continues to be a cross-cutting factor impacting their socio-economic livelihoods – whether agriculture, energy production, mining safety, or water quantity and quality. The 2^nd High-Level Regional Policy Workshop focusing on "Adapting to Climate Change Induced Water Stress in the Nile River Basin," on 5 April 2013, in Kigali, Rwanda, aimed at validating the Climate Change Resilience Status Reports recommending keeping momentum toward adopting climate change resilient practices to reduce water stress in the Nile Basin. According to a representative from Rwanda: “Partnering with GWP Eastern Africa helps in addressing some of the gaps in adapting to climate change, policy making, decision making and to adjust existing policies.” The goal of the project is to build resilience of ecosystem and economies that are most vulnerable to climate change induced water stress in the Nile Basin Countries.  The Nile Delta Region (Egypt), the Ethiopian highlands, Mount Elgon (Kenya) and Toska Depression were some of the identified hotspot areas of climate change areas needing focused attention. Further information on EMWIS website.

22- GWP Caribbean (GWP-C) and GWP Mediterranean (GWP Med) are building awareness on the importance of water conservation by implementing rainwater harvesting techniques. With islands surrounded by salt water, the rainwater harvesting model is critical for access to fresh water in both regions. From March 4-9, 2013, GWP-C participated in a national Community Science Week in Trinidad.  Through its participation in the Science Week, GWP-C used its Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) model to engage over 1000 students; more than 50 teachers; and members of the general public in the benefits of RWH and water conservation. GWP-C gave a practical demonstration of how an actual RWH system works. Water education packages were specially prepared for teachers which contained various water conservation activities that could be used in the classroom at the primary and secondary level.  GWP-Med has released a video of the rainwater harvesting system installed in 2011 on the Greek island of Sikinos, which is a flagship application of the programme. The system collects storm water running off from the two settlements on the island through a drainage system and directs it to a 400 cubic meter reservoir. The water collected is available to all residents and is used for watering their animals, bees, and orchards, thus supporting the local economy. One year after the installation, the Mayor of Sikinos reported the significant contribution to the local water security of this small island (273 permanent residents). The RWH system and a small desalination unit put in operation last year, allowed the island to cover their water needs for the first time in many years, avoiding water transfer by tankers, which is a common, yet costly and unreliable practice for the water scarce islands. Further information on EMWIS website.

23- The lack of location-specific scientific data on the degradation of land, and the dearth of networks through which to share such data where it does exist, are hampering the fight against desertification. The absence of such data means that the global models that map land degradation and are used in policy and funding decisions misrepresent the situation in many regions, particularly in developing countries, heard the UN Convention to Combat Desertification's (UNCCD) 2nd Scientific Conference in Bonn (9-12 April). According to a participant, while this underrepresentation can be due to a dearth of data on such things as soil quality, plant cover and land use, or a lack of capacity to collect this information, often data exists but is inaccessible. For example, Morocco, Senegal and intergovernmental organisation the Sahara and Sahel Observatory have "huge" data sets. But these are not used. He believes that inadequate networks between scientists and institutions, as well as a lack of commitment by these institutions to incorporate data in their models, are to blame for this underutilisation. Further information on EMWIS website

24- The LinkSCEEM-2 project aims at the establishment of a high performance computing (HPC) eco-system in the Eastern Mediterranean region by interlinking and coordinating regional compute, storage and visualization resources to form an integrated e-infrastructure. The main project objective is to enable scientific research in the region by engaging and supporting research communities with an initial emphasis in the fields of climate research, digital cultural heritage and synchrotron applications. Over the past 2 years, LinkSCEEM partners have developed and implemented a joint call for proposal that enables regional users to apply for resources on two large regional HPC systems, at The Cyprus Institute and at Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt. This will prepare regional users to also apply to larger international Tier-0 centers once research activity has outgrown regional resources. The use of the resources offered for research projects by LinkSCEEM is entirely free of charge. Access has already been given to a total of 25 projects from Egypt, Jordan, Greece, Israel and Cyprus. LinkSCEEM-2 is engaging in two categories of research activities: cross-disciplinary, and thematic. Further information on EMWIS website.

