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In this issue N°151 (http://www.emwis.net/thematicdirs/eflash/flash151)
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HEADLINE

1- Implementation of the Shared Environmental Information System principles and practices in the ENI South region

In Brief

NOMINATIONS & VACANCIES

PUBLICATIONS

CALL FOR TENDERS AND PROPOSALS

CALL FOR PAPERS

TRAINING AND COURSES

EVENTS

CONTACT US / COMMENTS

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HEADLINE
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1- The European Environment Agency (EEA) and the United Nations Environment Programme/Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) Secretariat are organising the concluding event of the EU-funded “Implementation of the Shared Environmental Information System principles and practices in the ENI South region ENI SEIS II South Support Mechanism”, that will take place online, Monday, 21 September 2020, 12:30-15:30 (CET). This online meeting will present and discuss the results, achievements and lessons learnt from the joint activities on implementing SEIS principles and practices in the region, contributing to improve the availability and access to relevant environmental information to the benefit of effective and knowledge-based policy-making in the ENP South region. It will be the opportunity to share the main outcomes from the second H2020 Mediterranean assessment report and exchange through a facilitated panel discussion on key national achievements and sustainability of the results. Further information on EMWIS website

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IN BRIEF (Full news)
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2- The UfM Task Forces on Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus and Water-Employment-Migration (WEM) held a joint online meeting on 23 July 2020, which constituted the 4th meeting of the WEFE Task Force, and the 5th meeting of the WEM Task force. The purpose of combining the two Task Forces’ meetings was to jointly identify priorities of the WEFE Nexus and WEM Work Plans 2020-2022 as well as to provide further guidance on the synergetic actions of the related thematic FPs.The UfM Co-presidencies, EU DG Environment and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation of Jordan, jointly stated that the region requires cooperation and should build synergies between different programmes. Andrew Murphy, Senior Expert, DG Environment, highlighted that the European Green Deal and the Recovery Plan, supported by the UfM Water Agenda in the Mediterranean, constitutes part of the solution for the region. The UfM Deputy Secretary General for Water, Environment and Blue Economy Isidro González Afonso, highlighted that the development of the UfM Water Agenda has been showcased as an example of coordinated approach, acknowledging the high level of partners’ engagement, including donors like the Swedish Development Agency SIDA. It is now time to coordinate and cooperate in order to implement the activities under its thematic priorities.Further information on EMWIS website 

3- Alexandroupoli, a coastal town in the North of Greece, reached out to GWP-Mediterranean to elaborate on solutions to contribute towards its water security. Of particular concern were the impacts of climate change, with intense rainfalls and prolonged periods of drought, as well as the high risk of salinisation of the coastal aquifers due to intense groundwater pumping, leading also to high energy costs. GWP-Mediterranean designed the “Water for the City” programme to provide responses by increasing freshwater availability. In partnership with the Alexandroupolis Water Utility and the Municipality, and with the financial support of a $1.2 million grant by The Coca-Cola Foundation, GWP Mediterranean followed a holistic Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus approach. It coupled innovative technical solutions to increase the local water budget and enhanced capacities to manage urban water resources in an integrated manner while building a new water culture, aiming not only to provide solutions for Alexandroupolis, but also to become a paradigm to be replicated in other coastal cities in the Mediterranean and beyond. Further information on EMWIS website

4- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) have successfully installed water level and Ec sensor devices in each of  Al-Minya and  Kafr El-Sheikh governorates with the objective of accurately measuring the level, salinity and temperature of water. In both governorates, the installation was completed by a capacity building training on the use of the water level and Ec sensor devices, as well as the use of the soil moisture device. This activity falls within the project ‘Implementing the 2030 Agenda for water efficiency/productivity and water sustainability in NENA countries’, implemented by FAO with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The sensor devices have been installed in three sites in Al-Minya governorate and three sites in Kafr ElSheikh governorate. The selection of the sites was determined by the needs of the water accounting activities implemented in both governorates in the project with the aim to enhance the quality and accuracy of the data collected. Those devices obtain data automatically every hour with a higher accuracy, and automatic logging in to the data logger. Further information on EMWIS website

