EMWIS Flash N°98, March 2012

EMWIS Flash - March 2012 Euro-Mediterranean Information System on the know-how in the Water Sector EMWIS is a program of the Union for the Mediterranean. For further information: www.emwis.net Monthly Flash produced by the EMWIS Technical Unit- OIEAU, CEDEX, SOGESID- It is available in English, French & Arabic. (French & Arabic versions are available few days later) Mediterranean Water Information Mechanism / Geo-Catalogue / UfM-Water

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In this issue N°98 (www.emwis.net/thematicdirs/eflash/flash98)
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HEADLINE
1- EMWIS participation to the 6th WWF: Sustainable cost recovery watch & shared Information Systems approach

IN BRIEF
2- A recognised success for the 6th World Water Forum which gathered more than 35,000 participants in Marseille

3- Mediterranean cross continental process at the World Water Forum
4- Territorial water governance in the Mediterranean
5- INBO: The Pact for Better Basins Management

6- Managing our water resources from space
7- WANA Water Policy Brief presented in Marseille during the World Water Forum
8- Water around the Mediterranean: special REVOLVE report highlights challenges and efforts made to face them
9- Desalinised Solutions: Water and Energy in the Arab States
10- Arab countries to invest US $180 billion in power, water, energy projects

11- Reflections on the right to water: what is at stake as we move towards Rio+20?
12- Virtual water used to compensate natural hydraulic inequalities
13- Urban planning and water management need integrating
14- Value Ecosystems - Not Just Crops - When Managing Water Use, says UN Report
15- Harnessing Science and Technology toward Improved Water Management
16- FoEME’s new groundwater project for the Mediterranean Basin
17- Belgium: The water bill become indigestible: "Consumption Late payments and settlement plans are increasing"
18- Spain, Portugal face worst drought in 70 years

19- France: Its water footprint published
20- Tunisia: Towards revolutionizing its water resources management
21- Israel forced to deal with the Palestinians for wastewater discharged into the Dead Sea
22- Lebanon: An environmental observatory
NOMINATIONS and VACANCIES
PUBLICATIONS  
CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
CALL FOR PAPERS
TRAINING
EVENTS
PROJECTS
BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
CONTACT US / COMMENTS

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HEADLINE
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1- During the World Water Forum held in Marseille from 12 to 17 March 2012, EMWIS led 3 sessions, on the thematic process, one on the Mediterranean process and a side event. During the session on « Sharing and monitoring information at the transboundary level » under the priority « Contribute to Cooperation and Peace through water », the participants agreed on adopting a Shared Information Systems approach allowing vertical and horizontal integration, and using international standards. EMWIS coordinated with the Tunisian National Office for Sanitation (ONAS) the Mediterranean session related to sustainable cost recovery (SCR) for sanitation services. In addition to some local and national commitments announced by panelists cost recovery and minimizing tariffs increases, a regional commitment was adopted on the launch of a water & sanitation services cost recovery observatory at the Mediterranean level, which was also proposed by the Moroccan Minister of Energy, Mines, Water & Environment: Fouad Douiri. Finally, EMWIS organized a side event on "Shared water information systems for a better governance". During this session, Water General Directors presented their progress, the European Environment Agency proposed to work on water accounting at basin level and the secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean -UfM- announced its commitment to propose a project on water information system for labelisation by the 43 UfM countries. Further information on EMWIS website.

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IN BRIEF (Full news)
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2- The 6^th World Water Forum was characterised by a strong mobilisation of the international political community and of civil society so as to make the cause of water and sanitation move forward during more than 400 open sessions. After these six days of debates and exchanges, built on 1,400 solutions for water and sanitation, all the stakeholders have already announced more than a hundred concrete commitments. The Solutions platform is perpetuated so as to become a place of sharing, exchange and monitoring for the 7^th World Water Forum which will take place in Daegu Gwangyeoksi, South Korea, in 2015. The World Water Council will bear these solutions and commitments to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development Rio+20 from June 20^th to 22^nd 2012. On the other hand, This 6th WWF concluded with adoption of the Marseille Ministerial Declaration. Key issues addressed during the Forum included: access to drinking water and sanitation; contributions to a green economy; resilience and adaptation to climate change; and governance and financing.  Further information on EMWIS website.

