SWIM-SM technical assistance to the Partner Countries includes six main types of interventions, each one under a Work Package, related respectively to:
1- Water governance and mainstreaming of water considerations into other sectoral policies and strategies;
2- Capacity building and empowerment of water related stakeholders so that they can assist in the planning and development of water resources management in a holistic manner;
3- Application of water management plans by strengthening intra sector and inter-sector dialogue and contributing to the harmonization of approaches and policies;
4- Identification and promotion of good practices and success stories on water management and de-pollution of the Mediterranean;
5- Communication and awareness raising activities relevant to the topics of the project and;
6- Support to the European Commission with the overall implementation of the SWIM Programme and particularly of the Demonstration Projects, to ensure interaction and fruitful coordination among them and between them and the Support Mechanism.
Based on the analytical work realised during the SWIM-SM’s Inception Phase (January-August 2011) and the identification by Partner Countries (PCs) of prominent issues of concern for their water sector, four Thematic Pillars have emerged as regional priorities, around which SWIM-SM activities are structured and implemented.
These are:
A. Non Conventional Water Resources
B. Economic Valuation of Water Pollution and Abatement Interventions
C. No-regret Actions for the Adaptation of the Water Sector to Climate Change
D. Water Governance at the Local Level: Sharing Experiences from Water Users' Associations
For more information on the four Thematic Pillars click here
The six Work Packages cut horizontally across the four Thematic Pillars and SWIM-SM proposes regional activities that address both the Pillars and the horizontal components so as to provide the flexibility required for the Partner Countries to select appropriate activities consistent with their national priorities for the water sector.
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Click on the titles of Work Packages or Pillars in the above matrix to read more about SWIM-SM activities
The questions and answers contained in this section aim to facilitate the understanding of some of the key water management issues (challenges and responses) tackled in the framework of SWIM projects activities.
Click on the highlighted sections below to access specific information:
Desertification has been defined by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992) and in the International Convention on Desertification (United Nations Conventions to Combat Desertification – UNCCD) as "land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors including climatic variations and human activities". Desertification involves the depletion of vegetation and soils.
Climate change and desertification are linked in a vicious feedback loop. Climate change has the potential to reduce the availability of rainfall and its distribution i.e. rain will fall in larger quantities and in shorter periods of time and, eventually, in periods when it is less needed. This rainfall pattern will reduce the availability of water for wild vegetation while the temperatures’ increase – another consequence of climate change – will boost evapotranspiration and thus the water demand by the plant. All this can lead to the decay and death of vegetation and in the progressive soil loss due to its exposure to wind and other extreme climatic phenomena, such as floods.
Human activities, such as intensive agriculture, can exacerbate these conditions by increasing surface runoff and reducing percolation, and accordingly storage of water in ground aquifers. Increased surface runoff will increase soil loss through intensified erosion. In addition, the decay of vegetation results in the emission of greenhouse gases that, on their turn, will exacerbate climate change. Moreover, eroded lands will reduce land availability for carbon sequestration and thus the capacity to mitigate the impact of climate change.
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References:
Adaptation to Climate Change in the Water Sector in the MENA Region (ACCWaM)
http://www.water-energy-food.org/en/practice/view__1108/adaptation-to-climate-change-in-the-water-se
Desertification in the Arab Region: analysis of current status and trends:
http://www.yemenwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/D2.-Desertification-in-the-Arab-Region-Analysis-of-current-status-and-trends.pdf
In the Arab region, a high percentage of land is classified as desertified, prone and highly prone to desertification. Data, however, is not very accurate and exact. The percentage varies between 45% to 90%.
Although success stories and achievements in managing desertification have been documented in some of the Arab countries these are limited only to certain specific aspects and locations. Their importance is that they prove the technical feasibility of specific approaches, including improved irrigation and water management practices, animal husbandry technologies, reforestation of lands, fixing of shifting sands, conservation of biodiversity etc.
For example, at the level of the Demonstration component of the SWIM Programme, two projects promote actions to challenge increasing water scarcity and desertification risks through adaptation activities, including by working: 1- on plant varieties tolerant to abiotic stresses with a set of locally-tailored land and water management techniques to conserve soil moisture, prevent erosion, fertility loss and salinisation, while ensuring the sustainability of the production (SWIM ACLIMAS project) and 2- on techniques to improve traditional water harvesting, reduce erosion, floods and improve ground water recharge in arid areas (SWIM WADIS-MAR). Although these projects work in selected target areas of South Mediterranean (Arabic) countries, their achievements are being widely disseminated to other countries in the Region in view of enhancing their possible replication.