5- A new initiative by GWP-Med and Reckitt Benckiser’s Finish dishwater detergent aims to promote water saving in remote island communities with limited water resources. The new initiative titled “Water is in our Hands” is focusing on changing mindsets and habits within households in island communities, promoting a new culture of water saving and offering practical solutions to reduce water consumption at home. At a time of pandemic when the importance of water availability for hygiene could not be made clearer, the ‘Water is in our hands’ initiative will equip all households on the North Aegean island of Agios Efstratios, including tourist lodgings, with water-saving kits containing water-saving devices for the kitchen and bathroom. The GWP-Med team will demonstrate its use through onsite visits, while also educating on good practices on reducing water waste.The island of Agios Efstratios, inhabited by 268 permanent residents, is the first stop of this new initiative. Agios Efstratios (aka Ai Stratis) is one of the very few Mediterranean islands that do not rely on desalination for water supply. Further information on EMWIS website

6- Over the last decade, climate change is accelerating and disrupting national economies and affecting livelihoods, particularly through the impact on water and water-related hazards. Adequate planning for water resources management has been integrated in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Paris Agreement highlights the role of sustainable development in reducing the risk of loss and damage. It also requests the UN agencies to support their Member States in order to enhance action on adaptation, highlighting adequate planning for policy making, as well as the identification of adaptation strategies. In this context, UNESCO and various other organizations have developed a set of complementary resilient water management tools and approaches addressing climate risk and other uncertainties through innovative adaptation strategies. UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), together with the Alliance for Global Water Adaptation (AGWA) and the International Center for Integrated Water Resources Management (ICIWaRM), is hosting a series of webinars introducing the technical and practical components of bottom-up approaches, spanning a range of topics and underscored by examples of real-world applications. Webinars take place on a monthly basis in the lead up to a global conference on Climate-Resilient Water Management Approaches being organized by the same institutions and tentatively set for November 2020. They are intended for technical water management professionals as well as individuals working in climate / water policy and planning. Further information on EMWIS website 

7- The important role of agriculture and forestry in managing natural resources is acknowledged and well reflected in the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which includes, as one of its three general objectives, the sustainable management of natural resources and climate action. The prevention of soil erosion and improvement of soil management, water management (quantity, quality), restoring, preserving and enhancing biodiversity (landscape, habitats) constitute important elements of this general objective of the CAP. A public consultation was proposed and aims to gather information and feedback from stakeholders and the wider public in relation to the impact of the CAP on biodiversity, soil and water. It contributes to an upcoming Commission staff working document on the evaluation of the impact of the CAP with respect to natural resources, complementing the findings of the evaluation support studies on the impact of the CAP on biodiversity and water, published on 27 March 2020, and the ongoing evaluation on the impact of the CAP on soil. Further information on EMWIS website 

8- INBO (International Network of Basin Organizations) together with Geneva Water Hub and the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB) is organising a webinar on Water Information Systems, governance and interest of remote sensing. It will be held on on Tuesday September 15th at 4pm (CET) with simultaneous translation in French, English and Spanish. This webinar will be an opportunity to recall some elements of the state of the art and to exchange on these various topics with in particular the intervention of major witnesses involved in the management of water resources in national and international contexts. Further information on EMWIS website

9- The 18th International “EUROPE-INBO” Conference was planned to take place from Sunday 8 November to Friday 13 November 2020 in Malta, jointly organised by the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO) and the Maltese Energy and Water Agency (EWA) (host partner). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisers decided to postpone it to 2021. The 4th Mediterranean Water Forum (11-13 November 2020, Malta) planned back to back is also postponed. The final date in 2021 are not yet defined. In the meantime some webinars will be announced soon. Further information on EMWIS website 

10- In a world with 7 billion people to feed and growing concerns about land and water scarcity, today’s professionals need easy access to up-to-date information, models, approaches and technologies to support evidence-based decision-making for water resources assessments and sustainable food production. In this context, AQUAMAPS contributes to the design of more targeted water interventions and investment plans by providing access to key information for monitoring agricultural water productivity and agricultural systems at risk due to human pressure on land and water. The new platform implements the most advanced tools available, including geo-spatial modelling and analytics, and allows users to query and explore regional and global spatial datasets on water resources and water management, to analyse trends and identify real-time gaps and opportunities to support decision-making in water and agriculture sectors.  Further information on EMWIS website

