Regional Partners Convene in Amman to Accelerate Action on Water Scarcity in the Near East and North Africa

To address the escalating challenge of water scarcity in the world’s most water-stressed region, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and its partners launched today the "Regional Collaboration and Annual Review Meeting" of the Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI) Programme.

Held in Amman from 20 to 22 January, the three-day high-level workshop brings together government representatives, regional organizations, and development partners to review the achievements of the past year and set the strategic direction for 2026.

The workshop was organized under the Regional Water Scarcity Initiative Programme, a flagship multi-partner programme jointly implemented by FAO, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), with financial support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The programme is currently implemented in nine countries across the region.

Opening the meeting on behalf of H.E. Eng. Raed Abu Al-Saud, Minister of Water and Irrigation of Jordan, Eng. Hisham Alhisa, Secretary General of the Jordan Valley Authority, emphasized in his opening remarks the importance of strengthening regional cooperation and coordination, and of developing integrated policies based on sound planning and good governance. He also highlighted the need to balance sustainable development objectives with food security, particularly in the agricultural sector, which is the largest consumer of water.

The meeting provides a critical platform for National Coordinators from the nine beneficiary countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen) to engage directly with implementing partners.

The FAO Representative in Jordan, Eng. Nabil Assaf, emphasized the importance of cross-border cooperation, saying: “Water scarcity is no longer a temporary threat; it has become a daily reality for millions of people in this region. Through the Water Scarcity Initiative, we are moving beyond isolated, traditional solutions to implement integrated, evidence-based approaches that protect our food systems. Our presence in Amman represents a collective commitment to ensuring that every drop of water contributes to strengthening the resilience and prosperity of our communities.”

Speaking on behalf of the donor, Ms. Anna Rosendahl from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) highlighted the value of the Annual Review Meeting by adding: “Collaboration and coordination are essential given the complexity of the challenge we are tackling — and our solutions must mirror the nature of the problem. Water scarcity affects multiple economic and social sectors, is truly transboundary in nature, and its risks are further amplified by climate change. Our responses therefore need to be coordinated across sectors and harmonized between countries.”

Representing the League of Arab States (LAS), Mr. Mahmoud Fathallah emphasized the role of the League of Arab States in providing support to the WSI Programme, noting: “The League of Arab States is committed to strengthening policy coordination mechanisms concerning water resources management across various sectors.”

Mr. Kamel Amer, representing the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), stated: “AOAD serves as an institutional bridge between the regional and national tracks, ensuring coherent implementation. It aims to translate programme outputs into added value at the pan-Arab level—strengthening evidence-based decision-making and improving scalability and sustainability.”

The meeting is expected to conclude with a validated roadmap for 2026 and an enhanced framework for communication and monitoring, ensuring that all stakeholders remain aligned in their mission to secure a water-resilient future for the region.