On the other hand, SWIM-Support Mechanism – the component of the Programme SWIM mainly related to the provision of technical assistance to the Partner Countries through “soft” intervention (support to policies, capacity building etc.) has tackled desertification through capacity development on no-regret actions for adaptation to climate change and an assessment of drought events in the SWIM Partner Countries. This was based on the expressed need and demand received by these countries. Parallel activities by SWIM SM can also lead to combating desertification such as increasing irrigation efficiency through support to Water Users Associations (WUAs) and reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture with support to farmers.
Despite many good examples and a great number of research results gathered so far it seems that there is still a lack of a collective and co-ordinated work at the level of the Arab Region to tackle in a comprehensive way the causes and impacts of desertification.
The Draft Strategy for Water in the Mediterranean and the Arab Water Security Strategy both have chapters on climate change. The project entitled “Adapting to climate change in the water sector in the MENA region” is a project implemented under the Arab Strategy financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and executed by the Arab Ministerial Water Council (AMWC) of the League of Arab States (LAS) with the objective of building the capacity of national water institutions to develop and implement climate adaptation strategies. As mentioned on the website of GIZ: “The key factor for the success of the measure is strengthening regional governance in the water sector in accord with the LAS, its specialist institution the ACSAD, the ESCWA and the ministries responsible for water in the member states. In the first phase of the project (2011 to 2014) the Egyptian, Jordanian and Lebanese water ministries will be supported in formulating national adaptation strategies and in developing the necessary capacities. Priority will be given to policy advice, developing methods and instruments, and providing practical support to technical and institutional innovations for climate adaptation.
The project covers three areas:
1. AMWC: (Arab Ministerial Water Council) Given that it is necessary to develop the bases for planning and to create an enabling environment for adapting to climate change, awareness needs to be increased among the actors – in this case the AMWC – for regional vulnerabilities and the need for adaptation in the water sector. This should be reflected in the planning and implementation of regional and national policies.
2. ESCWA: Networking and data and information management for adaptation will be promoted in cooperation with ESCWA. A knowledge platform will be set up by practitioners and academics in the countries in the MENA region and Europe, and it will make available up-to-date research results on climate models, the consequences of climate change and possible adaptation measures.
3. ACSAD: The third area is part of the Arab Center for the Study of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD). The ‘technical arm’ of the LAS is responsible for operative implementation of the Arab Water Strategy and for establishing a Centre of Excellence for Climate Change in the Arab Region. The ACSAD will advise the AMWC when it comes to the comprehensive implementation and financing of climate adaptation measures in the LAS member states.
The EU has developed policies and strategies to combat desertification in the affected European countries. On a global scale, the EU in partnership with UNEP and further to interest by the UNCCD, is updating the world desertification Atlas. At the regional – South Mediterranean - level the EC has funded the project “Clima South: Support to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in the ENPI South Region” that aims to enhance regional cooperation between the EU and its southern Mediterranean neighbours and among the partner countries themselves (South–South) on climate change mitigation and adaptation, mainly through capacity development and information sharing. The overarching goal is to support the transition of ENP South countries towards low carbon development and climate resilience.
To this effect, the project will assist partner countries in formulating and implementing mitigation and adaptation policies and tools such as national adaptation strategies; low emission development strategies; National Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs); and Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV)), in particular by developing greenhouse-gas inventories. It also aims to improve the access of decision-makers, officials, experts and civil society in the target countries to best practices and legislation developed in the EU, ENP South countries and other regions of the world, in the field of climate change”.
Several solutions are proposed for combating desertification by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and other organizations and are considered as best practices. These are:
1. Sustainable Land Management (SLM) technologies, including adaptation;
2. Capacity-building and awareness-raising at various levels;
3. Desertification, land degradation and drought, and SLM monitoring and assessment/research;
4. Knowledge management and decision support;
5. Adaptation of the policy, legislative and institutional framework to face desertification;
6. Funding and resource mobilization; and
7. Participation of affected populations, collaboration at the local, regional and global level and networking among stakeholders at different levels and scales.
The suggested actions by the UNCCD to combat desertification are summarized below:
1. Increase population resilience through provision of alternative livelihoods, prevention of land degradation, provision of insurance schemes for small holder agriculture, supporting science driven agriculture, increasing awareness and developing supportive local institutional, and governance frameworks and empowering vulnerable groups.