25- A new tool to improve the measurement of waste management performance has been presented by a recent study. The researchers applied it to three high consuming cities aspiring to 'zero waste', finding San Francisco to be closer to achieving zero waste than Stockholm and Adelaide, due to its emphasis on reusing solid waste. Cities cover 2% of the world's surface, but generate 70% of the world's waste. With increasing urban populations and consumption in developing nations, levels of urban waste can be expected to continue growing. However, the zero waste concept calls for there to be 'no such thing as waste'. In this study, the concept is discussed and a method for assessing cities' zero waste performance is presented. The researchers disagree with the commonly-held belief that zero end-disposal through landfill is the same thing as zero waste, and argue that this definition does not place enough emphasis on how waste can be reused as a material resource (as opposed to being incinerated, for instance). Furthermore, they do not believe that it accounts for 'upstream' aspects of the waste hierarchy, such as minimising the need for materials through behaviour change and efficient design of products and services. Instead, they take a broader look at city resources, believing that the zero waste concept should go beyond zero landfill and aim for 'zero depletion of natural resources'. The Zero Waste Index they propose quantifies solid waste flows and measures the extent to which materials may be reused as substitutes for virgin materials. In addition to the overall percentage of material recovery and substitution, the approach calculates other 'savings' made, including energy saved, greenhouse gases avoided, and water savings (regarding the water use within material supply chains). Further information on EMWIS website

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NOMINATIONS and VACANCIES
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26- Jordan: Hazem Nasser nominated Minister of Water and Irrigation and Minister of Agriculture after a royal decree that was issued approving the new 19-member government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour. Born in 1962 in Fuheis, Hazem Nasser holds a PhD in water resources from Technical University Munich. He has served as secretary general of the Water Ministry in 1997 and 1999. He was one of the founding member of EMWIS. Nasser was minister of water and irrigation between 2001 and 2003, and minister of water and irrigation and minister of agriculture between 2003 and 2005. Nasser is recipient of the Kawkab Medal of the First Order and the Istiqlal Medal of the Second Order. Further information on EMWIS website.

26- The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has partnered with the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) to support up to ten PhD fellowships per year focused on weather, climate and water-related hazards. The WMO-TWAS agreement will be in effect for the 2014 academic year, and the application process will begin in April-May 2013. TWAS PhD programme partners exists in : Brazil, China, India, Kenya, Malaysia or Pakistan.  Further information on EMWIS website

27- Marie Curie Individual Fellowships at Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei. Internal deadline: May 17th, 2013: Candidates must be in possession of a doctoral degree or have at least 4 years of research experience (full-time equivalent) since obtaining a university degree giving access to doctoral studies. Eligible researchers can be of any nationality and must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Italy for more than 12 months since August 2010. Further information on EMWIS website.

28- Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC) Announces 2013 Scholarship Fund for Students from the Middle East and North Africa. Application Deadline is 30 June, 2013: Applicants must be nationals from a MENA country holding the equivalent of a B.Sc or M.Sc. Applicants must obtain acceptance from a relevant university to be eligible for a MEDRC scholarship. Further information on EMWIS website.

29- The School of Geography and the Environment of Oxford University is seeking to appoint a Departmental Lecturer and MSc Course Director. The closing date for all applications is 12.00 noon on 17 May 2013. Interviews to be held during the week beginning 27 May 2013. Further information on EMWIS website

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PUBLICATIONS
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30- Outcomes of the UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference: "Economic assessment of desertification, sustainable land management and resilience of arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas": The Preliminary Conference Report describes in a total of 40 sections the most prominent and important outcomes and recommendations of the UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference, held from 9 – 12 April 2013 in Bonn, Germany.  Further information on EMWIS website.

31- New guide from WBCSD highlights watershed approach to water resource management: It emphasizes the crucial role of business in ensuring responsible management of water resources and encourages greater collaboration across sectors. The report cites alarming findings from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that, under business as usual, water demand will increase by 55 percent globally by 2050, leaving little scope to meet increasing water demands while respecting the needs of ecosystems. Further information on EMWIS website.

