The Mediterranean Water Knowledge Platform facilitated the sharing of water-related information among key stakeholders in the Mediterranean. It was first implemented in six pilot countries: Jordan, Lebanon, Monaco, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia (2014-2016).
The Mediterranean Water Knowledge Platform project improved dialogue and made information more easily available to involved stakeholders. Furthermore, the data infrastructure provided by the project (National Water Information Systems – NWIS) is likely to generate additional services and thus contribute to sustainable growth in Mediterranean countries and promote investment in the region.
Overall, the Mediterranean Water Knowledge Platform project contributed to the development of sustainable policies for integrated water resource management (IWRM) and climate change. This was partly achieved through the production of a Mediterranean White Paper on Water, as well as the development of national information systems.
The objectives of the project align with regional policy frameworks, such as the 5+5 Western Mediterranean Water Strategy and the Monitoring Component of H2020. The project responds directly to the recommendations of the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Water (22 December 2008, Jordan) ‘to prepare a comprehensive and detailed assessment of water resources in the Mediterranean and of management policies, based on homogeneous and coherent information.’
Location
Financial contribution
34% of the budget provided by promoters.
Promoter
This project is promoted by the International Office for Water (IOW), a not-for-profit organisation which aims to bring together public and private partners involved in water resource management and protection across the world.
It’s also promoted by the Institut Méditerranéen de l’Eau, an international non-governmental organisation comprising various stakeholders in water working to develop multilateral cooperation in order to meet the challenges and priorities of the region.
Key partners
- Jordan: Ministry of Water and Irrigation
- Lebanon: Ministry of Energy and Water
- Monaco: Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
- Morocco: Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment
- Spain: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment
- Tunisia: Ministry of Agriculture (General Directorate of Water Resources)
- Regional partners: The Euro-Mediterranean Information System on know-how in the Water sector (EMWIS), The League of Arab States Centre of Water Studies and Arab Water Security, Blue Plan (UNEP-MAP regional activities centre), The Mediterranean Network of Basin Organisations (MENBO), The Euro-Mediterranean Water Institute (IEA) and the AGBAR Foundation.
Key actions
- Creation of National Water Information Systems (NWIS) through a regional approach: regional guidelines, tools, training on data management, and definition of needs for international data reporting.
- The first steps of implementation included data sharing among the four pilot Southern Mediterranean countries and setting up initial operational governance agreements and IT tools for the NWIS.
- Drafting of a Mediterranean White Paper on Water after providing technical assistance, with the aim of compiling data and presenting a regional picture of water resources and uses in the partner countries.
Beneficiaries
National and local water authorities and public and private actors involved in the water sector were among the main beneficiaries, as well as the ministries and respective agencies in charge of environment, agriculture, health and statistics.
Results
- Implementation of the initial phase of National Water Information Systems (NWIS) in Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan and Lebanon, based on regional guidelines and international standards.
- Provision of training courses for the development and management of shared water information systems.
- Launch of a regional platform to exchange experiences and best practices on the process of developing national information systems and white papers on water.
- Preparation of automated data flows for international reporting agreed in the Mediterranean region.