11- Cairo Water Week 2020 will be held 18-22 October, under the theme “Water Security in Arid Regions" - the Road to Dakar 2021 - with five sub-themes overarching a broad spectrum of water security. It will be a semi-virtual event. The five sub-themes are Water security for sustainable development, Cooperation for achieving water security, Water-food-energy NEXUS, Climate change and water security and Innovative solutions for water security. CWW2020 is organised by the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, in collaboration with national, regional and international partners. Further information on EMWIS website

12- VISCA consortium is organising an e-workshop' to be held online on Thursday, 29th October 2020 from 10:00am-12:00 pm CET. The e-workshop aims to bring wine growers, agronomists, scientific community, commercial partners and others to discover the latest release of VISCA Decision Support System (DSS), its added value and how it supports viticulturists in adapting to climate change. Also, the commercial opportunities and the exploitation of the tool will be discussed. VISCA e-workshop is expected to be interactive with feedback collection and Q&A sessions during presentations. Registration to the e-workshop is open until 15 October 2020 [click here]. Further information is provided on VISCA website.

13- HYDROUSA project is developing innovative, nature-based and nature inspired water management solutions for different types of water under the concept of circular economy. Local water loops are demonstrated, recovering added value resources, while integrating services for agricultural production and interacting with the local market. These technologies and services, named as HYDROs, are demonstration sites at full scale in three Mediterranean islands: Levos, Mykonos ans Tinos. In Mykonos, HYDRO3, which consists of an innovative rainwater harvesting system and irrigation of high value crops with low irrigation requirements, is already operating. HYDRO3 is based on the construction of a sub-surface rainwater collection and it uses a precision irrigation system. Watch this time-lapse video of this system wich presents the achieved work in the island from the first stone of construction, till  the last plant sown. Further information about the project is found on HYDROUSA website  

14- HYDROUSA international partners gather up on the island of Tinos for the competition & installment of the technical works of the pilot application of HYDRO 5 in the area of Ag.fokas developed in collaboration with the Municipality of Tinos. HYDRO 5 consists of two desalination technologies: a Mangrove Still system that harnesses solar energy for the desalination of sea water to irrigate a production greenhouse for tropical crops and a saltwater evaporation greenhouse, with halophytes and mangroves, installed in the same "tropical production" greenhouse, the Greenhouse system simulates climate conditions for the production of tropical fruits, thus contributing to the diversification of local production. In the context of the work's completion residents, local stakeholders, educators, mindful visitors & schoolkids are invited to a circular stroll focusing on the application of HYDRO 5, the technical processes & the impact of the project for the island's future. Get to learn about the two innovative desalination systems and register to the event. Further information about the project is found on HYDROUSA website

15- On 28 of September a common event between 2 PRIMA projects related to groundwater management, Sustain-COAST and MedSAL projects will be held online. The event aims at increasing synergies and presenting their current status. The agenda of the Sustain-COAST joint meeting with MEDSAL is available   on Sustain-coast website, the event will be live streamed. The various modelling approaches implemented by the projects will be presented as well as innovative monitoring and governance approaches.

16- The brochure of SUPROMED Project is now available in 5 languages (English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Greek). It gives an overview about SUPROMED services, objectives, demonstration site and partners. Brochures can be download from the SUPROMED website. A workshop and a webinar about tools for vineyard irrigation advice, organized by UCLM,  were held on 29 July and on 05 August .The main objective was to improve the qualifications of professionals in the agri-food and the rural environment. Further information is found on SUPROMED website

17- An on-line regional training workshop will be organized with sessions to be held between 12 and 26 October 2020. It will refer to the UN System of Environmental Economic Accounting for water (SEEA-water). The purpose of this regional training is to introduce water accounting as a tool to achieve integrated water governance for all users and a sustainable water balance between availability and use. It will also capture the important role of accounting in planning, in water monitoring and in measuring water related to the SDG 6 target by providing a framework for the development of indicators. The training will be led by international experts Eric Mino (SEMIDE/EMWIS), George Bariamis (NTUA) and Guillame le Gall (NALDEO), using a tailored on-line platform.  The sessions will be short and will include focus group discussions, break-out sessions and exercises.Total training duration will be about 30 hours including homework, representing around 12 hours online. The Water and Environment Support (WES) is a regional project designed to contribute on one side to a more efficient management of scarce water resources in the ENI Southern Neighbourhood region, and on the other side to the implementation of an integrated approach to pollution reduction and prevention, in line with the Union for the Mediterranean agendas and the Barcelona Convention. Further information on EMWIS website