32- Desertification crisis affecting 168 countries worldwide, study shows: Severe land degradation is now affecting 168 countries across the world, according to new research released by the UN Desertification Convention (UNCCD). Further information on EMWIS website.

33- Capacity Development on Safe Use of Wastewater in Agriculture: As global demand for water and nutrients grows wastewater is increasingly being viewed as a resource for agricultural production. WHO recently completed a series of 5 regional workshops on Safe Use of Wastewater in Agriculture with partners FAO, UNEP, UNWDPC, UNU-INWEH, IMWI and ICID. The workshops brought together multi-disciplinary groups to examine the opportunities and risks of wastewater use for the perspectives of health, agricultural productivity, environment, institutional and economic. The workshops covered 72 countries in 5 regions. Further information on EMWIS website.

34- Research and Innovation in support of the European Neighbourhood Policy: a compendium of projects in the Neighbourhood available online. The European Commission’s DG Research and Innovation has published a booklet that describes projects implemented in the framework of Seventh Framework Programme (2007–13) (FP7) in the Southern and Eastern Neighbourhood region. Most of these projects are Activities of International Cooperation, a priority of the FP7 'Capacities' programme which supports international science and technology cooperation policies and reinforces scientific relations with third countries. Further information on EMWIS website.

35- New report: "Water Governance in the 21st Century: Lessons from Water Trading in the U.S. and Australia." It focuses on regions in which sophisticated institutional frameworks have been developed that recognize water as a limited resource and an economic good, and which facilitate the re-allocation of water through market mechanisms such as water trading. Further information on EMWIS website

36- Preparing a Waste Prevention Programme: Guidance document: This handbook is designed to support EU Member States and other interested parties to take advantage of the many opportunities in waste prevention and resource efficiency. The revised Waste Framework Directive requires the Member States to create national waste prevention programmes by December 2013. Further information on EMWIS website.

37- "Institutional innovations to reduce the use of pesticides in banana plantations and protect water resources": Technical innovation is conditioned by incentives received by farmers, the impact of technological innovations on their economic situation and adaptation of information tools and training to their needs (heterogeneous).  Further information on EMWIS website.

38- France: Indicators of the National Sustainable Development Strategy - 2013 Edition: The National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) was adopted for the period 2010-2013. To facilitate monitoring of the NSDS and contribute to its wide distribution, 54 sustainable development indicators were selected as part of a consultation organized on the model of governance to five. Further information on EMWIS website (Available in French)

39- Strategic risks of quantitative water management in France and adaptation outlook by 2030: By 2030, despite the impact of climate change, France should not generally know major structural break in its balance needs / water resources. However, strong local differences are to be expected, some territories to suffer greater pressure on the resource.  Further information on EMWIS website

40- "The search for water leaks" by Alex Gaspar: It is a synthesis of more than 15 years of experience of the author, this new book presents everything you need to know in the field of diagnostic lines, deployment of sectorisations, followed by campaigns for leaks on drinking water systems. Further information on EMWIS website (Only available in French)

41- UNWais now offers information on more than 500 transboundary water projects. Further information on EMWIS website

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CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
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42- "Arid Lands Restoration and Combat of Desertification": funding for short-term scientific missions in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia from COST. The aim of a Short-Term Scientific Mission is to contribute to the scientific objectives of a COST Action. These Missions (exchange visits) are aimed at strengthening the existing networks by allowing scientists to go to an institution or laboratory in another COST Country to foster collaboration, to learn a new technique or to take measurements using instruments and/or methods not available in their own institution/laboratory. Further information on EMWIS website

43- The seventh LIFE+ call for proposals was published on 19 February, 2013, with up to €278 million available for co-financing of projects under three headings: Nature and Biodiversity (NAT); Environment Policy and Governance (ENV); and Information and Communication (INF). Project proposals should be submitted to the relevant national authority using the eProposal tool no later than 16:00 hours (Brussels time) on 25 June, 2013. Member States will forward proposals to the European Commission by 5 July, 2013. The earliest possible starting date for 2013 projects is 1 June, 2014. Further information on EMWIS website.