2. Improve land management through restoring and fertilizing land, practicing sustainable agriculture, managing grazing.
3. Diversify production by mixing animal and plant production.
4. Restore land by improving cropping and irrigation techniques and reforestation.
5. Control erosion through construction of fences and barriers, planting soil fixing vegetation and prohibiting grazing.
6. Use non-wood energy sources to reduce deforestation.
7. Find alternative solutions such as no tillage
8. Forge global partnerships to support financially and technically efforts towards combating desertification
Actions for combating desertification are set in National Actions Plans (NAPs) that contain assessments of the national situation as relates to desertification and land degradation and an action plan to combat desertification based on local conditions, available resources and knowledge. The use of indigenous knowledge in land management is encouraged. NAPs can be consulted or acquired at the relevant national authority which is the focal point of the UNCCD and which is in most cases either the Ministry of Environment or Agriculture.
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References:
Adaptation to Climate Change in the Water Sector in the MENA Region (ACCWaM)
http://www.water-energy-food.org/en/practice/view__1108/adaptation-to-climate-change-in-the-water-se
Arab Water Security Strategy
Soft copies available at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Desertification in the Arab Region: analysis of current status and trends:
http://www.yemenwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/D2.-Desertification-in-the-Arab-Region-Analysis-of-current-status-and-trends.pdf
Sustainable Water Integrated Management - Adaptation to Climate Change of the Mediterranean Agricultural Systems (SWIM-ACLIMAS)
http://www.aclimas.eu/
Sustainable Water Integrated Management - Water harvesting and Agricultural Techniques in Dry Lands: an Integrated and Sustainable Model in Maghreb Regions (SWIM-WADIS-MAR)
http://www.wadismar.eu/
Sustainable Water Integrated Management – Support Mechanism (SWIM-SM)
www.swim-sm.eu
Desertification
http://www.unccd.int/Lists/SiteDocumentLibrary/Publications/Desertification-EN.pdf
Union for the Mediterranean – draft Strategy for Water in the Mediterranean (UfM, draft SWM)
http://www.ufm-water.net/meetings/weg3/documents/SWM_Draft.doc/download
Desertification negatively affects the productivity of lands and their ability to feed populations. Increased desertification implies reduced food security. In the Arab World, continued desertification will lead to increases in food shortages and in the cost of food imports. As documented by FAO/RONE, 1994 the cost has increased from 4.8 billion US$ in 1980 to 23.3 billion US$ in 1990. The most affected crops will be grapes, olives and wheat as stated by the CIRCE project “Climate Change and Impact Research: The Mediterranean Environment”.
References:
CIRCE Integrated Project: Climate Change and Impact Research: the Mediterranean Environment
http://www.circeproject.eu/
Desertification in the Arab Region: analysis of current status and trends: http://www.yemenwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/D2.-Desertification-in-the-Arab-Region-Analysis-of-current-status-and-trends.pdf
Adaptation to Climate Change: Initiatives and measures to reduce the vulnerability of natural and human systems against actual or expected climate change effects. Various types of adaptation exist, e.g. anticipatory and reactive, private and public, and autonomous and planned. Examples are raising river or coastal dikes, the substitution of more temperature‐shock resistant plants for sensitive ones, etc. (Source: Glossary of Terms used in the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment‐report/ar4/syr/ar4_syr_appendix.pdf)
Agricultural Runoff: The runoff into surface waters of herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and the nitrate and phosphate components of fertilizers and animal wastes from agricultural land and operations. Considered a Non‐Point Source (NPS) of water pollution (Source: EPA Terms of Environment Dictionary, http://www.ecologydictionary.org/EPA‐Terms‐of‐Environment‐Dictionary/AGRICULTURAL_RUNOFF)
Agro‐Meteorological Station: Station providing simultaneous meteorological and biological information and helping to study and use weather and climate information to enhance or expand agricultural crops and/or to increase crop production. Agrometeorology mainly involves the interaction of meteorological and hydrological factors, on one hand and agriculture, which encompasses horticulture, animal husbandry and forestry.
Aquifer Recharge: In its broadest sense it refers to the replenishment or recharge of a groundwater aquifer.
Climate Change: It refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g., by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forcings, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use. Note that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in its Article 1, defines climate change as: ‘a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods’. The UNFCCC thus makes a distinction between climate change attributable to human activities altering the atmospheric composition, and climate variability attributable to natural causes (Source: Glossary of Terms used in the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment‐report/ar4/syr/ar4_syr_appendix.pdf).
