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Mediterranean Component

2008 EUWI Multi-Stakeholder Forum World Water Week, 21 August 2008. Mediterranean Component. of the EU Water Initiative. Lead Country: GREECE. Country Dialogues in the Mediterranean: Some lessons learned. Prof. Michael Scoullos MED EUWI Secretariat (GWP-Med). Dr. Emad Adly

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Mediterranean Component

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  1. 2008 EUWI Multi-Stakeholder Forum World Water Week, 21 August 2008 Mediterranean Component of the EU Water Initiative Lead Country: GREECE Country Dialogues in the Mediterranean: Some lessons learned Prof. Michael Scoullos MED EUWI Secretariat (GWP-Med) Dr. Emad Adly Arab Network for Environment & Development

  2. Mediterranean Component of the EUWI (MED EUWI) Country Dialogues / Interventions – on going and planned On going: Egypt (WSS), Lebanon (IWRM), Libya (Governance) Some activity: Syria (IWRM), Palestine (Governance) Requested: Jordan (IWRM), Morocco (Non-Conventional) On going transboundary, based on issues and basins: Rivers, Lakes, Ground water, Climate Sava, Drin, Ohrid, Skoder, Prespa

  3. Lessons learned from Country Dialogues Regarding the Process • MED countries have already made considerable progress on water issues and have important experiences to share. The situation is not like in the Sub-Saharan Africa, but challenges in the MED remain enormous !The region suffers from water stress causing adverse effects on development and exacerbating political tensions. Population growth is rapid and significant climate change effects can be already documented in the region. • With water related activity going-on in different forms in the region, MED countries need from EUWI well targeted and strategic interventions that provide answers to key current questions and assist them to plan better for implementation of highly needed reforms. • Interventions to be successful must be demand driven, inclusive and with clear objectives and outputs. They must be integral part and/or assist national development strategies and/or long-term water planning and/or should be defined and legitimate processes in the country.

  4. Lessons learned from Country Dialogues Regarding the Process (cont.) • EUWI is an innovative initiative of a kind that the EU has not attempted previously. Experience shows that explaining the nature of the EUWI is not easy. The immediate question is whether there is new funding coming in. Better communication tools are needed. • In the Mediterranean , perhaps better than in any other region the nature of EUWI has been crystallized : EUWI is not a donor itself but a process driven by the interested country and supported by the existing donors; that it does not intend to have a constant presence in the country as such; but, at the same time, it expresses a collective long-term commitment - can have a catalytic effect on addressing problems that are difficult to solve and need some assistance by an ‘external’ and ‘neutral’ agent. • The design phase is time consuming, particularly when the aim is on highly strategic (eg. review of on-going National Strategy, elaboration of an IWRM Plan) or controversial (eg. water pricing issues) issues.

  5. Lessons learned from Country Dialogues Regarding the Process (cont.) • The ‘partnership culture’ that EUWI advocates for and supports with action is still underdeveloped in many of the countries of the region. This fact proves the key added value of EUWI. • Securing reasonable follow up of results of EUWI interventions (by national partners and donors) is critical and has to be part of the planning of the activities. • Replication, always after adaptation to national conditions, is highly relevant and possible. • The long term commitment of the Lead Country (-ies) and of the institutions financing the activities (European Commission, donors) is key success element for proper development and for producing results. Non-EU donors have already substantially contributed to MED EUWI. Stable and cost-effective administration services of the processes at regional and country level (e.g. through a regional Secretariat) secures day-by-day management and continuity.

  6. Lessons learned from Country Dialogues Regarding the Process (cont.) • The existence of a regional Forum to present EUWI results is of significant added value as a body for review, sharing of experiences as well as of further ‘marketing’ of the process. This exists in the MED with the Euro-Med and SEE Water Directors Forum that acts as MED EUWI’s reference group. • We should not expect to see results on the ground from the EUWI interventions tomorrow ! Because of its strategic nature, it is a process that will show its added value in the medium and long term. For that, short term impact monitoring indicators are difficult to establish. It has to be considered and supported by partners involved in that manner based, to a large extent, on direct outcomes. • There is no other global or regional process delivering objectives similar to EUWI. EUWI should act as the catalyst for this ‘extra mile’ that many country efforts have to take in order to achieve specific objectives.

  7. Lessons learned from Country Dialogues Regarding the Governments • Anchoring the Dialogue at the highest political level is an asset, bringing in recognition, support, synergies, outreach, etc. However, it may also have implications including delays for administrative reasons, capturing by a sole partner etc. • - Capacity of staff to follow activities is not always adequate and often has to be built while the intervention is on-going.

  8. Lessons learned from Country Dialogues Regarding the Stakeholders • - Opportunities for involvement of stakeholders are not always evident or present in the countries. EUWI assists considerably such involvement by implementing partnership approaches, assisting and contributing to the introduction or enhancement and enlargement of similar processes that may exist in the country. • The private sector has not been closely engaged so far. Attention should be given to opening in a thoughtful way this cooperation channel. • - Participation in the EUWI interventions contributes also in raising the capacity of stakeholders on particular issues and on their comprehension of the wider picture. It contributes in making them better partners in future strategic consultations and assists their systematic involvement. Training components for the stakeholders attached to EUWI activities, are of great added value.

  9. Lessons learned from Country Dialogues Regarding the Donors - EUWI can catalyze better donor harmonization and alignment at the country level. Practice has proven that this exists in a limited number of countries in the region. - Interested donors have to be engaged from the beginning and have ownership. If resources are available already, donors may not necessarily support the EUWI interventions (though they can always assist !), but they have to support the implementation of the outcomes of the EUWI intervention.

  10. THANK YOU visit www.minenv.gr/medeuwi/ and www.euwi.net

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