3- The Mediterranean cross-continental process of the 6th World Water Forum included four priorities: Water demand management, Non-conventional water resources,  Water Governance, and Treatment of urban and industrial wastewater. 8 thematic sessions took place as well as two synthesis sessions and a side event: "Mediterranean Trialogue on Water Governance". When the 1st Forum of Mediterranean Water took place in Marrakech (19th-20th December 2011), a dialogue was established among the representatives of the Mediterranean Water Community. This dialogue, initiated by the Mediterranean Water Institute (IME), has made it possible to underline the necessity to bring out a federative platform of all the initiatives and programs, and in particular of actions led by networks and regional institutions working in the region. This platform could led to a “Mediterranean Water Forum”. Further information on EMWIS website.

4- The Foundation of Prince Albert II of Monaco has organised a side event during the World Water Forum in Marseille to present the findings of the Water Think Tank on water governance in the Mediterranean, with the presence of the Prince Albert II and EMWIS Steering Committee President: Walter MAZZITTI, Josiane MONGELLAZ, director of international cooperation of the international Office for Water (OIEAU), etc. Further information on EMWIS website.

5- The « Pact for better basins management of national and transboundary basins » has just been signed in Marseille during the world water forum. Representatives of river, lake and aquifer basin organizations, from different parts of the world, subscribed to this Pact for better basins management in view of the development of integrated water resources management at national, regional and transboundary level to meet the challenges of the planet. The progress made by the basin organizations will be presented on the occasion of the next World Water Forum in 2015 in South Korea. Further information on EMWIS website.

6- At the sixth World Water Forum, satellite observations of our planet were widely acknowledged as an indispensable tool for collecting information on available water resources. This is especially true for areas like cross-boundary river basins, such as the Nile basin and its 11 countries. Responding to this need for information on water, ESA’s TIGER initiative is running projects and building capacity to use space technology for managing water resources in direct partnership with several African and international organisations, such as the African Ministers’ Council on Water, UNESCO-IHP, African Water Facility, UN-ECA and the Canadian Space Agency. TIGER’s recent Aquifer project was highlighted as a major success story. Aquifer was developed in collaboration with the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) to use satellites for managing cross-boundary groundwater aquifers, which are the main source of freshwater in the region.The results led to the African Water Facility of the African Development Bank investing in the technology, culminating in the OSS being selected as the winner of the King Hassan II Great World Water Prize. Further information on EMWIS website.

7- WANA Forum Water Policy Brief was presented in Marseille during the World Water Forum. This report titled: "Regional solutions for water scarcity in West Asia and North Africa" is based on the WANA Forum Consultation in which EMWIS participated and contributed to that regional report. The WANA (West Asia - North Africa) Forum is a long-term initiative that brings together decision-makers, civil society organisations, religious leaders, researchers, business owners, media representatives and other relevant regional stakeholders. It employs a participatory methodology in the work of the annual Forum and interim consultations, and seeks to engage the public in the process. The facilitator and guardian of the process is His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal, with the generous support of The Nippon Foundation.  Further information on EMWIS website.

8- A special report on Water around the Mediterranean, featuring a diverse content of interviews, case studies, opinion pieces and photo essays from across the region, has been released by the Revolve magazine in association with the Environment and Water Division of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). EMWIS is one of the institutional partners of this report. The 96-page report covers transboundary water management, climate change, agriculture, pollution, water governance and legislation, and non-conventional sources of water, with contributions by leading water experts, young science journalists, key decision-makers and environmental science students. The report is divided into eight themes. Each theme features an introductory fact sheet summarizing key facts and figures for the Mediterranean region as a whole. This general information is followed by a case study or a feature article, which offer specific examples of the issues at hand. A series of interviews, opinion pieces and articles further complement the coverage of each theme. Further information on EMWIS website.

