Establishment of a network with the existing regional and national training institutions

Prepare and maintain a contact list of national and regional centres of excellence relating to the SWIM themes ‐ in close collaboration with H2020 CB/MEP, thus leading to the creation of a network of such centres/institutions.

Based on the database, carry out a mapping exercise on ongoing and planned training activities at regional level so as to identify gaps with emphasis on SWIM‐SM focus themes.

Develop a matrix of initiatives and projects implemented at the Regional level and relevant to SWIM‐SM interventions in order to explore possible interlinks and avoid duplications of activities. Based on the Work Plan for 2013 collaborations will be explored with the identified centres of excellence and Regional projects.

Develop national and regional capacity building programmes / training sessions

Develop and execute a capacity development program for water & environment prosecutors and investigators to ensure compliance with legislations, how to address noncompliance and violations, establish environment inspectorates and auditing procedures. The activity consists in 3 days workshop followed by 12 days study tour in 3 European countries, in collaboration with UNESCO-IHE. .

High level study tour to strengthen political commitment to PIM/IMT, in coordination with the State Hydraulics Works (DSI) in Turkey: awareness raising on the role of the political commitment and enabling environment in the successful implementation of the PIM and IMT.

Two days training on the operation and management of WWTPs to be followed by study tours to well‐operated and managed WW treatment plants in Europe including exposure to technologies for upgrading existing low performing plants. Emphasis will be given to wastewater treatment and reuse in rural areas.

Support the involvement of officials in an online course on natural systems to improve their understanding and build their capacity on the design, construction, operation and maintenance of natural treatment systems, including physical and biochemical processes, design, operation and maintenance.

Sub Regional training event to strengthen public sector capacity to mobilize depollution investments, and one specific training on private sector participation to inform participants from both public and private sector about the possibilities of joint participation in depollution investments.

Capacity development workshop on modelling the cost of desalination, in collaboration with MEDREC, to develop the capacity of water resources managers in understanding the aspects influencing the cost of desalination including the factors and functions for modelling them to estimate the associated cost under different scenarios, based on the scale and the used technologies.

WP1: Water governance & mainstreaming

Ensure sustainable water management strategies mainstreaming into other sectors’ policies

• Regional Assessment on water Users’ Associations (WUAs) in the SWIM-SM countries that reviews the progress of Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM), identifies the range of experiences, assesses the status, achievements and challenges of the WUAs and draws lessons and opportunities for improvement. In depth assessments are carried out in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia.
• Regional Expert Workshop promoted sharing of experiences and best practices in the establishment and operationalization of WUAs in the region and discussed / validated the findings of the Regional Assessment.

Development of a comprehensive M&E system for Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) and Irrigation Management transfer (IMT) Process:

• Review of the international and regional experience in monitoring and evaluation systems with special reference for the formation and support of Water Users Associations (WUAs)

• Report on the International M&E systems (FAO, IWMI, WB)

• Regional Expert Group Meeting on the  Development of a comprehensive M&E system for Participatory Irrigation Management & Irrigation Management Transfer process

• MONEVA System software

• Pilot application of the MONEVA system in Jordan and Tunisia:
  • JORDAN
    • Training of the users involved in the pilot implementation
    • Evaluation workshop of the pilot imlementation

• • TUNISIA
    • Training of the users involved in the pilot implementation
    • Evaluation workshop of the pilot implementation

• Regional Workshop on the M&E system to monitor and evaluate the Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) and Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) Process in the SWIM-SM Countries

• Regional review on the status of National Water Plans and/or Strategies in the SWIM Partner Countries and proposals for policy options and recommendations to advance their preparation, implementation and monitoring. The review contains a focused survey on the status of plans and strategies in Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia.
• Organisation of a 2-day regional workshop to review the report and country briefs and agree on actions to be addressed at the policy level by the project 

• 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.

• Assessment of current legislative capacity and legal procedures in the prosecution of violators of water legislation and develop guidelines in Algeria, Jordan and Lebanon

WP 2: Capacity building activities

Develop national and regional capacity building programmes / training sessions

• High level study tour on participatory irrigation management/irrigation management transfer process

• Regional training of water user associations' representatives from selected countries with part of the training provided by representatives from SWIM Partner Countries advanced in WUAs operationalisation - in coordination with H2020 CB/MEP.