Cloud Seeding: A Weather Modification technique involving the injection of a substance into a cloud for the purpose of influencing the cloud's subsequent development. Ordinarily, this refers to the injection of a nucleating agent, which creates a nucleus around which precipitation will form. In common practice, cloud seeding involves the aerial release of silver iodide particles into convective clouds to create thunderstorms (Source: EPA Terms of Environment Dictionary, http://www.ecologydictionary.org/EPA‐ Terms‐of‐Environment‐Dictionary/CLOUD_SEEDING).
Conservation Tillage: A level of reduced tillage combined with one or more soil and water conservation practices designed to reduce loss of soil or water relative to conventional tillage. Such activities often take the form of non‐inversion tillage that retains productive amounts of residue mulch on the surface (Source: EPA Terms of Environment Dictionary, http://www.ecologydictionary.org/EPA‐Terms‐of‐ Environment‐Dictionary/CONSERVATION_TILLAGE).
Cost of Environmental Degradation (COED): Monetary estimation of present and future impacts caused by the environmental damage occurring in one given year, or the year of reference. Each final estimate is stated in terms of percentage of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) for the year of reference. This estimate expresses the COED in terms comparable to the most widely used economic indicators, making it immediately intelligible to both policy makers and the general population (Sarraf 2004). It also allows for comparisons of (a) COED estimates among different countries and (b) the costs of different types of environ mental damage within the same country. The COED usually measures the damage caused to several environ mental categories: water, air quality, agricultural land, forests, waste, and coastal zone. Spatially, the analysis can be done at the local level (for example, a city or a coast), the national level (a country), the multinational level (several countries), or even the regional level (for example, the entire Middle East and North Africa region. Depending on the objective of the analysis, it can focus on environmental categories overall or on just one or a few categories (Source: The World Bank: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/2499/562950PUB0Envi1AUGUST02010 11PUBLIC1.txt?sequence=2)
Desalination: Removal of salt, as from water or soil (Source: EEA multilingual environmental glossary http://glossary.en.eea.europa.eu/terminology/concept_html?term=desalination)
Desertification: 1) The development of desert conditions as a result of human activity or climatic changes. 2) The process of land damage which allows the soil to spread like a desert in arid and semi‐ arid regions. There is a loss of vegetative cover and the soil deteriorates in texture, nutrient content and fertility. (Source: EEA Glossary: http://glossary.eea.europa.eu/terminology/terminology/concept_html?term=desertification).
Early Warning System: Any series of procedures and devices designed to detect sudden or potential threats to persons, property or the environment at the first sign of danger; especially a system utilizing radar technology. (Source: RHW, Terminology source: http://www.eionet.europa.eu)
Environmental Valuation: Environmental valuation is a series of techniques that economists use to assess the economic value of environmental goods and services (G&S), many of which have no easily observed market prices. Examples of environmental G&S include scenic views, biodiversity, as well as many indirect processes, such as watersheds and water supply, forests and carbon sequestration or erosion control, ecosystem conservation, and maintenance of genetic material.
Freshwater: 1) Water with salinity less than 0.5 (parts per thousand) dissolved salts (Source: Terminology source: http://www.semide.net); 2) Naturally occurring water having a low concentration of salts, which is often acceptable as suitable for abstraction and treatment to produce drinking water; (Source: Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources).
Genotype: the entire genetic constitution of an organism, or the genetic composition at a specific gene locus or set of loci (Source: http://biodiversity‐chm.eea.europa.eu).
Graywater: Domestic wastewater other than sewage, composed of wash water from kitchen, bathroom, and laundry sinks, tubs, and washers (Source: EPA Terms of Environment Dictionary, http://www.ecologydictionary.org/EPA‐Terms‐of‐Environment‐Dictionary/Gray_Water)
Groundwater: 1) Water that occupies pores and crevices in rock and soil, below the surface and above a layer of impermeable material. It is free to move gravitationally, either downwards towards the impermeable layer or by following a gradient (Source: http://www.eionet.europa.eu); 2) All water which is below the surface of the ground in the saturation zone and in direct contact with the ground of the soil (Source: Directive 2000/60/EC of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (Water Framework Directive)).
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM): A process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximise economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems and the environment (Source: Global Water Partnership, http://www.gwp.org/The‐Challenge/What‐is‐ IWRM/)
Interbasin transfer: Water withdrawal from one river basin (a donor basin) to be distributed for use in another river basin (receiving basin) and with no return to the basin of origin.
Irrigation Scheduling: It involves the definition of the time and the amount of water application to a crop according to a management objective (Howell, 1996). This definition can be based either on soil water balance methods, meteorological models that estimate crop evapotranspiration, or on measurements of plant parametrs.