18- The COST Action "Circular City Re Solution" aims to build an interdisciplinary platform for connecting city planners, architects, system designers, circular economists, engineers and researchers from social and natural sciences that develop systems allowing cities to cope with different challenges. On 1 st September 2020, the 2nd virtual Circular City workshop was organized with an attendance of 59 participants. During the workshop, the participants had the chance to discuss the list of Nature Based Solutions (NBS) units, followed by open questions and clarifications. The first version of this list will be available prior to the next workshop planned to be held online on 23 September 2020. The list will help planners in selecting the best NBS units responding to their priorities. The units are grouped by themes and assessed according to their main circularity purpose (water & wastewater treatment, water management, nutrient recovery, material recovery, food production, energy and heat). Follow the other news from the circular city as well as be planned STSM calls and training schools from the official website.   

19. In the new episode of the HU science podcast “Unendliche Weiten, faszinierende Welten”, Dr. Ina Säumel talks to radio presenter Claudia Knoblauch in an interview in Prinzessinnengärten Berlin about the EdiCitNet project and edible cities in general. They talked about how cities such as Rotterdam and Havana, as pioneers, supply their inhabitants with vegetables grown in the city itself. Although “urban gardening” is a worldwide trend, it is difficult for citizens’ initiatives in cities like Berlin to turn it into sustainable and, above all, long-lasting projects. Further information is found on EdiCitNet website.

20- The Rhone-Mediterranean-Corsica Water Agency is financing a study to develop a new governance system between four inter-municipal authorities, from Grau-du-Roi to Sète, to better manage water resources in this coastal area. The objective is to support the creation of a new "coastal governance" for integrated management of water issues in the Gulf of Aîgues-Mortes, including marine, coastal and inland waters (shared between 4 river basins). Further information on EMWIS website

21- The saving and sharing of water resources is a priority of the French water policy, which has been amplified in a context of climate change. Urban spaces offer potential for savings as well as using alternative water resources. Where appropriate, the Reuse of Treated Wastewater is one of the possible local solutions to be implemented to meet specific local challenges or to adapt to seasonal tensions on water, whether quantitative or qualitative. This solution can be used in addition to other measures for the balanced management of water resources. To drive changes in practices, local authorities have a key role to play. The French system is highly regulated, bur has already been in operation for more than 30 years for agricultural uses and watering of green spaces. The recent publication of CEREMA is presenting  the various possible benefits of reusing treated wastewater, as well as the factors that condition the success of the projects, as well as fact sheets and examples encountered in metropolitan areas. It aims to share knowledge, experiences, methods and tools. Further information on EMWIS website

22- Ministry of Finance in Egypt will provide a "financial guarantee" of LE 3 billion to the Holding Company for Drinking Water and Wastewater. According to Minister of Finance, the financial guarantee will contribute to providing the necessary funding for the implementation of water desalination projects in "Hammam" areas in Matrouh, Safaga, Quseer and Marsa Alam in the Red Sea Governate, in a manner consistent with the state's plan to maximize the utilization of available water resources using the latest technological mechanisms, and improving services provided to citizens. The government aims to attract many investment activities in these areas in addition to serving the projects already established in them, at the top among them, the tourism activities that are the first beneficiaries of these services. Further information on EMWIS website

23- Severe water shortages compound desperate situation for children and families in Beirut. 300,000 people in Beirut continue to face a lack of access to critical safe water and sanitation services, UNICEF warned more than three weeks after the huge explosion tore through Lebanon’s capital. While public water infrastructure thankfully sustained only minor damage and remains mostly functional, the explosions compounded an already precarious situation in terms of access to safe water and sanitation in the greater Beirut area, with a significant number of water tanks and plumbing systems in buildings near the blast being damaged. An estimated 130 buildings in the affected area have been completely disconnected from the main water network and the water systems of more than 500 occupied buildings have been damaged. UNICEF is working to provide training and resources to equip thousands more young people across Lebanon with the skills they need to be part of the effort to rebuild their country, including training on repairs and maintenance on critical water and sanitation infrastructure. Further information on EMWIS website