9- Ministers, local authorities and technicians from Arab states find coherence on the need for desalinisation to assure drinking water. How to power this solution is a key question. The Arab world represents 5% of the world’s population, but possesses only 1% of the planet’s fresh water. “Currently 18 of the 22 Arab Sates suffer from water scarcity and by 2050 this will turn into water distress,” predicted Dr. Abid Thyab Al Ajeeli from the Arab Parliament at the 6^th World Water Forum. He stressed the need for technical innovation in desalinisation and renewable energy. To help solve the water and sanitation issues in the Palestinian municipality of Al Ubeidyeh, Maher Abu Sarhan called for increased water allocation equity with Israel. This local Palestinian authority also identified the need for investments for wastewater treatment plants that incorporate solar and biogas energies as well as wastewater reuse. Desalinisation and energy dominated the discussion. Both the panel and participants rallied around the need for increased investment in innovation for desalinisation plants and renewable energies for the sunny region. Oman plans on investing in 200 MW of renewable energy projects over the next 4 years. “In Oman, 80% of drinking water comes from the sea,” says Zaher bin Khalid Al-Sulaimani, Director General of Projects for the Public Authority for Electricity and Water-Oman. Desalinisation in the Arab world, particularly in the Gulf States, is already widespread. Further information on EMWIS website.

10- New power, water, and energy projects valued $180 billion are being carried out or planned in several Arab countries, according to energy experts. The UAE takes the lead with 20 projects worth $34.2 billion including a $20 bln nuclear power plant under construction in Abu Dhabi, while Saudi Arabia takes the lion’s share in terms of investment value in the region thanks to the $100 bln King Abdullah City of Atomic and Renewable Energy. For its part, Qatar has recently announced plans to build at least eight power and water plants worth $4.8 billion in the next three years. Bahrain is busy working on four projects of $ 4.2 billion. Kuwait has crafted 17 projects valued $4 billion, while Oman has earmarked $2.9 billion for the construction of 13 new power, water and energy projects. According to estimates of the World Energy Council, Arab Gulf countries will require 100 GW of additional power over the next 10 years to meet growing demand. The power sector will need $50 billion investments in new power generating capacity and $20 billion in desalination. Jordan has launched pilot projects in water sector worth $6.1 billion, while Morocco is investing $3.8 billion in major renewable energy projects. Egypt and Iraq are also planning to inject each over $5 billion to upgrade and boost power infrastructures. Further information on EMWIS website.

11- As the world was celebrating the World Water Day, some countries of the United Nations are trying to remove the reference to ‘right to water’ from the document that will guide the international development path in the coming decade. It was less than two years ago, in the summer of 2010, that the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolutionrecognising water as a human right. This was followed by the adoption of a resolution on ‘human rights and access to safe drinking water and sanitation’ by United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC), which made these rights legally binding. The recognition of right to water by these UN bodies, and the developments since – such as the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on right to water and the resolution by the World Health Assembly which recognises right to water – have helped place these rights on the global agenda. Globally, there is an increasing attempt to promote policies that will treat water primarily as an economic good, at the cost of water as a fundamental right. Several Rio+20 initiatives on the green economy also follow an approach that narrowly focuses on resource use efficiency and economic growth. In the absence of effective regulatory frameworks, safeguards and the clear recognition of water as a fundamental human right, corporate interests will continue to supersede marginalised, low-income communities and smallholder farmers. The stakes are especially high this World Water Day, as we move towards Rio+20. Further information on EMWIS website.

12- Although not visible to the human eye, be it the production of a car, a Tee-shirt, a loaf of bread or any other product or service, water is consumed. Agricultural production uses by far the greatest amount of water, consuming 70% of the world’s reserves. For example, it is estimated that to produce one kilo of chicken requires 3,900 liters of water and one kilo of grain on average requires 1,300 liters. This “double pyramid” developed by the Centre of Food and Nutrition in Barilla, Italy, that takes into consideration the relationship between water and foodstuffs, demonstrates the minimum impact of the Mediterranean diet on water resources. On the industrial side, it is estimated that a kilo of cotton requires 5,260 liters and a kilo of paper consumes 2,000 liters of water. Looking at the average goods consumed, it is possible to evaluate the average quantity of virtual water consumed per capita and country; for example 1,400 liters/person in Asia and 4,000 liters/person in Europe and North America, according to the FAO. Virtual water thus presents a tool to measure lifestyle impacts on water resources. Maurice Bernard, Director of the Department of Sustainable Development for AFD indicated that, “on the one hand, the population is growing; on the other hand, our lifestyles are consuming more water.” Analyzing the “import/export” balance of virtual water helps countries in hydraulic stress to limit exportation of products that consume large amounts of water for production. Exporting goods from countries with more prevalent water resources to those in water stress favors a positive exchange of virtual water. Further information on EMWIS website.

