The Arab countries account for more than 5 per cent of the world’s population, but less than 1 per cent of global water resources. And as a consequence of the phenomena associated with climate change, the region is facing an even greater water shortage. For 30 years now, IFAD and its partners in the region have worked to develop effective, replicable solutions to help poor rural communities manage their scarce water resources. More than half of IFAD’s programmes and projects in the region include a focus on water. IFAD’s integrated approach supports water infrastructure development, rational use of available surface water and groundwater resources, whether fresh, brackish or saline, and promotes recycling grey water in marginal areas. Improved small-scale irrigation technologies, effective rain harvesting techniques, appropriate conservation infrastructure and improved varieties of drought-resistant seeds also help poor rural people cope with increasing water scarcity.