44- IDRC – Canadian International Food Security Research Fund: Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) are pleased to announce the 2013 Call for Concept Notes of the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF or the ‘Fund’). This 2013 call will support new research projects to improve food production and distribution, and the health and nutritional dimensions of food security in developing countries. Through this call, the Fund is looking to expand its research portfolio to other innovative research ideas and lay the groundwork for scaling-up research results and innovations – within a country, across a region, and possibly, across continents. Project budgets under this call must be in the range of CAD $1,000,000 to CAD $5,000,000. Project duration must not exceed 30 months, including all research activities and final reporting. It is anticipated that projects selected in this call will begin July 2014. Please plan activities accordingly. Call for Concept Notes Deadline: June 5, 2013 5:00pm EDT. Further information on EMWIS website.

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CALL FOR PAPERS
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45- First Call for Papers and Invitation: The International Symposium on "Emerging Pollutants in Irrigation Waters : Origins, Fate, Risks, and Mitigation, November 25-28, 2013, Tunis, Tunisia. The call for papers is now open and welcomes abstracts for oral and poster presentations. Deadlines for abstract submission is June 30th, 2013.This International Symposium is the first to be organized in Tunisia and may be in the entire Arab World, to deal with Emerging Pollutants in water resources used for irrigation, their origins, fate, potential risks and tools for mitigation. It is held in the framework of the German-Tunisian joint research project EMPOWER Tunisia. Further information on EMWIS website

46- Call for abstracts for the CMTDE 2013: The 4th Maghreb Conference on Desalination and Water Treatment to be held in Hammamet (Tunisia) from 15 to 18 December 2013. Deadline for abstracts: 30 June 2013. Further information on EMWIS website.

47- Amsterdam International Water Week (4-8 November 2013) - Call for Papers May 15th 2013: Amsterdam International Water Week (AIWW) has been initiated to devise integrated solutions to enable life in delta cities. The conference is unique because it crosses the boundaries between water management and coastal management, drinking water and agriculture, energy and water supply, as well as spatial planning and wastewater. Further information on EMWIS website

48- Call for papers for the IWA Water Loss 2014 Conference, Vienna (Austria), 30/03-02/04/2014: Deadline for Paper Submission: 31 May 2013. Water Loss 2014 is intended to present and discuss the latest developments, strategies, techniques and applications of international best practices in Non-Revenue Water Management including related to “smart” networks. Further information on EMWIS website.

49- Call for abstracts for the conference: "Numerical Modeling in Hydraulic and Environment: Issues, Uncertainties and Limitations (SimHE2013)" to be held on 7 and 8 November 2013 at EHTP in Casablanca (Morocco). 30/05/2013: Deadline for registration and notification of accepted abstracts. Further information on EMWIS website.

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TRAINING
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50- Water Security for Policy Makers and Practitioners Short Course 10–14 June 2013: The course is designed for entry and mid-level water and development policy-makers and professionals in government, donor, NGO or implementing agencies, environmental journalists, consultants and activists wishing to take their knowledge of water resources further. This course will be held at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK from the 10–14 June 2013 for a fee of £1,500 (inc. of accommodation). Further information on EMWIS website.

51- Call for applications for the 16th Edition of the International Summer School on Regulation of Local Public Services: The Summer School will take place in Torino, Italy, from the 9th to the 20th of September 2013. The School is addressed to final year undergraduate students, graduates and official of the Public Administration (municipalities, counties, regional bodies) and regulatory agencies staff who intend to study in depth some of the most relevant issues for regulation, tariff setting and management of local public services, either of environmental interest or not.  Applications are open until June the 14th through the on-line application form; 25 participants will be selected. Further information on EMWIS website.

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EVENTS (Full Agenda)
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PROJECTS (Projects database)
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WATER PROJECTS DATABASE (MEDA-NIPs, MEDA-Water, LIFE, SMAP, INCO-MED, FP4-FP7, INTERREG, etc.)

Halting Desertification in the Jucar River Basin (HALT-JÚCAR-DES). Further information on EMWIS website.

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