13- New research has investigated the combined impact of climate change and land cover change on external household water consumption and local night-time temperatures. It estimates that a 3ºC rise in temperature combined with a high degree of urban sprawl would increase water consumption by 4,061 litres per household for the month of August due to increases in evaporation from ground surface. The study recommends full integration of land use planning and water management. Two concerns for sustainable urban development are increases in water consumption and the urban heat island (UHI) effect, whereby building materials in cities, such as concrete and asphalt, retain heat and create local warming. Two significant influences on these phenomena are climate change and land cover change, particularly changes in the level of vegetation. The research indicates that land cover and water use are intertwined in their effects on urban heat fluxes and this suggests the integration of urban land use planning and water management. Current vegetation and water consumption patterns should be taken into account in development plans, whilst trees should be prioritised over grass for better promotion of urban cooling whilst reducing water consumption. Further information on EMWIS website.

14- Recognising the valuable services provided by ecosystems such as wetlands and forests - and not only focusing on water productivity in agriculture - can improve livelihoods and help meet the rising demands on the world's water resources in a sustainable way, according to a new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Increasing water productivity and efficiency is a key concern for policymakers in many parts of the world, especially as rising incomes and changing diets are set to increase the demand on water resources that are already under pressure. The UNEP report, entitled Releasing the Pressure: Water Resource Efficiencies and Gains for Ecosystem Services, which was produced by researchers at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), urges policymakers and resource managers to shift from the traditional focus on water productivity per unit of agricultural yield ("more per crop drop"), to a broader view of the concept, which would include ecosystems services. Such an approach would take into account water regulation and purification, pollination, erosion control and other ecosystems services performed by wetlands and forests. Balancing the goals of agricultural land (agro-ecosystems) with these kinds of ecosystem services - using some of the techniques outlined in the UNEP report - can serve to improve human well-being, increase crop yields in a sustainable way and support the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and equitable Green Economy. Further information on EMWIS website.

15- In partnership with NASA and the World Bank, OMEP recently helped launch two regional projects which apply cutting-edge NASA technology to inform key water resources management and policy issues in the region. The two complementary programs rely on remote sensing to gather water-related data: the Land Data Assimilation System (LDAS) and the Water Information Systems Platform (WISP). The programs are a collaborative effort among USAID, the World Bank, NASA, the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), the Arab Water Center and five countries in the region. LDAS, a three-year, $2-milllion project, implemented by ICBA, is scheduled to end this December. The project uses NASA satellite data and models to develop a dataset that will help researchers and decision makers better understand the availability, location, and use of water resources at a regional scale. The data will also be analyzed to help create a regional model that forecasts climate change impacts. WISP, launched last October, will provide grants and technical expertise to the remote-sensing agencies of Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon.  Region-wide, this investment will leverage satellite-based sensing technologies to inform water resource decision-making, including irrigation management, and drought and flood forecasting. The resulting, national and regional scale data will be widely available online, with higher resolution data available to in-country decision makers.   Further information on EMWIS website.

16- In November 2011 a new project for protecting groundwater in the Mediterranean Basin was established. For the new project, FoEME is teaming up the province of Malaga, Spain in order to promote sustainable groundwater resources in the Mediterranean Basin. The project is funded by the European Commission’s ENPI (European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument). The project aims to improve the technical and administrative skills in selected Mediterranean Basin municipalities in order to alleviate groundwater pollution. Communities in the Jordan Valley lack the necessary sewage treatment facilities and suffer from contaminants from cesspits. Malaga in southern Spain struggles with huge discharges of waste water from both industry (e. g. animal farming) and agricultural sewage into the ground water aquifer. For many years, FoEME has been developing experience and best practices related to ground water issues.  The lack of awareness and the capacity to deal with the sources of pollution to groundwater are the main challenges of this project. To address this need, the project partners will set up a collaborative training program for municipal staff from selected Mediterranean Basin municipalities. Important outputs from the project will be risk maps for each community. Further information on EMWIS website.

