Two National consultations events have been organised on 4 and 7 December respectively in Rabat and Tunis in relation to a SWIM-SM activity directed to evaluate the cost of the environmental degradation of two River Basins: the Oum Er-Rbia in Morocco and the Medjerda in Tunisia.

The activity aims at assisting national and local decision makers in identifying concrete actions to improve the management of these River Basins, enabling them to prioritize investments at the local level to finance environmentally friendly projects.

The cost of environmental degradation is calculated on the basis of existing studies and data that have been collected and analysed to produce a draft assessment, whose results have been presented and discussed during the national consultation events.

For more information:

Agenda of the National consultation in Morocco

Agenda of the National consultation in Tunisia

Presenttaions and other Materials

Press Note of the activity in Tunisia 

The 2^nd Steering Committee Meeting of SWIM-SM took place in Brussels on 17-18 October 2012 with the aim to:

a) report on project’s progress to the Project Countries representatives, relevant partner institutions and initiatives and;

b) promote a constructive dialogue and consultation on activities planned by the project for its second year of implementation.

The meeting brought together the SWIM Focal Points and Environmental Liaison Officers from the Partner Countries, in addition to officials of the European Commission, representatives of regional institutions and stakeholders.

For more information:

Agenda

Presentations and Materials

Press note

Report

A sub-regional workshop on the inter-linkages between Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) has been jointly organized by the EU-ENPI-funded projects Sustainable Water Integrated Management – Support Mechanism (SWIM-SM) and the Capacity Building Component of the Horizon 2020 initiative (CB/MEP) in Algeria on 30 October – 1 November 2012.

The objective of this workshop was to develop the capacity of stakeholders in the partner countries in integrated management of natural resources with a focus on water and coastal resources. It aimed to demonstrate the connectedness of resources, specially river basins and coastal areas. The training focused on the concepts, planning principles and tools of IWRM and ICZM and how these two concepts are interlinked.

For more information:

Information Note and Agenda

Presentations and Materials

Press note

Report

SWIM-SM has conducted a 3-day regional training to develop the capacity of national and local water practitioners from the Partner Countries (PCs) to undertake immediate precautionary measures towards the adaptation of the water sector to potential negative impacts of climate change.

The training has ben organized by the Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean (GWP-Med), member of the SWIM-SM consortium, and addressed the following specific learning objectives:
1)    Raise the awareness of the participants on the potential impacts of climate changes on water resources in the region, its socio-economic and environmental consequences,
2)    Increase their understanding on the degree of vulnerability particularly to increasing drought and flood events,
3)    Make the case for adopting the no-regret actions approach as the appropriate and immediate means for the water sector to adapt to climate change,
4)    Introduce appropriate approaches for planning, strategizing and developing no-regret actions measures, plans and policies, with a special focus on drought and flood management-
5)    Review capacity, political commitments and measures needed for the creation of an enabling environment for the implementation of no-regret actions including institutional, legislative and financial needs
6)    Identify and discuss appropriate approach and practices for mainstreaming no-regret actions into IWRM policy frameworks
7)    Identify the optimal communication and public participation strategies to enhance the role of communities in designing and implementing no-regret water management measures.

For more information:

Information Note and Agenda

Presentations and Materials

Press note

Report