Call for innovative ideas on groundwater in the MENA region

SIWI, Sida, BGR, BMZ and UNESCO are organising a seminar in the form of an innovation forum focusing on groundwater management in the MENA region. Prospective participants are invited to submit an abstract for a concept/paper to be presented, prepare an exhibition, and participate in an incubator of ideas. Participants selected to present a concept note/paper or an exhibition will be sponsored and invited to participate in the World Water Week.

Seminar concept: The Middle East Northern Africa Seminar at the World Water Week in Stockholm 2008 will focus on innovations in all aspects of groundwater in the MENA region1. The seminar will focus on both technical and governance issues. Sustainable groundwater management deals with breaking the vicious cycle of supply driven groundwater development to a virtuous cycle of integrated management in which inter alia resource availability is matched with demand management measures. The topic will be discussed from different angles.

Innovation is the central theme of the seminar. The organisers hope to highlight new possibilities of managing groundwater in the MENA region and create a conducive environment for learning and collaborative opportunities. This can be approaches that have been already successfully implemented, those that have been tried on a smaller scale, or are at the concept stage.

Deadline for submitting a maximum 600 words abstract or concept note: 20th April 2008.