Maghreb Political Dialogue on the Potential of Unconventional Waters for Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Arab Maghreb Countries
Tunis, 22 March 2021 – Today the world is celebrating World Water Day, which this year has chosen the theme: Let's value water. On this occasion, the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), in collaboration with the FAO office for North Africa, organized a high-level Maghreb political dialogue which presented the visions, strategic orientations and approaches adopted for the use of the potential of so-called unconventional water resources. Mr. Tariq Addassalam, Minister of Water Resources of Libya, presented the water situation in Libya and mentioned some challenges related to water and climate change which are similar to those of the other Maghreb countries. Senior officials from other countries represented and read the speeches of their respective ministers.
Mr Taïeb Baccouche, Secretary General of the UMA, welcomed the work of this dialogue, which made it possible to highlight common challenges linked to water scarcity and the potential of unconventional water in the Maghreb countries as well as offering the opportunity to "learn more about the successful experiences and the review of the strategic orientations presented to assess the potential of unconventional water for agriculture.” He expressed confidence in the prospect of strengthening cooperation between countries for "the identification of orientations and strategic plans for unconventional waters."
In his speech, Mr. Philippe Ankers, FAO Coordinator for North Africa, recalled “the considerable attention FAO gives to water scarcity which has taken a wide range of initiatives and activities to strengthen the capacity to adopt mechanisms to address water scarcity. Among them, the Regional Initiative on Water Scarcity, launched in 2013."
The Maghreb Dialogue today was a result of the project "Unblocking the Potential of Treated Wastewater and Drainage Water for Agricultural Development in the Arab Maghreb Countries". This project carried out diagnostic and state-of-the-art analyzes of this sector in the five countries. National policy dialogues in each country were ensured as well as cost-benefit analysis studies for the formulation of an investment plan. It is in this perspective that the FAO and UMA are now proposing a Maghreb Initiative on Unconventional Waters (IMENCO).
It should be remembered that water scarcity is endemic in the Maghreb region, which has one of the lowest reserves of freshwater resources in the world. Water availability has declined by two-thirds over the past 40 years. This situation, exacerbated by climate change and growing demand, forces governments to seek additional unconventional water resources, to meet the increased demand mainly from the agricultural sector and in particular during periods of drought. The potential of unconventional water, the main subject of this political dialogue, can increase the availability of water for various uses which are safe, economically profitable, ecologically sustainable and beneficial to society and the environment as a whole. These water resources can help adapt to climate change and mitigate its impacts.
Promulgation of a Ministerial Declaration of Cooperation between the Maghreb countries
At the end of the High-Level Dialogue, a Joint Ministerial Declaration of Cooperation was read out which affirms the adhesion of countries to the Maghreb Initiative for non-Conventional Waters (IMENCO) launched on this day, March 22, 2021. This proposed Initiative by FAO and the UMA, will strengthen Maghreb cooperation through the establishment of a permanent technical committee specialized in the field of non-conventional water within the UMA. It will create a Maghreb Pole of Excellence for the reuse of unconventional water based on the development and interconnection of pilot sites of excellence across the UMA region. A Maghreb Collaborative Platform to capitalize on the experiences of the last decades, and to promote the exchange of good practices and the sharing of knowledge and research results will be created as a mechanism of the Maghreb Pole of Excellence for unconventional waters.