17- This is a bill among others. Not the most important. But water consumption suffered the same fate as other "painful". Increasingly of late payments, requests for reimbursement of sprawl. And use instruments to help the most needy: the social funds. Distribution companies of the water, social services, in Brussels and Wallonia, have confirmed: "People are more and more in difficulty and it will not get better. " For the Walloon water operator (SWDE), the leading distributor in the south of Belgium with a million connections feeding 2.4 million people, the figures speak for themselves. "Between 2008 and 2011, the number of formal notices increased from 137,000 to 148,200 (8%). Between 2009 and 2011, the number of settlement plans rose from 37,000 to 40,000 (8%). "Despite an average bill of 273 euros per year, for a consumption of 65 m3, the water becomes increasingly heavy. Between 2011 and 2012, prices should also increase further by about 3.5% in Wallonia and in Brussels approximately 8.4%. The price per cubic meter of water has increased between 2006 and 2011, nearly 50% in the three regions. In 2011, the average household paid 299.2 euros in Brussels, Flanders and 337.06 euros in just over 337.9 euros in Wallonia. In 2006, a family paid 207.89 euros in Brussels, a Flemish and a Walloon 227.52 euro 239.25 euro. The calculation applies to a family of 2.3 persons and consuming 88 cubic meters of water annually. The price increase comes primarily from the cost of wastewater treatment, European standards requiring Regions to treat more waters. Further information on EMWIS website.

18- Spain is suffering through its driest winter in more than 70 years and bailed-out Portugal next door is in similar straits. Thousands of jobs and many millions in agricultural output are in jeopardy. Both nations are desperately short of so much: tax revenues, bank credit, jobs, hope for the future. Now, it won’t even rain. The landscape in northern Spain is now a palette in shades of ugly. Pale brown fields without crops or pasture stretch off into the distance. A pond for watering sheep has shriveled into a dustbowl. An irrigation canal down the road holds only stagnant water, murky from so much sediment and so little flow. In Portugal, Joao Dinis, a spokesman for Portugal’s National Farms Confederation, said the drought has added to hardships caused by the country’s acute financial crisis, which forced it to ask for a 78 billion euros bailout last year, making credit scarce. The weather service classifies almost half of Portugal as being in severe drought. Portugal’s Farm Ministry announced at early March seven emergency measures, including a cut in social security contributions, to help farmers and ranchers. Further information on EMWIS website.

19- So that opened earlier during the 6th World Water Forum, WWF France committed for 20 years now on issues of water, strengthens fight against the loss of biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems and the promotion of managements more accountable for water resources, by issuing its water Footprint indicator. The Water Footprint, a measure allowing all to measure its impact on water resources. Aimed at all, businesses, communities, individuals ..., the study on the Water Footprint, initiated and funded by WWF France, conducted by the University of Twente (Netherlands), reveals for the first time the characteristics of water footprint of France. This indicator is a simple awareness of the impacts of lifestyles and therefore pressure from human activities on water resources, whether domestic, industrial or agricultural. Further information on EMWIS website.

20- Tunisia wants to overhaul the arrangements for its water resources management. The government formed the "Revolution of dignity" considers this redesign as necessary to secure long-term water supply. This determination was reaffirmed by Mamya El Banna at the 6th World Water Forum. The Tunisian Minister of the Environment wants to "include the notions of equity and sustainable development ... For example, the fair pricing of water will be a proposal for inclusion in the new Constitution." A strategic study on water resources in 2050 is currently addressing this problem. It assesses water resources, uses and institutional and financial conditions to lead to the development of master plans of water management, then realized by more precise programs. A national commission and regional committees involving all stakeholders will also be established. "We then adapt the governance context," said El Banna Mamiya. Tunisia can benefit from the feedbacks from other countries in the Mediterranean region. In Jordan, the success of the governance process comes from the establishment of a dialogue on several levels, said Ali Subah, assistant secretary general of the Technical Affairs at the Ministry of Irrigation of Jordan and EMWIS National Focal Point Coordinator in Jordan.  Morocco and France have also created copies of consultation processes. Further information on EMWIS website.