No‐Regret Actions (or Measures) for Climate Change Adaptation: 1) Measures whose benefits—such as improved performance or reduced emissions of local/regional pollutants, but excluding the benefits of climate change mitigation—equal or exceed their costs. They are sometimes known as "measures worth doing anyway" (Source: IPCC Glossary http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/glossary/ipcc‐glossary.pdf);
2) Activities that yield benefits even in the absence of climate change. In many locations, the implementation of these actions constitutes a very efficient first step in a long‐term adaptation strategy. For example, controlling leakages in water pipes or maintaining drainage channels is almost always considered a very good investment from a cost–benefit analysis point‐of‐view, even in absence of climate change. Improving building insulation norms and climate‐proofing new buildings is another typical example of a no‐regret strategy, since this action increases climate robustness while energy savings can often pay back the additional cost in only a few years. Whether a measure is no‐regret depends on the specific circumstances. For example, additional irrigation infrastructure can be a no‐ regret measure in regions that already face water scarcity. In other regions, considering the high investment costs, it would be beneficial only if climate change decreases precipitation significantly (Source: Climate Adapt: European Climate Adaptation Platform, http://climate‐ adapt.eea.europa.eu/uncertainty‐guidance/topic2#What+are+no‐regret+adaptation+measures%3F).
Non‐conventional water resources: Complementary supply sources that may be substantial in regions affected by extreme scarcity of renewable water resources. They include: the production of freshwater by desalination of brackish or saltwater (mostly for domestic purposes); the reuse of urban or industrial wastewaters (with or without treatment), mostly in agriculture, but increasingly in industrial and domestic sectors; agricultural drainage water; interbasin transfer, rainwater harvesting, cloud seeding, grey‐water reuse, etc.
Private Sector Participation (see Public‐Private‐Partnership)
Public‐Private‐Partnership: A Public‐Private Partnership (PPP) is a contractual agreement between a public agency and a private sector entity. Through this agreement, the skills and assets of each sector (public and private) are shared in delivering a service or facility for the use of the general public. In addition to the sharing of resources, each party shares in the risks and rewards potential in the delivery of the service and/or facility.
Rainwater Harvesting: The capture of rainwater from the roofs of buildings that can be used for indoor needs at a residence, irrigation, or both, in whole or in part (Adapted from: Harvested Rainwater, http://rainwater.sustainablesources.com/).
Renewable Energy: Energy produced from sources that do not rely on fuels of which there are only finite stocks. The most widely used renewable source is hydroelectric power, other are biomass energy, solar energy, tidal energy, wave energy, and wind energy. (Adapted from: EEA multilingual environmental glossary, http://glossary.eea.europa.eu/terminology/concept_html?term=renewable%20energy%20source)
River Basin: The area of land from which all surface run‐off flows through a sequence of streams, rivers and, possibly, lakes into the sea at a single river mouth, estuary or delta. (Definition source: dataservice, http://dataservice.eea.eu.int)
Salt Water Intrusion: Process by which an aquifer is overpumped creating a flow imbalance within an area that results in salt water encroaching into fresh‐water supply. (Definition source: EEA multilingual environmental glossary, http://glossary.eea.europa.eu/terminology/concept_html?term=saltwater%20intrusion).
Soil Erosion: 1) It consists in the removal of soil material by water or wind. It is a natural phenomenon but it can be accelerated by human activities. (Definition source: EEA multilingual environmental glossary, http://glossary.eea.europa.eu/terminology/concept_html?term=soil%20erosion); 2) Detachment and movement of topsoil or soil material from the upper part of the profile, by the action of wind or running water, especially as a result of changes brought about by human activity, such as unsuitable or mismanaged agriculture. (Source: BJGEO)
Surface Water: All waters on the surface of the Earth found in rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, marshes, wetlands, as ice and snow, and transitional, coastal and marine waters. (Definition source: EEA multilingual environmental glossary (http://glossary.eea.europa.eu/terminology/concept_html?term=surface%20water)
Wastewater Quality Monitoring: Programmed process of sampling, measurement and subsequent recording of the entire wastewater treatment process, including trade effluent, influent, wastewater treatment process, discharged effluent, sludge/biosolids, groundwater, soils, and rivers up‐ and downstream of the discharge with the aim to inform and result in the required process changes.
