Highlights

The Context

World Water Day in the Mediterranean

Every year, World Water Day draws the world’s attention to key water challenges. World Water Day 2018 focuses on “Nature for Water ” by raising awareness on water and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in the Mediterranean. NbS are defined as “… actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems, that address societal challenges and adaptively, while simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits” (IUCN, 2016)[1]. NbS can consist of:

• Ecosystem restoration approaches
• Ecosystem-based climate change adaptation and mitigation measures and disaster risk reduction
• Infrastructure-related approaches: natural and green infrastructure
• Integrated Water Resources Management and integrated coastal zone management
• Ecosystem protection approaches

These are some of the key questions underlying World Water Day 2018.

• What NbS are most adapted to increasing Mediterranean water security in the context of climate change?
• How can NbS help us to manage, consume, dispose of and reuse water more sustainably?
• How do we implement NbS for water in practice and in policy?
• What is the role of youth in applying and disseminating NbS for water?

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is the most water scarce region in the world, with 15 countries in the region suffering from extreme water scarcity (less than 500 m³/year of renewable water per capita per year).

Numerous phenomena are further worsening water security in the region, notably climate change and environmental factors (soil erosion, deforestation, water pollution), population growth, increased urbanization, ongoing water mismanagement and faulty water service provision systems.

Sharing innovative research and best practices on water use in all sectors – ranging from the everyday level to long-term projects, and spanning from urban integrated water resources management to agriculture – is needed to reverse this downward spiral, while developing and disseminating viable regional measures to bolster water security in the Mediterranean.

The Center for Mediterranean Integration Mediterranean Water Heroes Contest

The Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) is a multi-partner platform where development agencies, Governments, local authorities and civil society from around the Mediterranean convene in order to exchange knowledge, discuss public policies, and identify the solutions needed to address key challenges facing the Mediterranean region. CMI’s overarching theme is youth.

Youth has an important role to play in working towards regional water security and better water awareness.

Young people are innovating on water in the entire Mediterranean, and their actions and ideas should be shared and replicated to create a more secure regional water future, especially in the Maghreb and the Mashreq. Moreover, youth are often keen to adopt and test new ideas and technologies.

Finally, water also represents a valuable economic opportunity with the potential to create numerous green jobs that can further contribute to environmental, economic and social sustainability in the region.

To support youth in acquiring more voice in the Mediterranean water agenda, CMI is launching the Second Mediterranean Water Heroes Contest, which invites young Mediterranean water researchers, entrepreneurs and activists the opportunity to convene and share their work at CMI’s 2018 World Water Day youth workshop (Alexandria, early March 2018).

You can find more information on the first CMI World Water Day youth workshop on wastewater reuse in the Mediterranean here.

The contest will also further expand the CMI-facilitated “Mediterranean Youth for Water Network” (MedYWat) by inviting contest applicants to join MedYWat and contribute to the network.

MedYWat gathers young water professionals, activists and researchers from the around the Mediterranean to give more voice to youth in shaping and implementing the Mediterranean water agenda.