Increased pressure on transboundary water
supplies because of rising economic and population needs, exacerbated by
climate change processes, could have catastrophic consequences in the Middle
East. Management of groundwater extraction from transboundary aquifers must
involve sharing accessible water and preserving its quality to ensure that
future generations will have access to safe groundwater supplies.
اضافة اعلان
According to experts, the sustainable
growth of the Middle East and its political stability rely heavily on
countries' continued access to potable water.
However, the region is afflicted by
internal water mismanagement and conflicts. This necessitates not only the
building of water governance institutions, but also diverse engagement
platforms and other water diplomacy techniques.
Negotiations about water management create
the need for water diplomacy, a dynamic process that seeks to develop
reasonable, sustainable, and peaceful solutions to water management while
promoting or informing cooperation and collaboration among riparian
stakeholders.
Engaging more actors in discussionsWater diplomacy topics are at the heart of
discussions and conversations regarding the need for peace-building,
cooperation between countries, and cooperation regarding transboundary surface
and ground waters — water diplomacy should not be restricted to diplomats and
foreign policy experts, it is primarily the responsibility of water
professionals who negotiate management agreements for shared water resources.
According to experts, the sustainable growth of the Middle East and its political stability rely heavily on countries' continued access to potable water.
More technical professionals and actors in
foreign policy must have access to and participate in transdisciplinary water
diplomacy efforts, such as varied discussion platforms, fact-finding missions,
study tours, and joint scientific conferences.
Defining diplomacyConventionally, (water) diplomacy is seen
as high-level interaction and dialogue between nation-states. However, here, diplomacy
is defined according to various means which vary in terms of formality, actors
involved, and purpose. Water and diplomacy experts provide two definitions. The
first is formal diplomacy, or official communication between state actors with
the authority and mandate to speak and make decisions on behalf of their
governments or institutions.
The second is the informal diplomacy
dialogue that takes place between non-officials to build relations, resolve
conflict, manage a crisis, or build trust, based on agreed mandates, roles, and
responsibilities. This can include officials in informal roles, academics,
NGOs, faith-based organizations, business partners, media, retired civil
servants, and other ‘’insiders’’.
How to manage waterIn a 2017 study of essential problems
regarding water security, the World Bank raised the question: Are the region's
water resources managed efficiently and sustainably? Here is an outline of
water management practices and potentials in the region.
Transboundary basins and aquifers in the
Middle East can generate a network of hydrological, economic, and social
connections between communities. Governments must work together to manage transboundary
water resources. More cooperation is required, particularly to overcome the
sensitivity to climate change consequences where water is already scarce.
Water diplomacy should not be restricted to diplomats and foreign policy experts, it is primarily the responsibility of water professionals who negotiate management agreements for shared water resources
Here, economic cooperation is essential.
Agriculture, industry, energy, and water supply and sanitation, which all rely
heavily on water, must collaborate on a transnational level, and data voids
must be filled. Governments in the Middle East must quickly enhance their
systems for monitoring transboundary waters, particularly groundwater, and exchanging
data with other governments as part of cooperation agreements.
Transboundary water management necessitates
tackling a number of difficult environmental, socioeconomic, and political
challenges that may incur substantial expenses, such as those related to
infrastructure construction, the acquisition of monitoring equipment, and the
creation of studies.
The role of financingAt various stages of management and
development, distinct finance and financing sources may be necessary.
Typically, national budgets should pay at least the core costs of joint bodies,
mostly for reasons of sustainability. In some instances, national budgets may
not be adequate to solve such difficulties, especially in underdeveloped
countries where funding may be redirected to other priorities. In these
situations, new and alternative procedures could be a viable choice for filling
financial shortfalls.
Concentrating on financial resources is
required to fund institutional expenditures such as salaries and office space,
as well as program expenses such as the collecting of data and information to
monitor the condition and quality of water.
Rana
Hajaia is a former mayor and an expert on governance and water.
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