Wastewater Reuse: The planned reuse of waste water for specific beneficial purposes (Source: EPA Terms of Environment Dictionary, http://www.ecologydictionary.org/EPA‐Terms‐of‐Environment‐ Dictionary/WASTEWATER_RECLAMATION).
Wastewater Treatment: Removal of organic matter, bacteria, viruses and solids through physical‐ chemical and biological processes from residential, commercial and industrial wastewaters before they are discharged in rivers, lakes and seas (Definition Source: ETC/CDS. General Environmental Multilingual Thesaurus (GEMET 2000).
Water Capping: Applying quantity limits to the use of water in relevant sectors (e.g domestic,
agricultural, industrial, etc.).
Water Demand Management: It refers to the implementation of policies or measures which serve to control or influence the amount of water used. (Definition source: UKWIR/EA. 1996. Economics of demand management ‐ Main report and practical guidelines. UK Water Industry Research Limited. London. Quoted by: EEA. 2001. Sustainable water use in Europe: Part 2. Copenhagen)
Water Governance: The range of political, organizational and administrative processes through which communities articulate their interests, their input is absorbed, decisions are made and implemented, and decision makers are held accountable in the development and management of water resources and delivery of water services at different levels of society (Definition source: http://www.semide.net)
Water Harvesting: Collection of both runoff and rainwater for various purposes, such as irrigation or fountains (Source: EPA, http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/whatis.cfm).
Water Mainstreaming: process of integrating water management related concerns into any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes in any area/sector and at all levels.
Water Pricing: Applying a monetary rate or value at which water can be bought or sold (Source: EEA http://glossary.eea.europa.eu/EEAGlossary/W/water_pricing).
Watershed: The area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place.
Water Supply Management: Policies and measures to control the water which is collected and passed through pipes and made available for the use of people in a community or region.
Water Users Associations (WUAs): A group of water users, such as irrigators, who pool their financial, technical, material, and human resources for the operation and maintenance of a water system. A WUA usually elects leaders, handles disputes internally, collects fees, and implements maintenance. In most areas, WUA membership depends on one’s relationship to a water source (such as groundwater, source or a canal).
Several evaluations and assessments are being prepared by SWIM-SM and the Demonstration projects to guide and corroborate their work under specific themes and activities. They are the product of the work of experts with local and international experience in the subject matter and all have drawn information from the relevant stakeholders of the respective countries to which they are addressed.
The published documents are available below.
SWIM-SM Assessments
Assessment of IWRM monitoring indicators in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon
Guidelines for developing national regulation for managed aquifer recharge in Egypt and Palestine
National policies for the establishment of water & aquatic environment prosecution and magistrate systems in Lebanon and Palestine
Guidelines on measures for improving compliance with water legislations and assessment of enforcement capacity in the SWIM-SM Region with focus on Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco (full document) and short description of the document for the media
Cost Assessment of Water resources degradation of the Litani Basin and Policy Note
Executive Summary of the Cost Assessment of Water resources degradation of the Seybouse Basin (Algeria) and Policy Note
Executive Summary of the Cost Assessment of Water resources degradation of the Oum Er-rbia Basin (Morocco) and Policy Note
Executive Summary of the review and analysis of the status of implementation of wastewater strategies and/or action plans in Tunisia and short description of the document for the media
Executive Summary of the review and analysis of the status of implementation of wastewater strategies and/or action plans in Morocco and short description of the document for the media
Review and analysis of the status of implementation of wastewater strategies and/or action plans in Egypt (full document) and short description of the document for the media
Documentation of Best Practices in wastewater reuse in Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Morocco
Documentation of Best Practices in non-revenue water management in selected Mediterranean countries (Algeria, Israel, Jordan, Morocco) (full document) and short description of the document for the media
Review and Analysis of Private Sector Participation: Modalities in Water Service Delivery, with emphasis on the Southern Mediterranean Region (full document) and short description of the review for the media
Cost Assessment of Water resources degradation of the Medjerda Basin (Tunisian side) and Policy Note
Regional Review of National Water Plans and/or Strategies (full document) and short description of the review for the media
Economic Considerations for Supplying Water Through Desalination in South Mediterranean Countries (full document) and short description of the document for the media
Assessment of Best Available Technologies (BAT) for Desalination in Rural/Local Areas (full document) and short description of the assessment for the media
Assessment of Best Available Technologies (BAT) for Wastewater Treatment & Reuse in Rural/Local Areas in South Mediterranean Countries (full document) and short description of the assessment for the media
Regional Assessment on Water User's Associations (full document) and short description of the assessment for the media
SWIM-Sustain Water MED Assessments
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