Groundwater Governance in the Arab World: Taking Stock and Addressing the Challenges

FAO, L&W DaysAmman – Jordan

15th to 18th of December 2013

Overarching research questionsWhy is there groundwater overdraft, and why is it so hard to curb or

regulate?What are the governance options available for different contexts,

and how can we make them work?

Research objectives•To contribute to finding solutions and mitigation measures to the groundwater crisis in the Arab world•To enhance capacity building mechanisms for groundwater governance at the aquifer, regional and national level •To support the generation and sharing of knowledge on groundwater governance in the Arab world

TunisiaLebanonJordanYemenOmanUAE

Source: Rekacewicz 2008

World experience

MENA experience

6 Country policy profiles

4 problem-aquifers

Desktop syntheses Situated policy analysesKnowledge

base

Policy narratives

Policy process

Bio-physical setting

Policy process

Legislation, policies, governance regimes, political economy,

Implementation of groundwater policy at national levelActor dynamicsInformal institutions Stakeholder opinions and perceptions

Hydrogeology, chemistry, abstraction levels, energy and water pricing

Implementation of policy at aquifer levelActor dynamicsLocal power relationsLand access Stakeholder opinions and perceptions

World experience

MENA experience

Country policy profiles

4 problem-aquifers

Desktop syntheses Situated policy analyses

Regional science-policy Dialogue

Knowledgedissemination

Typologies, contexts, outcomes, etc

Knowledgebase

Collective work on policies and three aquifers

Role games (computer

interface, social learning)

Policy briefsEng/arabic

Document deposi-tory &

bibliography

MENA groundwaterReference website

Network, Weblinks

White books & action plans (3 countries)

Awarenessraising

Capacity building

Groundwater govern. syntheses

Teaching material for univ. (arabic)

Linked-in

Aquifer-levelDialogues-----------

National/localstakeholders

involvement ingovernance

Problem Aquifer 1Tunisia – Cap Bon

• Finest agricultural area in Tunisia

• Highly productive and diversified aquifer

• Water table lowering leading to sea water intrusion and salinity (>15g/l)

• Complex dynamics, low implication of actors, and limited organizational means

Problem Aquifer 2Lebanon – Beqaa Valley

• Intense proliferation of individual wells impacts springs and surface water irrigation systems

• Decline in precipitation• Heavy use of fertilizers

and pesticides caused problems of groundwater pollution

Problem Aquifer 3Jordan – Azraq Basin

• Intensive pumping for the last 20 years, with abstraction exceeding safe yield by 260%

• Competing groundwater uses between agriculture and urban consumption

• Negative impacts on wetland ecosystems in the basin

Problem Aquifer 4UAE – Liwa Oasis

• UAE derives 72% of water demand from groundwater

• Liwa aquifer supporting agriculture with drip irrigation

• Competing uses between agriculture and increasing tourism in the area

• Policy implementation problems due to farmers’ perceptions of groundwater ownership

Thank you

Funded by: