inter-Regional Technical Platform on Water Scarcity (iRTP-WS)
inter-Regional Technical Platform – Water Scarcity (iRTP-WS)
Delivering on SDG 6 and SDG 2 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is considered a cornerstone towards achieving the global goal of "Leaving
No One Behind". Yet, despite continuous global and national efforts, it remains a challenge. Various regional and global reports indicate deficiencies threatening the achievement of the objectives of the water-related targets in the 2030 Agenda.
According to the 2020 FAO State of food and agriculture report, water scarcity currently affects 3.2 billion people, of whom 1.4 billion live in rural areas, and 60% of irrigated lands are highly water-stressed. In the absence of urgent action, the situation will deteriorate, under the combined effects of a growing population, economic development, and climate change.
Knowledge products
Blogs
News
FAO launches a new Massive Open Online Course on water accounting and auditing
31/07/2022
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with IHE Delft Institute for Water Education launched a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on water accounting and auditing. This self-paced and free course aims to increase knowledge about water accounting and auditing. The course has been developed under the framework of the regional project “Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for water efficiency/productivity and sustainability in the Near East and North Africa region (WEPS-NENA)”.
FAO drives action on water scarcity in the Near East and North Africa region
28/06/2022
28 June 2022, Cairo, Egypt – “The inter-Regional Technical Platform on Water Scarcity can help transform more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all, leaving no one behind,” said Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The Food and Agriculture Organization of Lebanon concludes the Training of Facilitators on Farmers Field Schools and distributes Certificates to Participants
31/03/2022
Today, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Lebanon, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, concluded the training of facilitators for the Farmers Field Schools, which lasted eight consecutive days. Twenty-eight facilitators from the Ministry of Agriculture ...
E-learnings
Webinars
Best Practices
What Water Means for One Farmer, Once a Migrant Now a Returnee, in Kenya
22/03/2021
Water. For all people, it means health, hygiene and hydration. For the spiritual, it can mean a connection with creation, community or oneself. For farmers, it means food and income. For Paul, a 33-year-old man from Kiambu county in Kenya, water has meant a new reason to stay in his country.
Sharing Water in Rwanda’s Breadbasket
27/08/2020
Water. For all people, it means health, hygiene and hydration. For the spiritual, it can mean a connection with creation, community or oneself. For farmers, it means food and income. For Paul, a 33-year-old man from Kiambu county in Kenya, water has meant a new reason to stay in his country.
Rainwater Harvesting and Agroecological Irrigation Make Farmers More Resilient in Senegal
23/03/2020
Last September in Senegal, more rain fell in a single day than in the usual 3-month rainy season. Intense rain in shorter periods of time followed by a longer dry season are the effects of climate change and ultimately result in either too much or too little water for the farmers who rely on it for their survival.
Water Catchment, Reserve and Promotion of Rational Use of Water in San Andres and Providencia, Colombia
01/10/2013
The increase in population in the Colombian archipelago increased the demand for water for human consumption and food production, which could not be met by the existing water sources and the traditional use of the resource. The volume of rainfall in the area is noticeable but irregular.
Combination of Practices to Improve Environmental Protection and Production in Las Piedras River Basin in Colombia
31/07/2011
Las Piedras river basin that originates in the Colombian Massif is of great importance for Colombian hydrology, it is a tributary of the Cauca River which supplies the water needs of the populations of Popayán and Puracé, as well as farming producers.
Linking Water, Food, and Gender Equality for Sustainability: Learnings from Myanmar
31/12/2019
This study is a part of a three-year project which was initiated in 2019. It is proposed to be conducted in three phases and is now in its final phase. The study is result of a collaboration program between Australian Water Partnership (AWP) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) titled ‘Next Generation Agricultural Water Management for Asia Pacific’.
Modernizing Irrigated Agriculture to Protect and Restore Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in South-East Asia
31/12/2021
The project is under implementation. It is being implemented in three phases between 2019 to 2021: each phase is approximately a year long. Asia contains 70% of the worlds irrigated area. The extensive irrigation comes with many downsides. One of the most unmitigated of the downsides are the negative impacts irrigation infrastructure bring to aquatic ecosystem and fisheries.
Irrigation Performance Assessment Project Cambodia
31/12/2020
The yearlong project was implemented between Oct 2019 to Dec 2020. This project is part of the Next Generation Irrigation and Water Management for the Asia-Pacific Program (NextGen Program), an AWP-FAO program aimed at modernizing Asia’s irrigation systems and water management practices.
Resilience Stories from Africa
31/12/2016
Today, 100 million people in Africa face acute hunger, and the continent’s population is expected to increase from 1.2 billion to 2.5 billion in 2050, with the percentage of people relying on agriculture for food and income rising to 70 percent.
Key databases and software models
- AQUASTAT: FAO’s global water information system
- AQUACROP: The industry-leading crop–water productivity software model
- AQUAMAPS: Global spatial database on water and agriculture
- CROPWAT: A decision support tool developed by the Land and Water Development.
- CLIMWAT: A climatic database.
Contacts
- Mohamed AlHamdi Senior Land And Water Officer
- Heba AlHariry Regional Technical Platform-Water Scarcity Advisor and Content Developer