21- On the occasion of the 6th World Water Forum, Israeli engineers have proposed solutions for the management of wastewater from Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories that pollute downstream the Kidron Valley to the Dead Sea. Some require an agreement with the Palestinian authorities: create a treatment plant in Palestinian territory or send the sewage to an existing station northeast of the city by pipes passing through the territory. It was difficult to obtain an agreement with the current tensions. An alternative is to bypass the Palestinian territories and therefore this obligation agreement. But it is far more expensive, dual solutions requiring agreement to be $ 200 million (€ 153m). Israeli and Palestinian engineers working together on the ground but policies seem less inclined to cooperate. Even a simple problem to manage wastewater. Further information on EMWIS website.

22- At the initiative of Mouin Hamze, Secretary General of the Lebanese CNRS, a meeting was held in Beirut on 27 February 2012 to begin the creation of an observatory of Environment in Lebanon. This meeting was attended by various French and Lebanese research partners. The debate focused on the themes to be developed: water, biodiversity and resource and waste management. Participants signed a document entitled Letter of Intent for a Lebanese-French co-ordinated actions in the field of environment, which proposes the establishment of an observatory of Environment in Lebanon. Two forms of this observatory were discussed but not settled as an observatory for collecting and storing data and / or observatory also conducting research activities and training. Subsequently, a meeting at the Ministry of the Environment was held in the presence of various participants to expose the project to the Minister, who expressed his approval and support for the establishment of the observatory. A meeting to sign a final contract between the partners was proposed at the jubilee 50th anniversary of CNRSL to be held in June 2012. This project falls within the framework of the European programme MISTRALS (Mediterranean Integrated STudies at Regional And Local Scales), bringing together the main French research organizations in a joint effort to study the Mediterranean environment. Further information on EMWIS website.

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NOMINATIONS and VACANCIES
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23- Hassan II Great World Water Prize awarded to Sahara and the Sahel Observatory (OSS): Selected among 33 applications coming from 21 different countries, Sahara and Sahel Observatory has been this year's winner. Chedli Fezzani, Executive Secretary of the SSO, highlighted the key to their success: apart from the scientific contribution, it mainly relies on their innovative political solutions' proposals regarding international cooperation. He precised: "Water is a vector for peace. The management and sharing of water resources are essential to Africa's development and conflict resolution in the Middle East". Further information on EMWIS website.

24 - The Tunisian EMWIS National Focal Point, the BIRH, has a new IT manager, Mr. Haythem Souli. He replaces Mr Abderrazak Daoud who retired. Further information on EMWIS website.

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PUBLICATIONS
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25- "International water law in the Middle East: Between sovereignty and cooperation" is a recent book published by Dr. Rana Kharouf-Gaudig, Doctor of International Law, legal expert at UNESCO. This book provides valuable answers to the problems of water management in the Middle East as well as the prevention and resolution of conflicts associated with them.  Further information on EMWIS website.

26- Spatial hydrological analysis for water harvesting potential using ArcGIS model: the case of the north-eastern desert, Jordan.  Rainwater harvesting could make water available during dry periods and its capture can also reduce soil erosion from runoff during wet periods. Further information on EMWIS website.

27- Handbook for Integrated Water Resources Management in the Transboundary Basins: This handbook, which supplements the "Handbook for Integrated Water Resources Management in Basins" published in March 2009 during the Fifth World Water Forum in Istanbul, is addressed to representatives of the governments of countries bordering transboundary basins and managers who must make decisions related to resource sharing and management, and more generally to all water users. The Handbook is published in French and English. It has received financial support from the French Development Agency. Digital versions of the English and French Handbook can be downloaded, free of charge, on INBO and GWP websites. Further information on EMWIS website.

28- Major new website to assist with climate change adaptation in Europe: Adaptation should happen in many different sectors.  More than 25 countries voluntarily submitted information on their national strategies and plans, assessments, climate services, and priority actions. The site features a continuously-updated database of adaptation strategies and actions at the transnational and country level.  It aims to support the European Commission’s comprehensive EU climate change adaptation strategy, due in 2013. Further information on EMWIS website.