24- Morocco's socio-economic development is putting ever-increasing pressure on the country's already limited water resources, whether for supplying the population in both urban and rural areas, or for industries and tourist establishments. In addition, the demand for water for irrigation purposes continues to increase. Faced with these large and ever-increasing water demands in the country, the issue of efficient and rational use of water is becoming crucial and is now a national priority. For this reason, the team of the Water and Environment Support (WES) project funded by the European Union was invited to provide support to the Moroccan Ministry of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water on the issue of water demand management in order to reduce water needs for domestic, public, tourist and industrial uses.The project team will focus on providing advice on typical water saving measures that can be easily implemented in the country. The implementation of the recently launched WES project will be completed by March 2021. Further information on EMWIS website

25- A major project for the rehabilitation of wastewater treatment plants will be carried out in Tunisia. It concerns 10 waste-water treatment plants located in several towns in the country, including Bouargoub, El Kef, Teboursouk, Jammels, Sbeitla, Medenine, Tozeur, Kebili, El Hamma and Tataouine. The project is being implemented within the framework of the Mediterranean Sea Programme (MedProgramme) launched on June 24, 2020 in 10 countries (Tunisia, Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Montenegro and Turkey), thanks to a $43 million grant (about 121 million Tunisian dinars) from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The official launch of the Tunisian part of the Medprogramme was launched on 2 July 2020. Further information on EMWIS website

NOMINATIONS and VACANCIES
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26- Scholarships: Call for application for CIHEAM Bari Masters programs. Online applications for Academic Year 2020-2021 Master Programmes will be open from 1st August to 30 September 2020. Further information on EMWIS website

27- Vacancies : Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET) offers three job opportunities in the field of  drinking water quality and resource recovery. All of them for 4 year appointments. Postdoctoral position to define new microbial quality indicators for drinking water, Doctoral researcher to explore sustainable, and cost-efficient water treatment technologies tailored for removing/detoxifying organic micropollutants in the human water cycle, Project MICROBIAL PROTEIN PRODUCTION: PhD research in which we want to upgrade biogas and use the purified methane to produce microbial proteins  in a bioreactor. Further information on EMWIS website.

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PUBLICATIONS
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CALL FOR PAPERS
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30- Call for papers : Water Supply in Agriculture Special Issue.Sufficient food supplies are considered a core element for the development of modern societies, while the intensification of water cycles creates serious problems in agriculture. In particular, over the last several years the absences of regular rainy seasons and frequent storms have increasingly created serious damage to traditional cropping systems (water crises, flooding, drought and desertification). The main aim of this special issue is to increase the scientific knowledge on water resources and climate change interactions for the agricultural sector at local, regional, and global scales. It is also, of high importance to increase water productivity and prevent crop damages under extreme climate conditions and different anthropogenic interventions, through various measures (improved agronomic practices, optimal irrigation water management) and geoinformatic techniques.Further information on EMWIS website

31- Call for Abstracts and Discussion Session Proposals: EO FOR WATER CYCLE SCIENCE 2020 Conference is co-organized by ESA, GEWEX, EC (DG-RTD), UNESCO, CNES, CNRS/IPSL and the University of Versailles-Saint-Quentinenc. This Conference aims at reviewing the latest advances in the use of EO technology for scientific questions related to the water cycle and its applications, exploring the potential offered by the coming EO as well as the main challenges and opportunities for the coming decade.The Conference is open to EO scientists, water researchers and students, modellers, Earth system and climate scientists, industry, operational agencies, policy makers, representatives of local communities and other stakeholders interested in sharing their knowledge and experience and in contributing to drive the scientific agenda for advancing EO water research and applications.Further information on EMWIS website
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TRAINING
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32- [2020/09/28 - 2020/11/23] Online course: Integrated and Adaptive Water Resources Planning, Management and Governance : This online course takes a holistic look at water resources management at the watershed and sub-watershed level with a specific focus on watershed planning techniques, adaptive management strategies, capacity building approaches, water governance, and water business risk assessment to strengthen integrated water resources management capacities globally. Further information on EMWIS website.

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Events / changes due to COVID19
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