• Training workshop and study tour for developing the capacity of prosecutors and investigators to enforce water & environment legislations

• High level policy dialogue on enforcement of water laws in SWIM-SM countries

• Training of government officials on the preparation of water plans/strategies

• Sub Regional training on the inter-linkages between integrated water resources management (IWRM) and integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) - in coordination with H2020 CB/MEP

WP 4: dentification and promotion of good practices and success stories

• Documentation of Best Practices in non-revenue water management in selected Mediterranean countries (Algeria, Israel, Jordan, Morocco)

Provide ad hoc support and advice for the review of water policies, national water strategies and IWRM plans

Targeted technical assistance for the elaboration of a Wastewater Strategy and/or Action Plan in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco to advance missing priority elements of their Wastewater Strategy through the preparation of a gap analysis and recommendations report and organisation of a one day national consultation meeting involving all stakeholders in each country. The National consultations have taken place on 5,7 and 11 March respectively in Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt.(under Pillar A: Non-conventional water resources)

Ensure sustainable water management strategies mainstreaming into other sectors’ policies

Support to the planned Inter‐ministerial Committee on water at national level in synergy with GEF MedPartnership: Provision of technical support for policy development for marine pollution control in the waste water sector (activities will evolve according to related developments within MedPartnership). 

Support to planned Inter‐ministerial Committee on water at national level in synergy with GEF MedPartnership: Assist promoting inter‐ministerial coordination at national level in PCs in such need, in support to the related GEF / MAP UNEP Med‐Partnership’s initiative.

Develop regional guidelines on measures for improving compliance with water legislations and assess the available enforcement capacity and mechanisms currently practiced in SWIM‐SM region to enforce water legislations with focus on 5 SWIM‐SM PCs.

Develop a comprehensive M&E system for Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) and Irrigation Management transfer (IMT) Process:

- Develop a questionnaire to solicit country inputs on the availability of M&E system, and the indicators used. Consolidate the responses into a regional perspective and diffuse this information through a background document in the framework of an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) planned for the discussion and formulation of a regional M&E system.

- Prepare a report on the International M&E systems) to be presented as a background information for a regional workshop on M&E: review international experience in M&E systems including those used for WUA formation and support, in order to identify best practices and suitable indicators that could be used as reference material for the development of regional M&E system involving a checklist of indicators covering the three phases of PIM/IMT process

- Conduct a regional expert group workshop involving representatives from national authorities, water users associations, donors, regional and international organisations and national, regional and international experts in order to discuss M&E experiences emanating from the SWIM‐SM regional and international reviews with the aim of adopting a regional M&E system involving a checklist of indicators that suits best the needs and the specificities of SWIM participating countries and for formulating an M&E system.

Institutional strengthening through analysis of IWRM concepts

Regional Assessment on the status of joint ICZM and IWRM planning: Assessment for an improved understanding of integrated planning for natural resources in the Region

Desalination as a non‐conventional water resource:

- Assess potential cumulative environmental impacts of mega desalination plants conglomerating around the Mediterranean in synergy with MED‐POL and identification of their mitigation measures.

- Convene a regional Expert Group Meeting in Athens on to substantiate and verify the outcomes of the above mentioned activity and a establishment of a dialogue between national, regional and international experts on the prospects of desalination in the Med region. This activity will be carried out in collaboration with UNEP/MAP, MED Pol, H2020, MEDRC and with the participation of the Core Group on desalination set-up by SWIM-SM..

Mitigation of effects of flood and draught episodes

Regional Assessment of past drought & flood episodes and their management with case studies in Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan and Palestine. The assessment will describe the affected areas and identify the population and economic sectors affected the most.

Identification of potential of wastewater reuse:

-Regional assessment on the status, the gaps, challenges and barriers to wastewater treatment in rural areas and on private sector involvement in financing depollution investmenst with more in depth analysis in.

-Regional assessment on the challenges of treated wastewater reuse in rural areas with more in depth analysis in Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt and Palestine and focus on the involvement of the private sector in financing depollution investment. The assessment consists of a regional desk study followed by an in depth analysis in Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt and Palestine.

-Study on the legislative framework regulating the recharge of aquifers with adequately treated wastewater in four Partner Countries.

WP1: Water governance & mainstreaming

Institutional strengthening through analysis of IWRM concepts

Mitigation of effects of flood and draught episodes

Regional Assessment of past drought & flood episodes and their management with case studies in Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan and Palestine. The assessment will describe the affected areas and identify the population and economic sectors affected the most.