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CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
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29- The ENVI-Med regional programm first call for proposals: This French cooperation initiative for countries in the Mediterranean Basin is designed to encourage and strengthen high-level scientific and technological cooperation in the region as well as research networking on sustainable development and understanding the environmental operation of the Mediterranean Basin.  ENVI-Med aims to initiate multilateral cooperation by supporting the mobility of researchers as part of joint research projects and seminars, workshops and regional scientific conferences. The programme is focused on Mediterranean countries in partnership with France.
Launch of the call for proposals: on the occasion of the MISTRALS General Assembly, in Malta on 12 March 2012. Deadline for submitting applications: 12 June 2012. Priority will be given to projects which contribute to the networking of institutions, laboratories, facilities, stations, observatories and study sites. Among the themes of priority: Environment and sustainable development (climate, desertification, coastal zones, natural risks..),  Resource management: the assessment and reasoned management of Mediterranean basin resources (water, sanitation); sustainable governance in the Mediterranean. Further information on EMWIS website.

30- The sixth LIFE+ call for proposals was published on 13 March 2012, with up to €276 million available for co-financing of projects under three headings: Nature and biodiversity; Environment policy and governance; and Information and communication. Project proposals should be sent to the relevant national authority no later than 26 September, 2012. National authorities will then send them to the European Commission by 2 October, 2012. Please note that applicants must only use the eProposal tool to create and submit proposal(s) under the 2012 LIFE+ Call for Proposals. Further information on EMWIS website.

31- Forecast for €1 million programme for information and training seminars for Euro-Mediterranean diplomats: The 2011–2014 programme for information and training seminars for Euro-Mediterranean diplomats aims at facilitating informal exchanges and open dialogue between junior and mid-ranking diplomats who are directly involved in the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and of the Union for the Mediterranean. Indicatively, the programme should have a duration of 3 years. Further information on EMWIS website.

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CALL FOR PAPERS
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32- Call for papers for the ACWUA’s 5th Best Practices Conference: Utilities Perspective on Water Resources Management in the Arab Region: 3-5 June, 2012 - Muscat, Oman.  Deadline for submitting abstracts: 21 April 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

33- Call for abstracts for the 8th Annual LC/MS/MS Workshop on Environmental Applications and Food Safety: Deadline for registration and abstract submission: May 1st, 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

34- Call for abstracts for the 1st International Symposium on water resources in arid and semi-arid regions. The Faculty of Science and Technology within the University of Sultan Moulay Slimane - Beni Mellal together with the GeoAfrica sciences Society  organize this symposium in 14-16 November 2012. Deadline for submission of abstracts: June 30, 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

35- Call for contributions: The INSPIRE Conference 2012 will take place from 23rd – 27th June 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey. The theme of this year's edition is "Sharing environmental information, sharing innovation". The call for contributions reflects the three pillars: Governance, Content and Technologies. In particular, as 2012 is the European Year for Water, we are interested in receiving submissions relating to Water. Further information on EMWIS website

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TRAINING
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36- ROTARY and UNESCO-IHE join forces to educate water professionals: The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, under its new Future Vision plan, seeks to forge strategic partnerships with established organizations with expertise in Rotary's six areas of focus, one of which is water and sanitation. UNESCO-IHE scholarship grants are available only to clubs in the 100 Rotary districts piloting Future Vision until the plan is fully implemented July 1, 2013. Further information on EMWIS website.

37- The training plan (2012) for the Water Utilities Management Capacity Building Program: Water Utility Management – Capacity Building Program (WUM-CBP) is a specialized training program implemented by the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) and Engicon O&M in cooperation with the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA). Further information on EMWIS website.

38- Call for applications for the Ninth International Training Workshop on Integrated Coastal Management in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (MEDCOAST Institute 2012): Deadline for applications: 01 June 2012.  Further information on EMWIS website.

39- The Water Security Research Centre at the UEA announced the opening of applications for two Water Security courses with entry in 2012. MSc Water Security (September 2012 – September 2013) & Water Security Short Course (28 May - 4 June 2012). Further information on EMWIS website

[2012/04/28 - 2012/05/03] European Membrane Society-Middle East School, Riadh, Saudi Arabia

Further information on EMWIS website

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EVENTS (Full Agenda)
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PROJECTS (Projects database)
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WATER PROJECTS DATABASE (MEDA-NIPs, MEDA-Water, LIFE, SMAP, INCO-MED, FP4-FP7, INTERREG, etc.)

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